Turning Around Low Motivation

Do you have no motivation to meet your work and life goals? If so, here’s what you should know about lack of motivation and what you can do about it.

No one can be Wonder Woman all the time (though we try!), and it’s normal to feel periods of low motivation throughout life. Lack of motivation can pop up at random times due to excess stress in our lives, illness, or even fluctuations in our monthly hormones. Fortunately, hormone-balancing products such as those offered by Mixhers can help with the last item mentioned in the previous list.

But what about those of us who consistently feel zero to no motivation? What if it takes Herculean effort just to crawl out of bed in the mornings? In cases like these, there may be underlying physical, emotional, or psychological issues standing in our way. Here’s what all of us ladies should know about the phenomenon of low motivation and how to get our “mojo” back.

Lack of motivation can look different to different individuals. Some women may be really good at putting on a brave face and exuding happiness even when they’re not feeling that way inside. Others may be accused of laziness because they spend most of their time in bed binge-watching different television series when they feel unmotivated.

If you’re wondering whether your current behaviors and feelings are related to low motivation or something else, take a look at the following list. It contains many of the lifestyle choices associated with low motivation. If you can relate to one or more of these items, you are likely dealing with a motivation problem (and potentially something more serious, as well).

• Over-sleeping (or inability to sleep)
• Lack of physical activity
• Increased time doing sedentary things (such as napping, browsing social media, or watching television)
• Unhealthy habit development (such as eating too many sweets or abusing controlled substances)
• Procrastination (this can be especially damaging if you procrastinate on work projects!)
• Lack of smart goals and action plans
• Excessive stress

Generally, those who struggle with motivation deal with a lot of negative thoughts and negative emotions. These aren’t things to be ashamed of, but they are traits to notice and address. There may be very good underlying causes for these thoughts and feelings, so take time to think about what your underlying causes could be.

Are you dealing with unaddressed pain from a breakup? Have you experienced the loss of a loved one recently? There are many potential underlying causes for lack of motivation in life, work, and relationships.

We’ve briefly mentioned some possible causes for no motivation, but let’s dive into this topic in greater detail. Sometimes, lack of motivation is not the main problem but actually a symptom of a bigger problem. Here are some possible reasons why you’re unmotivated:

• You’re taking on too much. If your schedule is packed full of things you need to do and you’re feeling over-extended, you may start to feel a lack of motivation creep in. This is your body’s way of telling you, “slow down, you’re overworking me!” Listen to your body and do what you can to manage your schedule more wisely. If you have too many things going on, see what you can eliminate so you can give your body and mind the time they need to relax and recover. When you’re not overwhelmed by life, you’re more likely to feel motivated to get things done.

• Lack of commitment. Sometimes, we may end up feeling unmotivated when we are pressured into doing something we’re not committed to doing. For example, if you’ve made a weight loss goal because you feel pressured by your friends or family members, you’re less likely to be motivated enough to reach your goal. If you make a big goal in your life, make sure you really want it. That way, you’ll be motivated to reach it.

• Avoidance of something you don’t want to do. Are you wondering why you can’t muster the motivation to tackle a home reorganization project or complete a big project at work? It may be because you’re avoiding something you don’t want to do. This is pretty normal behavior, but there are things you can do to overcome the natural desire to avoid uncomfortable challenges. We’ll talk about those things later in this guide.

• Mental health considerations. Issues with mental health used to be stigmatized, but more people are realizing it’s normal to experience some mental health problems at some point in life. The important thing to remember is that your mental health is very important and should be addressed. For those dealing with suicidal thoughts or clinical depression, it’s essential to see a mental health professional. Most importantly, know that mental disorders are nothing to be ashamed of and that your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

• Self-doubt. Sometimes we avoid taking on projects at work, at home, and in our personal lives because we doubt our ability to tackle them successfully. If we struggle with feelings of inadequacy or doubt, it’s normal to feel no motivation at all. But remember, no successful person ever felt completely confident all the time. Even Oprah Winfrey doubted herself at times and had to overcome several big failures in her life before she became the incredibly accomplished woman she is today.

• Your hormones are sabotaging you. Have you ever noticed that you feel ultra-motivated at certain times of the month, and struggle to even exercise at other times of the month? When your energy, emotions, and motivation seem to be all over the place, you can probably thank your hormones. While every woman goes through natural hormone changes from month to month, some of us may be living with a hormone imbalance that causes us to feel consistently unmotivated.

• You aren’t sure what you want. If you don’t know what you want out of life, it can be hard to feel motivated. After all, you can’t work toward a target you don’t see, so you need to establish some clear goals before you can conquer the world.

Do any of these underlying causes of no motivation speak to you? Maybe you can relate to more than one of them. You might even find yourself identifying with the entire list! That’s OK, girl! The sooner you realize why you aren’t feeling motivated, the sooner you can work to get your drive for life back.

Having no motivation may be more serious than simply being overworked or doubting your abilities to get something done. In fact, lack of motivation is one of the most common signs of depression. It’s important to realize that depression is a real medical condition, and many people need treatment before they start to feel better.

Depression can lead to other symptoms besides lack of motivation. It can also cause feelings of anxiety, worthlessness, irritability, and pessimism. Surprisingly, depression is also responsible for many aches and pains people feel, such as headaches, digestive problems, and cramps that don’t have an apparent physical cause.

Some types of depression are unique to women. These types of depression often occur during or after periods of intense hormonal fluctuations, such as pregnancy, perimenopause, the postpartum period, and the menstrual cycle. So if your lack of motivation is accompanied by depression and any of these other feelings, consider talking to a therapist.

Some women avoid talking to a therapist because they don’t want to be told something is wrong with them. But remember, a therapist’s role is similar to that of a medical doctor. He or she is primarily concerned with helping you get better and learn how to move forward. The best therapists never pass judgment on a patient. Instead, they provide their patients with practical coping tools to get through periods of depression and burnout. If you’re uncomfortable meeting with a therapist in person, try online therapy.

It’s easy to come down hard on yourself or others when you’re unable to meet your work and life goals due to a lack of motivation. But in times when you want to say an unkind word, be kind to yourself instead. Maybe your brain and body need a break and some TLC instead of going at such a fast pace all the time.

When others are having problems with motivation, we should resist the urge to be stern and push too hard. Instead, we should listen and try to help the person figure out the underlying cause of his or her lack of motivation. If it’s due to being overworked and under-rested, we should encourage them to take care of themselves and get back at it when they’re physically and mentally rejuvenated. No one can keep up with the Energizer Bunny if their energy levels are depleted.

Another great way to improve employee motivation in your team at work is to offer plenty of rewards and recognition for jobs well done. Positive reinforcement is a great way to effortlessly boost motivation and improve employee morale. When we earn a reward for our behaviors and achievements, it’s called extrinsic motivation. This is a very effective method to use at work.

If you’re feeling a little defeated about your lack of motivation, it’s time to turn your way of thinking around. You are never defeated until you stop trying. Every successful person has probably dealt with anxiety and lack of enthusiasm before, but the key is to work at it until you get your drive back. With effort, you can rewire the neurotransmitters in your brain and teach yourself to think positively.

When boosting our motivation levels, it’s best to use both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation methods. As mentioned already, extrinsic motivation occurs when we’re motivated to do something because we’ll earn a reward. Intrinsic motivation is when we do something because we find the behavior or activity itself rewarding. With those definitions in mind, here are ways to find motivation.

• Learn your motivation style. Does intrinsic or extrinsic motivation work best for you? Once you learn your style, you can figure out how to boost your enthusiasm for work, life, and relationships.

• Minimize stress in your life. It’s OK to say no to things that you can’t handle. If you have people consistently trying to put too much on your plate, it’s wise to learn how to say “maybe another time,” or “I wish I could do this, but I just don’t have time at the moment.” Chronic stress is one of the top destroyers of motivation.

• Exercise. When you’re feeling like all you want to do is sit on the couch and munch potato chips, exercise probably isn’t appealing. But just getting up and being active can help boost your enthusiasm profoundly. Exercise is also essential for the health of your brain and body, so get out and run, hike, or engage in your favorite form of exercise every day.

• Take each task one at a time. You may have a list of things to do that’s a mile long, but remember to take each task one at a time. Once you finish a task, cross it off a list, so you feel an immediate sense of accomplishment.

• Reward yourself. Every time you meet a goal, reward yourself for your accomplishments. Remember, it’s the little things that make staying motivated a more manageable task, such as a hot bath, a night out with friends, or a new outfit.

If you’re looking for ways to boost your motivation, taking care of your health is one of the best ways to reach your goal. A healthy mind and body are generally much more capable of coping with everyday stresses and anxieties and staying optimistic in all types of situations. 

Mixhers is on a quest to help boost motivation and a sense of purpose in all women. To help us achieve our goal, we offer a variety of delicious, organic, and gentle products designed to help women thrive in body and mind. Give one or more of our female-formulated products a try today and get ready to face the world like a boss. While you’re at it, give one to a friend who’s struggling to find happiness and motivation in life. We have got to stick together if we want to change the world. We’ve got this, girls!