Dearest of dear blog readers,I have a question for y'all regarding motivation. Or regarding unmotivation. (It's a word if I say it is, so there.) What do you do when you hit that big funk where you can't get motivated to do a thing? Do you laze around waiting for the feeling to pass? Does your body have some sort of internal 'click' that eventually gets you going? Do you have a secret weapon or routine that helps you bounce back?
If you never have motivational issues and believe that funk is just a name for a bad smell, um, frankly I don't want to hear from you! Nothing personal, it's just our realities are so completely opposed, I might believe you were posting in Klingon anyway.
I joke around about 'all three of you' blog readers, but the fact is I know there are many, many of you and I want you to respond out of the goodness of your heart so that one or more of you may inspire this weary traveler.
Sincerely,
Me
Generally, I find small projects that I know that I can whip out and accomplish. That usually is enough to motivate me to tackle the bigger project that is usually the source of my funk. I often have moments of just being lazy though--waiting for it to pass.
ReplyDeleteMy unmotivation covers the spectrum-diet, exercise, cleaning, bible study and on. For me, it came down to laziness. "It's too much work to cook healthy meals", "I don't have time to exercise", 'why should I clean if it's just going to be messy the next hour", "I went to bed late last night I can't possiblly wake up early for bible reading" and so go the excuses.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found helps me is a big dose of Scripture. I try to find something that's related to the issue at hand. Right now Roman 6:16 is pushing me along to not stay in my funk. Am I a slave to sin or to obedience? Obviously not washing the kitchen floor isn't a sin, but it's more a matter of my heart. Was I busy 'laying on the couch eating bon bon' or was I out serving the Lord in other areas? I can't think of the verse but I believe there is one to the effect of do all things as unto the Lord. Yes Lord I'll wash the kitchen floor because I know it'll be a blessing to my husband, my kids and those you bring into my home. Trying to have a Godly and Scripturally inspired perspective on the tasks at hand help me say okay Lord, I really don't want to do this so please come help me. Of course there are days that the funk doesn't pass and my excuses seem viable...then I read a blog and feel convicted to get off my butt and wash that stupid kitchen floor. Now where is the mop? -T
Hey hey.
ReplyDeleteMy issue is always maintaining motivation. I find a way to get going, then talk myself out if it...I am my own worst enemy in that and many other ways.
I do tend to set small unstated goals for myself..."Today at work I will finish..." or "I will go to yoga twice this week..."
Just things in my head...I am not a list-maker as I just lose the lists...
Annie
I typically feel better when I can accomplish what I set out to do, I just need to consistently remind myself of that fact...And put the laptop away and get off the couch.
My main lack of motivation right now in exercise...Any ideas?
My dear,
ReplyDeleteEnjoy it. Enjoy those waves that have both ebb and tide. If you fight the ebb and try to force the tide, the ebb lasts even longer. Allow yourself the ebb in a very real, patient way. There is a fantastic podcast about perhaps what you're talking about: http://www.unityunitarian.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=363945
Anne Lamott says, "if you accept the reality that you've been given, that you're not in a productive period, you free yourself to begin filling up again."
Peace
I am glad you posted this! Sometimes I feel like I am the only mom that has a hard time accomplishing things and not being lazy! I think I have a hard time staying motivated because I work really hard one day for whatever reason to get the house in order and then after I do that for an entire day i almost feel "entitled" the next day or two or three to do nothings because I just slaved over the house all day. Well after my days off my house is a bomb again! Then after awhile I just give up and have a hard time getting motivated again. If i wasn't so embarrassed by my mess I would take before and after pictures but I am afraid certain people who check my blog would be talking about me for weeks to come. When I am trying to get motivated i think to myself, "what would robyn do" Robyn is a task master she is amazing. If she comes over for a day to help me my house is perfect when she leaves. She no longer will come over and help so I am having to face my clutter by myself. I started today with getting out the winter clothes and trying to swap out the summer clothes.
ReplyDeleteMy friend wrote on her blog about how when she is bored she cleans and I responded and said if I cleaned when I was bored my house would be spotless. If only that was my way of dealing with boredom.
I think i am going to get off the computer now and go fold my clothes! Sorry for my ramble just know you are not alone if you find a GREAT solution be let me in on it!
oh, everyone has the biannual funk, right? i do- like twice a year for a month i just want to crawl under a rock. that's when my trusty routine, and 4 children who seem to need me all the time keep me going...even if i'm not feeling it, then all the sudden one day, i'm BACK, baby.
ReplyDeleteMegan
How do I get out of a funk? I don't know what it is that triggers it, but I just hit a wall and the mess drives me CRAZY! I was fine with it 5 minutes ago, but now, it has to GO!
ReplyDeleteToday I'm in a funk. I'm extra fatigued and gaggy (I'm 18 weeks today...surely the m/s will go away soon????), and I can't bear the thought of bending over to pick up one more small toy and decide where to put it. I'm tempted to just start throwing the kids stuff away because that would be easier than organizing it all in my present state of mind and body. It's starting to get cooler, so I need to sort the kids' clothes and figure out what they have or need for winter. As a result, there are two clothes baskets of clean and folded laundry sitting in the hall. They need to be put away, but I can't get myself to make decisions about where to put them (some of them are new-to-us clothes). I need to get the baskets emptied, though, because there is a load of laundry piling up on my bedroom floor, needing a hamper back! But I'm just tired today and don't feel like doing anything, even the fun stuff.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby has a very very busy few weeks coming up, so I can't slack off and expect him to pick up when he gets home. So I have to somehow push myself to do things anyway. Any suggestions for dinner? We've been eating leftover lunch meat sandwiches for two days now, so the hubby is due for a real meal...