It all began a few months ago…
I would wake up feeling exhausted despite getting a good night’s sleep. From there, things spiralled into a constant battle to get out of bed and a general lack of motivation.
Naturally, my to-do list seemed to grow longer by the day, and I was overwhelmed by work and home obligations. I felt like I was forcing myself to keep going when all I really wanted to do was nothing. But even when I did allow myself some downtime, I couldn’t shake the stress of everything I still needed to do.
You may have noticed huge gaps in the last months where I didn’t post despite already having so much written out. Most days, I procrastinated by watching movies or mindlessly scrolling through my phone, which only made me feel worse about myself.
Then, there was a turning point.
I finally decided enough was enough and decided to make a change. I felt horrible about neglecting things that were important to me, like my blog. Eventually, I found my way out of that lazy and demotivated state.
Here are SEVEN tips that got me out of my lazy and unmotivated era-
1. Journal-
Are you actually lazy, or do you just have invisible barriers that make it hard to get stuff done & make you feel stuck?You have to be aware of whether you are actually “lazy” or struggling with something mentally that requires more than just “pulling yourself together.” Sometimes, being stuck has a deeper meaning. Pull out your journal and ask yourself, ” What are the situational factors holding you back?” “What steps can you take to improve it?” You’ll never know the real cause if you don’t take the time to be self-aware.
2. Set clear goals
Before you prioritize your tasks, it’s important first to establish what truly matters to you. Setting clear and SMART goals will give you the direction you need. Your goal should be challenging yet attainable; you’ll want to provide a specific timeline and focus on getting real results. Once you’ve set your goal, list all the tasks to help you reach it. Remember, having too many tasks can lead to burnout, so prioritization is key.
3. Eat that frog
Finish the bigger or high-effort task first to free up the rest of the day for others. This has been a game-changer for me. If you’re feeling unproductive, it might simply mean you can’t prioritize because you have too much to do. It all boils down to a basic question: “Which task do you think you wish you did first but aren’t doing?”
4. Prioritize
Many experts recommend taking a moment to consider two important questions when tackling your tasks: Is this urgent? Is this important? Remember to prioritize urgent and important work, then move on to important tasks.
5. Exercise
is one of the best ways to exit from an unmotivated or lazy state of mind.
6. Face what you’re putting off.
So, sometimes, I find myself in situations where I have to tackle something new and out of my comfort zone. And you know what? Instead of diving in, I have this terrible habit of stressing and procrastinating. But I’ve realized that once I actually start the task, the procrastination just melts away. So, put down your email and chat, turn off notifications, and get to work. You’ll be much happier once you’ve crossed it off your list.
7. Time Blocking is your friend
Back in 2020, I came across this awesome technique called the Pomodoro method. It’s all about studying for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. If procrastination isn’t really an issue for you, feel free to adjust the Pomodoro to suit your style. Oh, and my friend John absolutely loves the Forest app – he says it’s a game-changer for staying productive and removing distractions.
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The tips described in this blog worked for me. If they worked for you, let me know. If something else worked for you, share it in the comments!
(Photo Credits- Pinterest)
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