Negative news depletes motivation
Source: Mohamed Hassan / Pixabay
The Covid years did it to me. They sucked the motivation right out of me. The lockdown — not being able to leave the house; no speaking engagements because no one was holding in-person conferences; my favorite restaurant going out of business because the economy was shut down; no social life with human gatherings prohibited. The uncertainty of it all had a cumulative effect.
I lost interest in the book I was writing. I quit marketing my business because it felt like a waste of time. My mantra of “this too shall pass” was wearing thin. I felt like I had no enthusiasm to do anything. It wasn’t like I didn’t have anything to do because I always have plenty of tasks that need to be done — my house for example always needs some sort of maintenance — but I simply couldn’t find the energy to even start.
It was as if my energy had drained away. I felt lethargic. I didn’t care about anything. I was apathetic. Nothing was interesting to me. I couldn’t arouse my passion. I found myself wasting time watching TV and eating too much comfort food.
I feel like the cause of my ennui was the negative news in the media. It’s hard to get excited about anything when all you hear and see is the devastation of war, disease, poverty, rioting, inflation, homelessness, injustice, pollution, and natural disasters. I had no power to fix the problems of the world and I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed. It was as if my body, mind, and spirit wanted to withdraw.
My lack of motivation wasn’t boredom although people sometimes confuse one with the other. Boredom can actually be a good thing because it stimulates creativity. When you have absolutely nothing to do (which seldom happens these days with all of us having smartphones to entertain us) your creative mind kicks in and you start thinking of new things you can do and try.
For a while, I wondered if I’d ever be interested in doing anything again. Finally, I turned off my TV, and started riding my bike. Once I’d cleared my mind of the daily negativity I figured out what to do.
I started studying — subjects I’d always been interested in — but never had the time to pursue. Subjects unlikely to advance my career — just my knowledge base. Nevertheless, I became obsessed. I found my passion again. Indulging my curiosity in those subjects felt like a guilty pleasure because I was making few efforts anywhere else. Call it self-care because it made me feel good, and I quit worrying about the things I had no power over.
Take an Exploration Walk
If you find you’ve lost your motivation, take a walk in a park or on the sidewalks of the city. I’m not talking about an exercise walk but an exploration walk. Look around. Allow your curiosity to run wild. Notice things you’ve never noticed before. One of my favorite innovation tools for stimulating creativity (especially when you’ve gotten stuck on a problem) is to take a walk around the block to get the blood moving in your body. And, when you return you’ll see the issue from a new perspective. The same is true with your mood. If you are suffering ennui, feeling bored or listless go for a walk and when you return — just like the creative thinkers — you’ll likely view the world in a different light.
Sometimes I have to force myself to get started. When I’m unable to ride my bike for a while, I start to feel out of shape for the type of riding I enjoy best (which is mountain biking). It can happen in as little as two weeks. I then have to push myself to get on my bike and ride around the neighborhood. I’ll start out by saying; I’m only going to ride one mile and then back. I tell myself that a quick two-mile ride is better than nothing and will begin to rework my languishing leg muscles. But, when I hit the one-mile mark, I ask myself if I can go further. Usually the answer is yes. I bargain with myself about how much further I’m willing to go. How about another mile? Or to a particular nearby destination and then go back? This incremental motivation usually gets me to ride much further than I ever would’ve committed to when I started.
Bicycling is my favorite exercise, but not on my stationary bike which I have in my house for days when the weather is bad. Pedaling for the sake of getting my heart rate up gets real boring real fast. Come winter my motivation for riding in the cold hits its nadir. In order for me to find the motivation to get on my exercycle I put on a podcast. If it’s interesting enough, I’ll forget I’m pedaling and get wrapped up in the show and keep going until it’s over.
Practice Self-Compassion
If you lose your motivation, don’t criticize or judge yourself. Don’t call yourself lazy or useless. Be compassionate with yourself and try to understand your lack of motivation. Start by turning off your TV, the constant ‘fear porn‘ is emotionally exhausting, and it can rob you of your zest for life.
Motivation Essential Reads
Try to change your thoughts and what you are focusing on. Focusing on your lack of motivation will only reinforce it. Try using mindfulness techniques to bring you back into the present to stop yourself from ruminating on the past or future tripping. When you feel negative thoughts developing, shift into positive thinking by reciting an affirmation or two.
If it’s a task you dread, create some anticipation about a positive outcome or think about the parts you do enjoy. Sometimes my to-do list can be downright intimidating. I’ve found that starting with the smallest or easiest task will give me a sense of accomplishment and that in turn revs me up to do more. Occasionally I have to make myself start, but I’ve found that once I get moving — motivation follows.
Setting specific goals tends to be more motivating than vague goals such as “I’ll try to do better.” The more specific you are the more likely you are to achieve them and the better you will feel when you complete them.
Find Your Purpose and You’ll Never Lack Motivation
Having a purpose in life means you are pursuing a long term goal you’re passionate about which requires you to use your natural talents. It’s all about getting so involved and absorbed that you completely lose track of time. If you don’t know what your purpose it, there is a simple way to find it — follow your joy. Joy is such a powerful emotion that it speaks the truth from the depths of your subconscious. Think of the things that have brought you joy in the past. You can also find your purpose by trying new activities: take a class; join a club; volunteer; learn a new skill, or start a new hobby.
Final Thoughts
Draw on your strengths. Take a moment and remember what you do best, what you are good at, and then consider how you can incorporate more of those into your life.
Examine the patterns of your life. What has energized you in the past? What has drained you of energy? Pursue more of what lifts you up and avoid that which brings you down.
Are you overwhelmed? What can you eliminate or outsource that will ease the burden?
If, however, you lack motivation because you are depressed, then consider seeking professional help.
