What If You Want to Do Nothing?

Failure is impossible. Each failure is a lesson learned and a stepping stone to success. The reason some people ‘fail’ is because they give up, and succumb to the nagging voice in their head saying ‘I don’t want to do anything’. If you find yourself constantly cruising the realms of complacency, then this article may help you to find the motivation that you need to lead a life where you feel like doing everything.

How to Find Motivation if You Don’t Want to Do Anything

1.     Think About Whether You Need a Break

An important thing to consider when attempting to boost your motivation in any activity or action is to evaluate wether your mind and body needs a break. Continually performing the same action over and over will, with little doubt, lead to loss of motivation to carry out that action any longer. If you relax, and have a break from whatever it is you are required to do, then your mind and body can feel rejuvenated and much more motivated.

2.     Remain Active

Repetition can be a boring thing, if you are finding that you are loosing motivation, then ensuring to remain active through a varied selection of activities that you enjoy will help to avoid any loss of motivation. A great example is to go for a long walk outside, through nature. This can help to clear your head and reinstate your motivation, and the exercise is good for you as well.

3.     Do Things That’ll Lighten Up Your Mood

Some great advice in remaining positive and motivated is by acting as though you are. Smile, laugh, sing, do anything that happy, motivated people do, and it is almost guaranteed that feelings of jubilance will soon ensue. There is a science behind this, these actions will release dopamine and serotonin in your brain, which are responsible for feelings of joy and euphoria. Other things you can do is chat with a friend, or listen to your favorite music whilst dancing like no one is watching.

4.     Know That Small Steps Lead to Big Goals

This can be great advice for those who have lost motivation. If a person had an extensive workload that was daunting to them, it is entirely possible that their motivation to complete that work will diminish. Starting small, and taking small steps to complete your goal will help dramatically in gaining motivation, and weakening the workload.

5.     Offer Yourself Rewards

I don’t want to do anything!! How about rewarding yourself for progress? Offering yourself rewards to complete tasks can help dramatically in the attainment of motivation to complete said task. This reward can include anything from a night out with old friends to a short break or vacation, although you shouldn’t reward yourself every time with a vacation, as you would rarely get anything done if you were constantly on holiday.

4. Associate Pleasure as Opposed to Pain

Many studies have suggested that human beings associate all actions with either pleasure, or pain. If you are loosing motivation to complete a task or action, it may be due to the fact that you have associated that action with pain. This cognitive process is achieved subconsciously, meaning, you may have no idea that you have associated that action with pain. To re-associate the action, continue to positively re-enforce the facts about why you were carrying out that action in the first place. For example, if you have lost motivation to carry out your exercise routing, remind yourself of how it will be beneficial to your health, body, and mind, and how you feel great once it’s completed.

6.     Breathe and Mediate

Breathing can help you to remain calm, as well as avoid any negative thoughts that may be suppressing your motivation. If you have negative thoughts, telling you not to do the task or action, constantly saying inside your head – I don’t want to do anything then taking long, deep breaths and focusing on your breathing can help to suppress these thoughts, and promote motivation. This is essentially meditation.

7.     Ensure that You Sleep Sufficiently

Our bodies do amazing things whilst we are in a deep sleep. Failure to sleep sufficient hours each night can have a detrimental effect on your ability to focus, think clearly, and remain motivated. So ensuring you get a vast amount of shut eye will, hopefully, ensure you retain your motivation.

8.     Embrace Your Fear

It is highly possible that fear is the main hindrance in you completing any task or action required of you. This could be fear of failure, or fear of confusion. If this is the case, then remember that fear is felt by all, reevaluate your task and see what is making you fearful. Embrace that fear, use it to start a fire in your belly that reaches your mind to kick starts your motivation.

9.     Be Conscious of Your Cognitive Well-Being

This has been touched on above, but if you find yourself constantly thinking negatively, then you may find that your motivation, aspiration, and even your happiness may dwindle. Although it’s easier said than done, thinking positive thoughts will help with your overall well being. If you find thinking positively hard, then try the breathing method mentioned above, or try to distract your mind from thinking negatively by doing something you enjoy.

Precious Advice From Others

“Feeling healthy can have a powerful effect on your cognitive well-being. If you find that you are loosing motivation, try starting your day with a fresh green smoothie. This will not only deliver essential nutrients to your body, but can also help to rejuvenate the mind.”

“Speaking with those who you trust can be beneficial in solving any motivational problems you may have. Another humbling experience is to visit those less fortunate than you, who are living in great adversity yet still remain cheerful. Their strength through suffering can help you put your problems into perspective.”

I Don’t Want to Do Anything: When to Worry

If you are worried about yourself or another, perhaps you have no motivation to carry out day-to-day tasks, or you believe someone you care for may be depressed, then below are some signs to look out for:

  • Finding it difficult to concentrate, or make decisions
  • Loss of energy/fatigue
  • Insomnia or excessive sleeping
  • Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, restlessness, and/or pessimism
  • Decreased/loss of interest in activities once considered pleasurable
  • Loss of appetite or eating excessively
  • Feelings of anxiety and sadness
  • Consistent aching/pain, cramps, headaches, and/or problems with digestion, all of which not subsiding to medication.
  • Suicidal thoughts

If you, or someone you care about is showing one ore more of these signs then there is no reason to fear. Just talking can help, many professionals will be pleased to help you solve your problem, but a friendly ear and advice from a family member or friend can also go a long way in getting back on track to happiness and motivation. 

 
 
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