Why do you feel demotivated? Have you ever got this feeling and told yourself, ‘Today, I don’t wish to do anything! I don’t feel like facing the world today’. Has it ever happened to you? Well, we all have gone through this ‘rough’ phase. Everyone has experienced a lack of motivation at certain points in life. There’s no denying this fact!
Motivation is a quality and a feeling that a person experiences when they follow their passion and ambitions in life. Unfortunately, almost every person lacks motivation today because it is the path of least resistance.
Nonetheless, in order to optimize our personal growth and well-being, it is crucial to know how to overcome this lack of motivation.
You can achieve a lot in life if you are encouraged & motivated enough! But if you are in a place where you are having difficulty even in completing everyday tasks, then you must definitely go through this blog!
Today, we will discuss why you feel demotivated and how you can overcome it. So, let us begin!
What is a Lack of Motivation?
Various factors like stress, life changes, or underlying mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, etc., can cause a lack of motivation. For instance, we often feel demotivated when we experience life stressors/ changes such as the death of a loved one, job burnout, the end of a relationship, or other major life transitions.
But there is nothing to worry about! You can overcome this lack of motivation by indulging in activities that increase dopamine output, like physical activities, mindfulness, and psychotherapy, to name a few.
Let us now look at the potential causes of why one feels demotivated.
Causes of Lack of Motivation
The lack of motivation can crush you and prevent you from taking action. If you are sick of suffering from this feeling, it’s time to know why you are short on motivational energy.
So, let’s dive in and know the reasons for the lack of motivation.
1. Lack of Clarity
One of the significant reasons why you feel demotivated is that there’s a lack of clarity about what you want in life. In simpler terms, you are still determining what you like, what are your career aspirations, your future goals, and so on!
To overcome this situation, it is best to set exciting goals for yourself in every area of your life, i.e., physical, financial, social, spiritual, etc. Write them down and see your targets getting achieved!
2. Stress
Some amount of stress is acceptable, but too much of it can ruin everything! High levels of stress affect your mental and physical state. Therefore, it is essential to find out the areas of your life where you have an excessive amount of stress.
Maybe you have taken too many responsibilities that have left you with no time to recover! It is also advised to learn to tactfully say ‘no’ so that you can free up some time to relax and de-stress.
3. Negative Environment
Environment plays a crucial role in how we behave and perceive the world. Study your environment closely – how do people make you feel when you interact with them? Do you enjoy talking to them?
How about your work? Is it fulfilling? All of us spend the majority of our time in offices. Therefore, it is essential to know whether our job keeps us motivated or not!
If you are scared/ fearful of going to work, it’s a sign that you work in a hostile environment. To overcome this, you can upgrade your pre-existing skills and update your CV to have better job opportunities in future.
4. Lack of confidence
Are you suffering from low self-esteem? If yes, then it’s time to unwind and recreate it!
You can do a simple exercise – Find out the causes of your low self-esteem. Then, keep on reminding yourself about your past achievements and reinforce the possibility of accomplishing your targets. This way, you will slowly build up confidence and, as a result, feel motivated!
5. Lack of energy
Low energy and zero enthusiasm are unsuitable for your mental and physical well-being!
Your energy can be drained due to many reasons like lack of sleep, overworking in the office, handling numerous tasks at home/ office, unhealthy eating habits, etc. All these things bring you back down, wreaking havoc on your energy levels.
Therefore, you must focus on increasing your energy level by engaging in physical activities, going on leisurely walks, getting a sound sleep, and making healthy lifestyle changes.
There are various reasons for you to feel demotivated. But there is nothing to worry about! It is possible to overcome these obstacles by making some simple transformations in your everyday life.
So, let us have a look at those tips!
Tips to overcome lack of motivation
One can overcome the lack of motivation by following the tips mentioned below. Take a look!
1. Breaking the tasks
Breaking tasks into smaller chunks can help you achieve your ultimate goal. In addition, dividing your work can often assist you in managing your thoughts and increasing your concentration levels. So, make sure that if you have one ‘big’ or ‘long-term’ goal, you segregate it and then try to accomplish it.
2. Write down positive things
You might have heard of journaling. It is an excellent habit that can turn your dreams into reality!
Therefore, if you are struggling with a lack of motivation or emotional discomfort, you must inculcate the habit of writing. Note down at least one positive thing that happened to you today. Maybe you met an old friend or got your favorite food for lunch!
Whatever it is, penning down your thoughts and emotions will help you become more confident and motivated to face the world tomorrow!
3. Give yourself some credit
Underappreciation is one of the root causes of a lack of motivation. You are bound to feel low when you don’t praise yourself for the little challenges you win daily!
Notice the small challenges you come across and try to focus on mindfulness. This will improve your focus, and you will value every moment. Keep on reminding yourself what you have achieved, no matter how small the task was!
4. Be gentle with yourself
Accept your current state and situation. Acknowledge the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing and look for ways to reach out for support if needed.
Practicing self-care and being gentle with yourself can be a great help when you are undergoing a lack of motivation!
5. Be present in the moment
Remaining present in the moment can help you focus on ‘now’, which might be beneficial when you are experiencing a lack of motivation. So whether it’s a party, or you got a promotion, or anything of this sort happens – the key is to be in the moment and enjoy it!
6. Go for self-help sessions
We are sure that you might have received this advice numerous times. Whenever a person feels demotivated, he/ she is asked to read self-help books or watch motivational videos.
Well, the fact of the matter is that all these things are pretty helpful! Reading self-help books, attending motivational events, and taking up courses are all tools that support your knowledge and stabilize your mental health.
By working on your mental health, you can learn ways to improve your self-esteem or perhaps stay inspired, which can help you overcome a lack of motivation.
7. Have some ‘Me’ time
Taking out time to do what you love and enjoy can help you become motivated and self-assured. For instance, maybe you like art or love reading books – doing what you are passionate about will always uplift your mood! This will improve your mental and emotional well-being and may provide you with some inspiration!
The Bottom Line!
Everyone struggles with a lack of motivation at some point or the other. The way you respond to it is what matters.
Lack of motivation stems from many issues like fear of what people think or having the desire to please everyone! To overcome such situations, it is vital to consider the underlying thoughts and feelings affecting your drive.
Apart from considering your emotions and beliefs, it is also essential to be kind to yourself, experiment with different strategies (mentioned above) and seek professional help if needed to enhance motivation.
Related: Team/ Employee Motivation: Teamwork makes the dream work!
