Have you lost your Mojo ? How to keep motivated when you just can’t be bothered.

Sometimes no matter what we have to do or how much needs done it’s hard to get motivated to do it. This is natural and just part of life but has the pandemic made this more prevalent and are more and more of us feeling less enthusiastic about what we do?

Well, a recent survey says yes. It found that  that a third of workers feel less motivated in their job than they were before covid, with 33 per cent of people say that they are less motivated. (Source: YouGov 2021)

This is no surprise given what the world and everyone in it has gone through in the last 18 months and sadly what many people are still experiencing. 

Is it any wonder many of us are finding it difficult to adapt to the changes the new normal is bringing in our personal and business lives. 

Many of us report low energy levels, increased levels of anxiety and feelings of ‘what’s the point?’ and ‘I can’t be bothered to do anything’.

If this resonates with you, I’d like to share some simple tips that can help us all get our enthusiasm back and increase our motivation levels.

Know your energy levels and work with them

We naturally have more energy at some times of the day than others.

Some people are morning people, and some are not!

If you know when you normally experience energy bursts and slumps, then you can use this to your advantage by making sure you plan the tasks you need to focus and concentrate the most on for the times when your energy levels are highest.

Don’t start your day with your emails

Our email inbox may seem to be our highest priority, but an empty inbox can reduce your energy levels for the rest of the day if you are not careful. 

Would it not be better to focus on what really needs to be done in the day and leave the distractions of the inbox for later. 

Over time we can begin to retrain our minds  to not assume that the priorities of our inbox match up with our own personal goals and responsibilities. 

Always remember if it is that urgent then someone will get in touch with you somehow.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

Everyone deserves a rest now and then so no matter how hard you work, or the hectic nature of your life, remember to be kind to yourself. 

The best indicators of our mental and physical health are usually ourselves, so if your mind and body are telling you that you need a rest, then listen and take that advice before it becomes a warning.

Then you can resume refreshed and relaxed and ready to take on the challenges ahead. 

Remember that you can’t be fully productive all of the time and that you will have good days and not so good days.

Set SMART Goals

One of the most effective ways to keep motivated and get things done is to set goals which mean something to you. These help you improve the important elements of your life and allow you to reach the key milestones in your career.

The most Important part of goal setting is to make them SMART and also to break them down into smaller manageable sub-goals.  Keeping some kind of planner is also useful, whether that’s on paper or electronically so that you don’t lose track of what you want to achieve and where you are on that journey. 

Make Yourself Accountable

What I mean by this is that In order to manage  ourselves, then, we simply need to take concrete steps to motivate ourselves and make ourselves accountable.

This can be as simple as, announcing your intentions (and also sharing your successes) on social media  so others know you will be doing a specific task which should give you the boost to actually achieve the goal or task you have communicated. 

Create a can-do list

To do Lists, from simple to-do lists to complex project plans,  can be a helpful tool for prioritising and planning your day. 

However, if these are too long or poorly organized, they can start to overwhelm you and defeat their intended purpose. It’s better to make them work for you rather than you becoming a slave to a list. 

Instead of viewing them as ‘must do’, why not see them as ‘Can do’.

You could then keep a small can-do list of 5 or fewer activities. Remember,  If it’s not important enough to be on the top 5, leave it off. 

As you complete these activities, you can then add more.

Figure Out What Motivates You

We are all motivated by different things. Some people love solving problems, others are motivated by rewards, the challenge or by learning new skills.

If you want to increase your motivation levels, I’d urge an exercise of introspection. Take some time to be honest with yourself and reflect on what it is that motivates you.

Once you know this it can be the catalyst to drive you forward in life and in business as you use this to drive yourself forward and maintain energy levels. 

Reward Reward Reward

Finally, and possibly more importantly, remember and celebrate every success no matter how small. 

Why not treat yourself with something you love whenever you reach a goal. And for best results, make it something healthy, well most of the time anyway.

So, if your motivation levels are lower than you’d like, why not try all or some of these ideas and hopefully in time you will get your mojo back. 

John Joe McGinley September 2021