Wondering where your motivation went? We’ve all been there.
Everything is going great, things are getting done, you’re feeling gung-ho and ready to take on your to-do list each day… and then something comes along that knocks you off your stride.
A family visit. The flu. A school vacation. Something that takes you out of your routine, a routine that was working for you, and puts you in a place where you have to turn your back on that huge to-do list.
Whether it’s one day, one week, or one month, losing your productivity rhythm can be a killer. Not just because of the time that you lost that could have been spent doing important tasks, but because of what happens afterward.
Inertia. Physics isn’t really my thing, but I am very familiar with this concept.
Basically, that body that has spent the last few days watching cartoons with a sick child, eating out with visitors, or sleeping in because there was no school bus to catch is now doing those things, even though there is no longer a need to do them.
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A body in motion stays in motion. And a woman who stays up late drinking wine and laughing with her sisters does not want to wake up for an early morning workout.
Your routine is your motion, and when you stall out, so does all your motivation.
So how do you get that motivation back?
If you’ve been unproductive and want to get back into the groove, the best thing you can do is go for the Easy Win.
Quick and easy is the goal here. Need to start working out? Do five minutes of stretches and pat yourself on the back for exercising today. Supposed to be decluttering your office? Organize one desk drawer and call it a day.
When I’ve fallen off the wagon of writing, the best thing I can do is write something, anything. It doesn’t have to be good (and usually isn’t), but that’s what editing is for. Or the trash. But the point is to get back into the swing of things.
Starting small and easy gives you the opportunity to start up again and succeed. Setting your expectations at the same place you left off will most likely only lead you to failure and discouragement.
Our routines and rhythms are an accumulation of habits
Those habits are built up and fine-tuned, but they all start from a basic keystone habit. In a way, you’re going back to the basics.
When I first started working out, I did one push-up. One. My upper body strength was so sad, it was all I could manage. But from there, I slowly added more.
After having a baby and not exercising beyond just lifting that eight-pound wonder onto my shoulder, I would start again from that one push-up.
Lots of things will interrupt our routines, killing our productivity and motivation. When that happens, it’s more important to start small than go big. Easy wins build confidence and accelerate your motivation.
Maybe those first few days back after the flu or when vacation is over don’t yield the biggest and best fruit, but they do have you coming back the next day and the next, doing a little more each day.
Don’t stress about what you didn’t do while you were hosting guests, cooling fevers, or entertaining kids. Instead, focus on where you are now and what you’ll do today.
Even if it’s just one push-up. Just one cup of water. Just one hundred words written.
Whatever your goals, your projects, or your plans—pick them up, start small, and congratulate yourself on the wins along the way.
How do you motivate yourself when you’ve lost your routine? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!
Looking for some more productivity tips? Then check out these popular posts:
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