Motivation is like your ability to perform on steroids. Motivation keeps you focused till the task at hand has been completed. On other days, you perform functions because it’s your job, and they have to be done. You may be proactive or struggle with lethargy, but you will get the work done. There are ways to handle demotivation but however, with motivation, you get things done faster with joy and a sense of accomplishment. Motivation can look like a sense of pride after meeting a deadline, not feeling drained after an activity and giving your all to a cause. Motivation makes your work process seamless and enjoyable.
But let’s face it, the pumped-up feeling on cloud nine doesn’t last, and life knocks us off balance at some point. It’s interesting how left on its own; motivation can come when it feels like under varying circumstances. Some days you get inspired just by seeing your favourite person, listening to a song, changing location, taking a nap, eating your best dish, and the list goes on and on. Other times, not even the presence of an angle or a list of your favourite things can keep you stimulated. Because of how fleeting the feeling of motivation is, you cannot always wait till you are fired up before you get anything done.
Instead of waiting till you get the push, you can configure your brain to carry on performance just as it would do when you have the drive. Then, when you create a semblance of motivation, you are in control and can wield it for as long as you want without fear of demotivation.
Below are 7 proven ways To handle demotivation
Remind yourself why it is essential to get it done
The benefits of doing a thing or the consequences of not doing it will usually outweigh your reluctance and lack of motivation. You must ask yourself these questions as many times as possible during the day to help you recalibrate and fuel back your energy to get the job done. Sometimes, when you remember you need the money, your life depends on it, the deadline is fast approaching, people are counting on you, or it will make someone happy, it’s easy to get back in the game and do that thing.
No point denying your emotional state
Sometimes lack of motivation is a reaction to underlying issues like emotional or physical stress and an indication to slow down and replenish yourself. It’s a cry for you to focus on yourself and acknowledge your emotions. Acknowledging your emotion and lack of motivation makes you prepared for possible ways you may ack due to your emotional state.
You can see the tell-tell signs like irritability, despair, lethargy, short attention span, nonchalance, etc., and prepare to work around it. For example, because you are aware of the fragile state of your emotion, you know when you feel irritable that it’s not the person or thing irritating you that is at fault, so you are consciously kind to people. When you feel lazy, you are deliberate about setting rewards for yourself so that you can achieve your goals, and the intentionality goes on for other emotions.
Decompress your schedule
One of the easiest ways to become demotivated is to list so many unrelated tasks to accomplish within a short time. It makes you need to multitask and give less than 100% to all the tasks. Knowing you have less to do helps you channel your energy to the job and complete it quickly, giving you the vibe that comes from motivation-induced work. On the other hand, saying yes to a lot of work and having deadlines leave you frustrated and in a panicky mood, and then you gradually lose interest and become uninspired.
Prioritize rest
Unfortunately, we have created a culture that idolizes the busy lifestyle and downplays the need for rest. It’s so bad that people feel guilty for trying to rest and defeating the aim. However, when you’re severely depleted, emotionally drained, and physically stressed, you need rest. To avoid burnout in the first place, you must incorporate rest as a part of your daily and weekly routine. Rest makes you feel refreshed, relaxed and prepared to find a solution or incite to issues you ponder before resting. Rest also helps your body avoid or manage health-related problems that will lower your morel.
Be solution oriented
Sometimes knowing you are very close to your breakthrough or solution to a challenge fuels you with the drive to stay on course till you see the end. Even on days when you’d rather not work, you can keep asking yourself questions like, “what is the best use of my time right now?”, “how will it feel to be done with this project or problem?”, “I am more than capable of doing this, so why am I not acting like it?”.
Focus on others
It is very tempting to be self-absorbed ad act as if the world revolves around you because, let’s face it, who doesn’t like the pockets of attention? We are so attention-drunk that even when we don’t get it from others, we become blind to others and give ourselves attention. The side effect of focusing on yourself is that you subject yourself to microscopic scrutiny from others and become very critical of yourself.
With time the attention becomes draining and demoralizing, especially with criticism from your admirers, and you start experiencing paranoia and become demotivated. However, when you focus on helping and being kind to others, you become consumed in their plights and needs that there is hardly time for you to worry about what people think of you. Also, the more you help people and see the smiles on their faces, the more motivated you are to do more, and this attitude trickles down to all aspects of your life.
Draw strength from others
At the risk of sounding repetitive, we have established that burnout and demotivation happen to even the best of us. We are constantly in the gravitational pull of motivated and demotivated. One effective way of getting back on track is surrounding yourself with people you respect to keep you accountable. So, whether you feel motivated or not, the fact that you have to give them feedback puts you on your toes, just like feeling motivated will.
Conclusion
Motivation is like a magic pill that makes you achieve much with gladness and within a short time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last as long as we would like it to, so we must improvise. Practising these routines will become valuable habits that help us to be efficient with or without motivation.
