the motivation switch. how do you control it?

[Pounce]

I'm normally a highly motivated person. Just last week I was buzzing around, getting things done, excited about life. Now the fog has come back and turned off the motivation switch! It took me an hour to will myself out of bed. It took me another two hours to get dressed. I tried making a list, but it's just overwhelming - I can't prioritise so I end up doing nothing. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I can motivate myself to have a shower! How do you manage this problem?

[HA1]

Hi Pounce

To be honest, I really don't fight against what my body is telling me.  If I feel like staying in bed, I will.  If I don't feel like doing some of those important things that I need to do, well I set them aside for a day.  

Instead, when I feel like I really lack motivation, then I do whatever takes met fancy, I forget the lists I have.  

This I know is contrary to what all the experts say. So it might not work for everyone, but it works for me.

Take care

K

[Pounce]

So let go of the guilt and just ride it out hey? Sounds like a good option when nothing else is working 🙂

[HA1]

Hi Pounce

Absolutely!  Most of us carry enough guilt around as it is, so no need for any additional luggage.  Just like me today, feel pretty flat. Funny that it often happens after a day in the crowds!

How are you feeling today?

K

[Pounce]

Actually, I'm not feeling very good today. Highly strung, stressed out and agro. Trying to cope at work but the noise is really getting to me and I can't think straight 😞

[JessF]

Hello Pounce, noise at work can be very upsetting if you're not in the right mood. Is there a quieter space you can get away to? Sometimes if I need some space I will book a small meeting room and go and shut myself in there with some work.

[Pounce]

Thanks for your reply Jess, I do have the option of picking up my computer and going to the meeting room if the noise gets too much, so I may do that in future. I've found that sometimes it's better to just give up on office work and retreat into the lab, where it is quiet

[HA1]

Hi Pounce,

How are you travelling now?

You know, noise at work was not something I could deal with well, and same at home (unfortunately).  I too tended to get angry and irritable.  

Does it work for you to walk into another quiet room?

K

[Pounce]

Thanks hideaway, I'm travelling pretty well atm. I've been doing my office work when the noisy people are away! Although just had a diagnosis of bipolar confirmed, but I'll start another post about that

[Narniakid]

Hi Pounce!

I agree with what Hideaway said in just giving yourself some down-time to just relax and do the things you WANT to do, not what you HAVE to do. You're only human, and taking care of ourselves is so important - we need down-time to function more productively and efficiently.

One way I try to get through my list of things I need to do is by a rewards system. For example, I will do, say, the first two things on the list, and then I'll reward myself with an episode of a tv series I like, and then I'll just repeat that system throughout the list. For smaller tasks and running errands and such, I will do all of them in one big burst of energy, and then give myself a bigger reward, like an afternoon lazing about at a local cafe with my boyfriend. Find what works for the tasks you have and what you find more effective.

I also keep a mood board next to my work desk (have a look on Pinterest to see some good examples) full of inspiring quotes, photos of places I'd like to go one day, things I'd like to buy etc, as goals to remind me what I am working towards.

I hope you can find my words somewhat helpful.

Keep smiling!

Crystal