6 ways to get motivated when you’re in a slump

Even the most ambitious, motivated people occasionally fall into a slump and struggle to get tasks done. The good news is that once we have discovered why we’re lacking motivation, we can pull ourselves out of the slump and finish the work we have to do.

1. Figure out the cause

Perhaps you’re tired – you’ve been lacking good nutrition, sleep, exercise and you can feel your immune system weakening. Alternatively it could be something beyond physical feelings, perhaps you’re feeling down or lacking the confidence needed to get the task done.

Maybe you’re in the middle of a project and have gotten past the excitement at the beginning but you’re still not near the end. You’re in the difficult part and are not sure how to regain motivation to finish the project.

Lastly, the slump could be caused by your own fear. You’re procrastinating because you’re afraid or just really don’t want to do the task at hand. So how can you overcome these issues? 

2. Look after yourself

Some days, you might need rest. Other days, your body might need exercise. Often you just may need to get away from your desk and get some fresh air. Think about how your recent habits may have affected your health.

Have you been getting adequate rest? Have you been maintaining a healthy diet? Have you had a recent illness that has left you feeling rundown? Think about how you’ve been treating your body. Taking care of your body may help you get out of your slump.

3. Stop doubting yourself

Are you struggling with negative thinking? Has there been a recent negative comment or event in your life that has been bothering you? Are you comparing yourself to other people?

When you’re struggling with negative thinking, give yourself a compliment, or do something you enjoy to to boost your motivation.

4. Make it almost impossible to NOT do the task

If you’re dreading a task, the best thing to do is to get it done and out of the way, even if you have to force yourself into it.

For example, if you know you want to workout in the morning, try placing your workout clothes next to your bed so they’re the first thing you see when you wake up. Also, call a friend and make plans to meet them at the gym in the morning. Having an accountability partner will increase your likelihood of success.

5. Persevere

When you set out to achieve a big goal, it’s usually pretty easy to be motivated at the start. At the beginning, you think achieving the end result and you are full of enthusiasm. It’s also pretty easy to be motivated at the end of a long journey as once the end is in sight, the excitement of seeing the finish line can propel you forward.

The middle of the journey is usually the hardest. In the middle, the initial excitement has diminished, but you haven’t gotten close to your goal yet.

In the middle, you realise exactly how much time and effort is required to complete your journey. You get frustrated and frequently face the difficulty of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to move forward.

It’s important to remember why you started the project or task in the first place as this can give us the boost of motivation we need to complete the task. Commit to taking daily actions that move you closer to your end goal, even if they’re extremely tiny actions- just keep moving.

6. The slump won’t last forever

Start moving forward with tiny little steps. Remember that perseverance can make a huge difference in your success.

Remember that moving forward when you’re not feeling motivated helps you push through your fears, get out of your comfort zone, and win the mental battles you have with yourself.

Each step you take during the difficult times will help you feel more confident and capable, and give you the momentum to continue to move out of your slump.

When you realise you how motivated you can be on your bad days, you will know how to get yourself through rough times in the future.