Don't Rely on Motivation. Ever.
If you rely on any stimulating factor, you’ll never reach your goals.
Hey,
This is Darshak from Medium, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Let me start with some simple questions.
Do you always rely on motivation and willpower to work towards your goals?
If yes, what’s the success ratio?
How many times are you able to work when you don’t want to?
Perhaps, not many times!
You’re not alone. I am with you. Motivation backstabbed me when I needed it the most.
And then I had to befriend my enemy - PROCRASTINATION!
But, not anymore. I’ve found some great solutions to work without relying on motivation.
Motivation is a backstabber.
Motivation is an illusion.
Motivation betrays.
Motivation leaves you hanging dry.
Okay, enough of cursing motivation.
Let me start by sharing my story!
It’s a Tuesday morning. I don’t feel like working today. I wake up, and my brain tells me to stay in bed.
It doesn’t make sense when it does this, but when I’m able to break free from the fog of sleep, I realize that everything is going okay right now.
This feeling is very common when you’re in a slump or a rut. It can be difficult to push through and do what you need to when motivation wears thin.
Trust me; it’s not a great thing to feel like the worst version of yourself, especially when you’re a content creator in an exploding economy where time is money.
Sometimes, the reason for unwillingness to work is “lack of rest,” but most of the time, it’s something else — laziness, fear, inactivity, unproductive habits, monotony, etc., you name it.
It’s inevitable to find a way to do the work anyway because if you only do the important tasks when you’re motivated, you might never get it done.
Here are some strategies that will empower you to take charge of your life’s goals without relying on any stimulating factors. They have worked for me every time, and I am sure it will do the same for you.
Press The Right Button To Get Going
How many times have you told yourself, “I deserve this,” and then you showed up?
Showing up for yourself is important because it means you’re willing to take the first step.
Paul, my colleague, arrived at work feeling slightly under the weather. He had undergone radiation therapy for his cancer and wasn’t supposed to work. His stomach pains were worse than usual, but he needed to get his tasks done to focus on future projects when the side effects faded.
Paul showed up for work despite his poor health because he left himself with no other option.
When Paul walked into the office building, no one seemed bothered by what he looked like or smelled — he was no less than a superhero coming in from an illness with puffy eyes and nose plugged up with tissues.
What matters the most is not what you achieve but how you achieve!
The person who shows up during unfavorable circumstances surely succeeds because he gains immense blessing-power from Almighty and his subordinates.
Showing up when you don’t want to can mean so many different things depending on your situation:
You care about your goals
You’re empathetic to those who rely on you
If you don’t have a strong reason to achieve your goal, it’ll be difficult to get the work done without motivation. But if you can find a compelling reason to push through and reach your goals, then willpower won’t be necessary.
You have to find and press the right button to get the work done!
Dump Your Motivation and Shift Focus
It can be tempting to skip out on your commitments when you don’t want to show up. Motivation always leaves you in those needful times.
I woke up one morning, ready for the day ahead of me. I was going to work on my most passionate project, but I couldn’t seem to motivate myself enough. I spent hours trying everything — music, coffee, exercise, and meditation.
Nothing worked!
Finally, after a few days of failing to show up, I had an idea!
What if I dumped motivation and focused on something else!
So I tried it out: Focus more on my feelings than the expected physical result. And it worked!
I made sure everyone involved in my work knew how I felt and what they could do to help things go smoothly. I even asked my team member if he would switch roles for a day. And it turned out to be refreshing (for both of us).
This switching option might not be valid for everyone, but you can choose a different focus for the day when you don’t feel like showing up.
You might need to create a leisure plan for days when you don’t feel like working. Here are a few ideas:
Declutter the office desk
Answer emails
Help someone complete their tasks
Run errands
Replenish the office inventory
Being Proactive Is a Superpower
“I do not feel like working” is not an instantaneous feeling!
Any accumulated unattended feeling of boredom, laziness, unwillingness, and lethargy, culminates into not wanting to work. I didn’t know this reality until I experienced it.
The day started like any other workday: uninteresting and tedious with no real purpose or meaning behind it. I cranked out my nine-to-five job diligently without much thought on how I contribute to society at large because, frankly, who cares? It’s not like anyone expects me to pour my heart into meaningless tasks. It’s all about getting through the day so that I can go home. This unattended feeling dragged me to work without zeal and passion.
The day I dealt with this feeling was the day I quit my job and became a writer. Since then, I didn’t have to push myself every day.
Identifying the reason for your aversion can help you stay honest with your work. If the cause is fatigue, taking a day off from work can recharge your mental battery. But, if the reason is something else, you might have to dig deeper.
The sooner you recognize your true feelings and address them, the faster you’ll get the work done.
Our moods are influenced by our state of mind, which has everything to do with how we think about things. That’s why changing your mindset around your tasks will change how you feel over time — after all, willingness to work doesn’t just come from the air without a purposeful thought!
Create an Automated System That Does Not Require Motivation or Willpower
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as everyone works differently.
However, here are a few general tips that might help:
Find a time of day when you’re most productive and set aside that time specifically for work. Don’t let distractions get in the way — put your phone away, close your door, and so on.
This method will help you get into a routine and make it easier to focus on the task at hand.
If possible, try to break down the work into smaller tasks that can be completed in a shorter amount of time. This will make it feel less daunting and more manageable.
Again, setting smaller goals will help you stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Create a system that works for you and stick to it. There’s no need to try and change things up every time you don’t feel like working. The more you automate your working process, the less willpower you’ll need.
Of course, there will be times when you cannot force yourself to work. In these cases, it’s best to take a break and come back later.
The most important thing is not to beat yourself up over it — everyone has off days. Just try to make up for it the next time around.
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Instead of dwelling on how lazy you are and how miserable you feel right now, think about where you want to go in the future.
When do you plan to leave your day job if you are working on your own business? How will you feel when you no longer have to make loan payments?
Yes, picturing your objectives can help you stay motivated, but you'll have more success if you also establish a strategy for achieving them. This is the ideal drink to help you achieve your goal.
Just one step at a time is all that is required in order for you to achieve where you want to go in your life. The ability to face your fears and go to the gym without hesitation is essential for any business owner.
Don't waste time waffling.
Why Divorce Motivation Forever
Motivation is a fleeting emotion sparked by some external stimulus. Motivating workout videos with a catchy soundtrack and an energizing speaker are simple to find on YouTube and other fitness-related sites.
Because of the exhilaration and euphoria that comes from seeing these sorts of movies, many people decide to start their day with a workout at the gym because they feel ready and raring to go. And this is wonderful since we all need a little bit of inspiration from time to time.
But the next morning, you're not as enthused as you were the night before. That's why you decide to stay in bed and hope that you'll get back into the swing of things when you wake up. But it doesn't return the following day or the following.
We expect to wake up in the morning still energized and eager to put on our workout clothes and head out the door. This, however, does not take place.
The motive may be built up rapidly, but it can also be drained just as quickly.
You're probably hoping for a burst of inspiration so that you can get out of bed and do what has to be done.
However, this isn't true. It is impossible for you to be properly inspired to act when the action is urgently needed in your life. Putting your faith in something that is fleeting is a recipe for disaster.
A Quick Recap
You may lack motivation and willpower, but that doesn’t mean you need to give up.
There are a few different ways and tricks of the trade that may get you to do the work without relying on your motivation and willpower:
Find and press the right button
Dump your inspiration and shift your focus
Be proactive
Create an automated system
Keep your eyes on the prize
Now, I would like to hear from you — which idea resonated with you the most?
I hope you enjoyed reading my story as much I did writing it.
If you did, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family.
If you’re on Twitter, let’s connect! Reach me - @DarshakDRana
Before you go, I will leave you with a powerful quote from Paul J. Meyer:
“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
Thanks for reading.
Stay happy, blessed, and safe!
See you next Wednesday!
With love,
Darshak