How to be productive when you’re not motivated

Today I’m going to be sharing some tips for being productive when you’re not motivated. This has always been a struggle for me, so when I found some solutions I knew I wanted to share then with y’all so that you would know what to do!

1. Ask yourself: Why don’t I feel motivated?

There’s a wide spectrum of reason on why you’re not motivated. It might be that you simply don’t enjoy doing the task, or it could be possible that you have too much on your plate. Whatever it is, there is a fairly simple solution. If you don’t enjoy the task- make it enjoyable! One idea is to provide yourself with a reward for completing the task- maybe 5 minutes of social media, 10 minutes to read a book, or even simply a break to have a healthy snack. This question is essential because once you know why you don’t feel motivated you can remedy it.

1. Put away media.

This one is absolutely essential if you just feel unmotivated. It’s easier to scroll through social media that to sit down and complete tasks, even if the task is something you enjoy. Turn the power of all of your devices and turn off all of your notifications. You should probably make some way for emergency phone calls to come through, just in case.

1. Eat a healthy snack.

When I don’t feel motivated, I’m ready to munch on things like chips and sweets. Aside from the fact that those foods are unhealthy, they’re not going to help with the motivation issue, I promise! If you’re feeling unmotivated, try making a smoothie with some nuts and greek yogurt, plus some fresh fruits/veggies to make it even healthier. I find that taking the time to make and drink my smoothie gives me a break (which helps too) and gives me much-needed energy. Fresh fruits and vegetables also help with this.

1. Get moving

Sometimes you’ve just been sitting too long, or you haven’t stretched all day. That is the time to shut off your screen, close your planner, and take a quick walk. It probably wouldn’t be a great time to do an elaborate workout because that would take more time and you probably wouldn’t enjoy it very much. A walk is relaxing and peaceful.Try taking one next time you feel unmotivated.

1. Make it easy to do

During my research for this post, I came across an interesting sentence: “It’s hard not to do something when everything you need is staring you in the face.” The post was talking about grouping the items and placing them in a place where you’re bound to see them- maybe on top of the TV remote or your phone, next to your alarm clock in the morning, or even where you put your purse when you get home. For example, if you want to start making a smoothie every morning, you can gather every single ingredient you need and put it on the kitchen counter. That way, it’s so easy, even easier than making a frozen waffle for the umpteenth day in a row.

1. Eat a frog.

While this statement is probably true, I wouldn’t recommend eating a live frog… ever! However, doing the hardest/worst/least enjoyable thing on your to do list first I do recommend. The first task you do should be the hardest, and then you’ll fly through the rest of them.

1. Set a timer

If you’re trying to accomplish an especially long task, don’t try to do it in one sitting. One idea is to work on your task for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. You have enough time to check social media as a reward, or even better get a drink of water and make a smoothie. After three repeats of 25 + 5, take a 30 minute break.

1. Work in a space you enjoy

Whether this is in a coffee shop, at your own desk, or under a tree outside, this really does help. A change of scenery always gives me motivation, it’s really helpful!

Hopefully these tips will help you if you’re struggling with this as well. Goodbye for now!

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