Finding Motivation

Does anyone else just feel plain tired? Lost your mojo? Maybe it’s a change of season thing, or the mere compilation of stress from the entire year, or the sudden realization that the holidays are mere weeks away – what?! Whatever it is, I just can’t seem to shake this bone tired feeling, which is weird since my days are mostly spent here at home with my nose in my school books. I blame my meds – these puppies are no joke either.

Anywho… we’ve all been there in the periods of exhaustion that seem all consuming. I’ll admit I’ve also been a bit tired of social media in general and reading the same things over and over again. Even this post of “finding motivation” has been washed up I don’t even know how many times. Where does originality come in when everything has been painted every which way and twice over? These are the things I struggle with – but I guess all that matters is how any certain subject relates to you, and the audience you’re writing for.

I go through waves of feeling unmotivated, stuck in a gloom of feeling like I’ve lost my creativity altogether. Someone once said “that creatives, especially, struggle with this because their work is so closely tied to their sense of self, their beliefs and their life experiences. They need to feel deeply connected to their work in order to thrive.” For me, this couldn’t be more true. I loathe creating instagram roundups and random sale finds that I personally have nothing to do with don’t shop merely for the hope of making a buck or two 0- it’s just not me. Now, mind you there’s nothing wrong with it or the bloggers who post any of that – it’s just not my MO.

So.. that being said, how do you get your groove back or rediscover motivation or purpose? Have you considered why you’re feeling in a rut to begin with?

Burnout

Ah, the infamously scary feeling of burnout. For me, burnout has always been a feeling associated with inescapable gloom or something you can’t find your way back from. While I don’t believe that to be true anymore, I do believe it’s critical to understand where your burnout is coming from and consider your options. Are you overworking? Do you enjoy your work? Is your routine monotonous or tedious? I’ve been in all of these situations – and either found ways to make them better or left them for more ideal alternatives. I think it’s important to remember that we’re never going to be happy 24/7, that just isn’t how life shakes out – but we can make small differences in our daily lives. Now if your boss is a jerk – there might not be any fixing that (speaking from experience). A situation like that will ultimately require weighing the pros and cons of staying vs leaving.

Exhaustion

The lack of sleep is something I think no matter who we are can transform us into the worst versions of ourselves. We become irritable, moody, snappy, and even careless. Any time I find myself sleep deprived EVERYTHING bothers me and I’m just 1000% pissy. The image comes to mind from a scene in a League of Their Own (love that movie!) when Dotty gets in a fight with Kit and an unknowing teammate comes up the stairs looking for her new hat. Dotty fires back “piss on your hat!” Hahaha THAT is my complete mood when I’m exhausted. Any situation is painted over with negativity and ire. NOT a good thing! Don’t be afraid to admit your exhaustion, take a break, or even a mental health day. More and more employers are finding that granting employees a mental health day contributes to greater efficiency and productivity. A healthy you pours over into all parts of your life, personal and professional.

Stress

This definitely stems from the first two but dang if stress just isn’t the worst? Stress is unavoidable no matter what’s going on in our lives and has a sneaky way of how it chooses to manifest in different individuals. The most important thing though, is how you choose to deal. Do you bottle it all up and wait for an impending breakdown or do you take steps to dump it all out? Depending on my mood and the situation at hand I’ve found many ways that help me process my stress and let it all go, or at least puts a tiny band-aid on it: Time outs are bliss. How is it we go from being toddlers who loathe time outs and/or nap time and grow into adults who yearn for them? Sometimes I’m so worked up or even overstimulated that I’ll quite literally go put myself in my closet with the lights off and just breathe for about 5-10 minutes. The darkness and the silence reset my current state of being and are somewhat meditatively therapeutic. Just being in a calmer state of mind helps soothe any kind of freak out, you know? My husband usually looks at me a little strange if he finds me in the closet, but he knows it’s something to just let be. I also go for walks (when it’s not scorching outside) and get some fresh air. Poppy is hilarious on a leash because she is SO EXCITED to greet the world, she instantly makes me laugh and cheers me up. I also have mentioned before I’ve picked up bullet journaling again. SO many of you have seen them on my Instagram and love them – I do too! I channel all of my energy into drawing out whatever I’m thinking of and get lost in the moment. It’s so incredibly therapeutic and gives me a chance to relive childhood coloring. I even found my old crayons the other day at my mom’s house! (these aren’t finished but aren’t they cute?!) Also.. ignore my nails, your girl needs a mani REAL bad.

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So.. how do you find your motivation when you’re in a rut? Or what causes you to land there to begin with? The first step in getting back on the path of productivity and motivation is figuring out how you lost your mojo in the first place! Wouldn’t you agree?