What To Do When You Don't Feel Like It

Remember when it seemed like there weren’t enough hours in the day and it seemed like you had a million and one things to do? How about when you couldn’t wait to get vacation time or get a break from the everyday rigors of life? Or, you may have the time, but things are so stressful that you feel like you don’t have the energy or willpower to go on. You just don’t feel like doing what you need to do. It seems like life itself along with other occurrences got in the way.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 coronavirus, it seems some people have more time on their hands (if they’re not deemed an essential worker). Some workers that are deemed essential may feel anxious, overworked, or underappreciated. Shout out to the frontline workers in various fields and jobs who are stepping up to the plate regularly. Shout out to the people who are out of work or school and are stay-at-home moms, dads, and caretakers. Shout out to anyone else and all who are affected by this coronavirus.

You are remembered. You all are relevant. You all matter. We all are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in some way. Whether we are deemed essential or not regarding our personal lives, employment, and business, the weight of this pandemic can put some people in a mental and physical rut and drain one’s will power and energy; not to mention the financial toll of keeping up with bills and survival necessities.

Finding ways to stay in a good mental, physical, spiritual, and financial place and feel good is extremely important in these times. Nothing triggers the ‘feel-good’ hormones (endorphins) like staying afloat or getting to the end. We all may get fatigued or fed up at times, slip into depression, or get overwhelmed and anxious in our journey through life.

Before this pandemic, we may have gotten to that point where everything seemed to be clamoring for our attention – family, school, career, relationships, or just some goals we’re striving to achieve. And when the heights or balance we sought were not attained, the downside emotions may have come rushing in without warning; sounds familiar right? It happens to us all. Now, add to that a pandemic and it may set the stage for stress, anxiety, and depression overload.

Howbeit, no one has ever told what’s on the other side by stopping in the middle. So whether you crawl, walk or run, are ecstatic about your dreams or trapped by the bitter taste, always have this in mind; the reason you began in the first place is earnestly waiting for your description of the finishing line.

Indeed, there’s nothing new under the sun. However your grief or discouragement may be, there’s always someone out there that has gone or is going through the same thing. Their path to victory can be your cheat sheet or inspiration.

Here are some practical ways to help you stay motivated, re-focus, re-strategize if need be, and instill in you the discipline you need to push through whenever you don’t feel like it. Even with extra time on your hands, you still may not feel like doing much or anything.

Ask The Ultimate Question – What Is Keeping Me Stuck?

Aside from stay at home or shelter-in-place orders due to this pandemic, usually knowing why you haven’t been making progress in your life, business, or relationship is the first step to finding a solution. And on some occasions, psychological barriers may the problem.

If you feel mentally defeated before you begin, you may become self-discouraged and not start your journey. Sometimes, mental stress or life stressors can make one feel so bogged down that one doesn’t know what to do or where to start. Arm yourself with knowledge from trusted and verifiable people or sources and get started.

So, when you can’t find the need to keep at it, find out what the major barrier is. Then, get busy removing the barriers and finding solutions to it that work.

Grab a journal or paper, pen, and blanket and get some peace or just shut your doors to avoid distractions and ask yourself – Why am I not losing this extra weight? Why are my business ideas or business stagnant? Why am I not getting a grip on this or that? You may not know the answers yet, but you will feel lighter. It can be a start to get things moving.

Re-visit Your Why

You need to ask yourself why you set out on that path in the first place. What needs did you see before starting that business? Why did you get into that relationship in the first place? Did the doctors encourage you to shed some weight because of heart disease or other health reasons? Remind yourself again of the reason you started at all.

Sometimes, the things that seem to hold you back have been there from the beginning. However, you didn’t mind at all because you focused on your why whether things that hold you back are poor habits or negative actions. You had a vivid picture of the end in mind and damned everything to bring it to light. Yes, you can see the image again as you are reading this; now write it out again, place it where you will always see it, and it may help to maintain high energy round the clock.

For some, their children and family are enough to keep them going. For others, it may be their career or they may do it for themselves. Regardless of your “Why”, keep in mind the reasons for your mission. Is it for your children? Your family? Is it for your sense of accomplishment? Is it to please your Higher Power?

You must work on identifying your stressors, (guilty) pleasures, strengths, and weaknesses that may hold you back and developing goals and a Never Give Up Attitude even if you take baby steps and rest intermittently in between your progress. Set boundaries and be willing to make changes for progress.

Never discount developing and having discipline and motivation when you don’t feel like doing anything. Decide that it’s better to get things done than not and that the repercussions for not doing what you don’t feel like doing can make things worse or delay progress and success.

Do away with doubt. Visualize the benefits and end results of doing what you need or would like to do versus the negative consequences. Remember your "Why", seek and rely on positive motivation, exercise discipline, and consistent action, conquer your fears by facing them, take micro steps toward your goals, and go hard.

Identify Someone Who Is Getting It Right; Find Out Their ‘How’

There’s always someone out there who reminds you that your aspiration is their current reality. Some have your dream weight; someone’s family is the perfect example of heaven on earth; a business out there is breaking records yearly. Search out those that getting it right and get inspiration from them.

Every success you see is usually a product of constructive remodeling of something that is already in existence. These people do not have to be in your physical location. All you may need to do may be to read a book they wrote, read their biographies, or follow their life on social media. Find out their secret that may be of help to you.

Stay Close to Those Who Spur You to Action

There’s an old saying that ‘iron sharps iron’; nothing can be more accurate. You need to always stay around people that have like minds; encourage you in your path and constantly bring out the best in you.

While self-discipline is good, accountability partners are very important for consistency. They keep you in check and also help you up when you fall. That moment when you can’t find your voice of reason is the time to seek the right helping hand.

Let The Fulfilled And Happiest You Shine Forth

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We all perform better and see things more clearly when we are happy and fulfilled. Work on being that way, always. Focus on things that make you happy and fulfilled. Positive energy will make you remain focused on achieving your goals.

So, find what it is that does it for you. Some may opt for games, travel, hookups, or whatever rocks your boat. Everyone has something or someone that broadens their smile and makes every mountain to appear as an anthill before them.

Rest May Be All You Need

This can’t be overemphasized! The reason that you are at a plateau may be simply the side effect of intense hard work without commensurate rest. You need your body to be healthy and well-rested in order to achieve anything noteworthy.

Take that rest if you must. It will help you to re-charge, re-focus, and plan the necessary actions to take. This is the point to identify the best approach to getting back on track. Some might opt for counseling or other forms of therapy; the truth is, it does the magic. Shut the world out and get that long-deserved rest.

At this point, you must have figured out what is standing between you and your goals, and you have learned from this article the course of action you can take to get the ball rolling again. The only sad and realistic thing is – no one can do it for you!

You are the only one that can and if you apply these principles relentlessly, you certainly can. Rest if you must, plan a trip if you need to, talk to those who believe in your dreams, and pay the price when it comes to calling. 

Above all, always remember that a good plan and a small or slow start are better than no start at all.