If l Have No Motivation For Anything Here Are 8 Effective Tips

No matter who you are and no matter what your goals are: low motivation is part of life. There have been moments where you said 'I have no motivation for anything'.

There are moments in life when you just don't have any motivation. No motivation to work.

No motivation to study.

No motivation to exercise.

No motivation to clean up.

No motivation for anything.

After all, we are not machines that execute commands at the push of a button and work through endless to-do lists without emotion...

Personally, I don't know anyone who is always 100% motivated.

Of course, that doesn't mean that you can't do anything about your lack of self-motivation .

There are a few very effective motivational aids to pursue your tasks full of energy again.

And that's exactly what this article is about.

By the way: You can also watch the short version of the article as a video: 

8 EFFECTIVE TIPS AGAINST A LACK OF MOTIVATION

Are you looking for your motivation like a lost sock? Then you are right here.

Below are the 8 most effective tips against a lack of motivation.

For me personally, motivational tip number 8 works the best.

Tip number 5, on the other hand, is very deep and can shock you quite a bit. But sometimes that's where the dog is buried.

1. Use the motivation quickie!

You probably know it:

You have made up your mind to do something, but have absolutely no motivation for it:

 - Complete your cover letter

 - to go jogging

 - To study for the next exam

 - to do the tax return

 - Prepare the important presentation for next week

For hours you've been shirking the task and procrastinating so well Homer Simpson would be proud of you.

Then try a quickie!

No, not the kind of quickie you're thinking of right now (you piglet), but with the motivational quickie.

How it works?

Very simple. 

Make it a point to do the scheduled task for 5 minutes.

You can certainly bring yourself to 5 minutes, right?

But what happens in most cases is interesting. 5 minutes can quickly become 30, 60 or even 90 minutes.

That's because 99% of the time, it's just the beginning that takes so much effort.

Once we start and get into the task, it's much easier.

The 5-minute motivational quickie works wonders!

Have you noticed that once you go jogging, do your taxes, study or do something else, it's not hard anymore? Yes, maybe even suddenly fun?

Even.

2. Small steps

We are often unmotivated because our goal seems too big and powerful. We believe that it is impossible to achieve.

Imagine you want to write a book.

The task seems so big that it's easy to lose motivation (I know what I'm talking about because I've written several books).

But what is a book made of? From chapters. And each chapter made up of sub-chapters. And each subchapter from paragraphs.

Writing a book can be very intimidating. But what about a chapter? And a subchapter? And a paragraph?

I think you get what I'm getting at.

When you break down your task or goal into small steps, it seems much more tangible and realistic.

And that is very important for your motivation.

If you think you can't do something, you're lacking motivation.

motivational help

Break down your task into small steps

If you've never been to the gym and your goal is to 100kg. Doing squats will demotivate you.

Once you commit to doing 3×10 reps with no weight, things are different.

Don't forget: every great journey begins with a small step.

(Also read: Overcoming lethargy )

3. Do it first thing in the day

There are certainly some things in your life that you don't like to do. Unfortunately, it is often precisely the things that are important to achieve your goals .

You're probably putting off these tasks for as long as possible...

Do you know what works better?

Do them as early in the day as possible.

What many people don't know is that our willpower is limited. And the more tasks we do that cost willpower, the less we get of them.

So in the morning your willpower tank is still full.

Another big bonus: you'll feel relaxed and good for the rest of the day because the worst is behind you.

For example, let's say you make a commitment to jog for 30 minutes every day.

Then do it before work. Then you're done. Then you are proud of yourself. Then you feel good because you have overcome your weaker self.

For me, for example, it's the same with writing. While I enjoy writing, I often find it difficult to get started. And the longer I wait, the harder it gets.

Then there's my guilty conscience, the self-reproach, etc. You know what I'm talking about.

That's why writing is one of the first things I do in the morning. For example, as I write these lines, it is 09:37.

I will probably continue to write for another 60 to 90 minutes.

Even if I'm not productive for the rest of the day, it was a pretty good day - because I got the most important things done first.

4. DO NOT visualize your goal

A common motivational tip is to visualize your success.

So you should imagine that you have already reached your goal:

 - How to cross the finish line of your first marathon.

 - How you will look after losing 10 kg.

 - What your office looks like when you finally get the new job.

The problem?

This supposed motivational tip turns out to be an anti-tip.

Visualizing in a positive way—for example, imagining yourself getting a new job or passing an exam—will, in many cases, cause you to perform poorly.

Psychologists believe it's because positive visualization makes us lazier and less prepared because our brain thinks we've already achieved our goal. 

no more motivation

So if you imagine how sexy you'll look once you've lost 10kg, your brain thinks you've already lost 10kg - and this makes you less motivated to actually do something about your goal.

I don't know about you, but I've observed this phenomenon many times in myself. The more I imagine that I've already achieved something, the harder it is to motivate myself to do it.

So what works better?

That you imagine all the intermediate steps. The difficulties, the problems, the risks - and how you will deal with them.

This will prepare you better internally.

By the way: What has an enormous influence on your endurance and motivation is your mindset. That's why I wrote a guide that tells you how to develop a strong mindset and increase your motivation. You can download the guide here for free .

5. Give yourself a break

Are you completely out of motivation? Do you feel lacking in energy and listless? Are you completely demotivated? 

Then treat yourself to a break!

Recharging your batteries often works wonders.

This may mean taking a short nap or going for a walk. It may mean taking the rest of the day off. Or it can mean switching off for several days. 

In our increasingly hectic and fast-paced world, we often forget to give ourselves enough rest.

But without relaxation, at some point there is no longer any tension. Without breaks and periods of rest, sooner or later you will run out of motivation and energy .

no motivation to learn

Working 24/7 is nonsense!

It is not uncommon for our greatest breakthroughs to occur during periods of rest.

Then we have important insights, gather new motivation and gain new strength.

So if you've been going full throttle lately and now have no motivation at all, take a break.

Paradoxically, sometimes the only way to get ahead is to stand still.

6. Question your goals

It's perfectly normal to feel unmotivated from time to time.

However, if you have been unmotivated for a long time and you constantly lack energy, you should question your goals.

There are countless tips on the subject of goal setting.

But the why behind the goals is rarely discussed.

However, setting a goal is useless unless you know why you're setting it.

Because the motivation behind your goal largely determines how motivated you will be to work towards your goal in the long term.

If you're doing something just to impress your parents, for the money, or because you think it's the right thing to do, you're likely to suffer from persistent motivational problems.

When you set goals that align with your deepest values ​​and beliefs that challenge and inspire you, you're much less likely to struggle with motivational issues. 

Who is more likely to lose weight?

 1 - A person who the (even overweight) doctor recommended to lose weight for health reasons?

 2 - Someone who's committed to living a healthy, active life, no longer sees food as a substitute, and wants to find an exercise they enjoy? If you permanently lose motivation, question your goals. And find something that's fuc*ing meaningful to you.

7. Avoid distractions

Do you know what the number 1 productivity and motivation killer is?

Diversion!

 * emails.

 * Facebook.

 * Instagram.

 * Netflix.

 * youtube.

 * Tinder.

 * These beasts keep you from doing what you set out to do.

I'm damn serious.

Internet and social media eat your motivation and productivity for breakfast. And literally.

If you check email and social media first thing in the morning, your motivation is gone. If you're trying to get something done while your smartphone is beeping and flashing every 3 minutes, anyway.

I'm at a point in my life where many days I leave my phone on airplane mode until lunch. 

It's unbelievable how much more motivated and productive I am in the mornings as a result.

When you're unmotivated, procrastinating, or just not getting anywhere, avoid distractions.

 * Switch your smartphone to flight mode and put it in another room.

 * Avoid Youtube, Netflix, news sites or other time killers.

 * Tell co-workers or roommates that you don't want to be disturbed.

Remember: focus is one of the keys to motivation.

8. Remember your why

You have set yourself an ambitious goal. But along the way there are unexpected challenges, major hurdles and, unfortunately, setbacks. 

Welcome buddy, that's called life!

Most goals in life that are meaningful are not easy. Because if they were simple, they wouldn't be meaningful.

What can help you in difficult times is to remember your why.

 * Why do you want to reach your goal?

 * Why did you start this?

 * Why is it worth continuing?

 * What would happen if you give up?

A strong why is the biggest driving force when push comes to shove (that's why motivational tip 6 is so important).

When you have a clear why, you will keep going, even when it's hard, you're facing setbacks , or you're unmotivated.

The stronger the fire burns in you, the more drive and determination you have.

Motivation is therefore often a by-product of a self-determined life. A life based on your values, beliefs and goals, not those of others.

Follow your path in life. Because that's the only way you'll really get motivated.