It’s Okay to Feel Unmotivated

Ah yes, the inevitable wave of feeling unmotivated to do anything. I will admit though, we all need time every now and then to lay on the couch and scroll through TikTok. It happens to everyone no matter how much you see people projecting their accomplishments all over social media. I have the personality type of not wanting to stay still. I love being busy! However, I am susceptible to periods of feeling down. How can we combat this?

The Cycle

Feeling unmotivated can stem from many things. Sometimes it’s the constant routine we go through every day that can stop us from feeling creatively balanced. Right now my schedule is pretty straightforward. I get up, go to work, come home, workout, make dinner, watch some TV or fill my time randomly, and then go to bed to repeat it all the next day.

What often happens and is an issue of mine is getting into a routine and then forgetting to switch it up every now and then. I love going on walks, seeing friends, writing, and cooking. But when we get into a cycle of the everyday grind, it can be hard to find the energy to be creatively motivated.

There’s this scene in Spongebob that every young adult knows. It’s where Squidward moves to Squidville/Tentacle Acres where every day is the same. At first, it’s really great but over time he realizes it isn’t fulfilling. This is every young person’s worst nightmare. Re-living the same day over and over without any other exciting stimulation.

My fear is getting older and realizing I lost some “spark.” Or whatever you want to call it. My goal in life is to be happy and part of that goal means actively working on leaving my comfort zone to try new things and find excitement in new friends, hobbies, experiences, etc.

This is Normal

As much as I love social media it sometimes doesn’t help my feelings of not being motivated. Sometimes when we see other people going out and doing a ton of stuff it can be inspiring, but it can also make us feel worse for not doing something even if we don’t have the energy to do it. Does that make sense? Our own FOMO causes us to feel bad for feeling drained.

Once I left college my routine changed instantly. I still have thoughts like “Oh it’s the weekend you should be doing so much right now but here you are with no plans!” As we get older our routines will change and thus, it’s easy to question whether or not you’re unmotivated because your daily life doesn’t look the same as the previous year. At least this is something I’ve experienced, so if you also feel this way you’re not alone.

I don’t think it’s fair to compare your old routine from a year ago to your current one. Things change all the time. Your routine and idea of normalcy now will look different next year. It’s okay to feel unbalanced.

So What Can We Do?

Okay, now that we’ve addressed the feelings associated with being unmotivated, let’s talk solutions. There are a lot of different things you can try to get that excitement back. The first would be to take a step back and reduce the number of things you’re doing. Bring it back to the basics. Go through everything you’re currently involved with and make that distinction of whether or not you’re still motivated with that activity.

Start scheduling time in your routine whether that be one hour a day, or ten minutes a day to dedicate to your hobbies and interests. Inspiration comes from spending time doing the things you love. The idea here is that when you actively make time to enjoy your hobbies, it’ll eventually become routine.

SMART Goals

There’s another acronym that we can use here to help set our goals when feeling unmotivated. The “SMART” acronym stands for “specific,” “measurable,” “attainable,” “relevant,” and “time-bound.” Each SMART goal should have these five characteristics to ensure the goal can be reached. Often used in business settings, SMART goals can really come in handy for your personal life too. Knowing where to start can be part of the problem but using the SMART goals method can help you with starting.

Let’s break down this acronym:

• Specific — A vague goal is like trying to take a trip without a destination: you’ll find yourself meandering all over the place and possibly going around in circles. Knowing the exact thing you’re reaching for helps you create a plan to get there.
• Measurable — When you have a measurable goal, it’s easy to see how far you’ve come. It also increases your excitement to see progress towards the goal, and it’s impossible to be unmotivated and excited at the same time.
• Attainable — Set goals that you can realistically reach within the timeframe you choose. Make your goals big enough to challenge yourself within your abilities.
• Relevant — Relevant goals are goals that fit into your lifestyle or work environment. By setting goals that match your personal and professional values, and those that align with your long-term plans, you’ll stay motivated to keep making progress towards them.
• Time-based — Give yourself a deadline. This goes hand in hand with specific and measurable because you can mark off your progress as you go.

Overall

Breaking out of a cycle of feeling unmotivated is difficult and really annoying at times. The best thing you can do for yourself is to be more forgiving, have patience, set aside time for your interests, set your SMART goals, and remind yourself that this happens to everyone.

I’m writing about feeling unmotivated because it’s something I’m currently feeling. I always go through waves of feeling unmotivated or uninspired. However, every time I experience a lack of motivation I always remind myself that this state is temporary. Getting a metaphorical rug ripped out from underneath you can be disorienting. But, it’s common. I promise you’re not lazy for feeling unmotivated!