In this article, I'd like to offer an unconventional view of motivation — and even argue that our need for it is overrated.
Many people believe that before they can take on a difficult task, they need to feel confident they can do it, or at least excited about it. Sometimes we believe we need to feel inspired before we can even start. There's something to be said for being prepared, and for making the most of moments of inspiration. But if you wait for those feelings to show up, you'll probably find it very hard to get things done consistently.
The things you already do without motivation
Let me ask you a question: what's something you do on a fairly regular basis? Maybe it's brushing your teeth, getting out of bed at a certain time, or taking your child to the bus stop. Do you feel very motivated or inspired to do these things? If not, how do you get yourself to do them?
I'd bet there are plenty of things you do regularly that you don't enjoy or feel motivated to do. Somehow you do them anyway, often without thinking much about it.
So why do other tasks feel so much more intimidating? A lot of it has to do with how we look at them. Taking out the trash may be no big deal for you. But if you had a strong fear of germs, you'd probably feel very differently about it, and you might not feel motivated at all. It's the same task — what changes is how you see it.
Getting things done anyway
Here are a few ways to get things done, even when you don't feel like it.
If you feel down, that's okay. You don't need to feel excited or inspired to get something done. Say you plan to exercise, and you feel sort of "meh" about it. Feeling excited might make it easier, but you can still have a good workout without it.
Some people go over their plans again and again before they start, trying to rule out any chance of a mistake. That usually backfires — you can end up stuck, not doing anything at all. If you're willing to make mistakes, and see them as part of learning, it's much easier to get started.
Often the biggest hurdles are the ones we create in our heads. We picture a task as so overwhelming that we can't even begin. Back to exercise: if my goal is an hour of the hardest weightlifting I can think of, I probably won't feel like starting. But what if my goal is just five minutes of light weights? Once I've started, I probably won't stop at five minutes, and over time I may work up to more. Make your first goal so small it would be silly not to do it. You may find you naturally keep going.
You don't have to feel ready to start. Often, motivation shows up after you begin, not before.
So the next time a lack of motivation has you stuck, notice the feeling and let it be there — it's a normal feeling. Then try one of the ideas above to get started. For a few more ideas, see 4 Simple Ways to Increase Your Motivation.
