What a perfect time it is to chat about feeling stuck and unmotivated. Just today, I found myself stuck in a rut and uninspired with zero clue on what to put up for today's blog post. This is definitely a cycle I think most of us have and do experience somewhat regularly. Whether it's with work, hobbies or just the everyday- life can get trivial. In a lot of ways, the mundane is good. Routine and structure are essential for most of us. It keeps us all in line and more adept at living I guess, haha. That makes total sense though- routine gives a sense of purpose to your everyday life and a feeling of familiarity. The known is comfortable which is why I think people in general tend to be creatures of habit. We like what we like and if it's not broke, don't fix it!
I very much fit into all of those boxes, however I also often times find myself feeling bored or uninspired with the familiarity. In the case of writing for my blog, I ping pong around the topics of beauty, style, health/wellness, food + miscellaneous lifestyle. It's a pretty broad range which means for the most part, I can usually come up with something to share on my Monday/Wednesday/Friday posting schedule. I also love and "live" all of the categories that I talk about on a daily basis- whether it's trying a new skincare product, switching up my fitness routine or reading a new book- and that makes it easy to incorporate into content. That being said, it sometimes still becomes monotonous. Perhaps it's the style of posts I share or that I do too much of the same thing but there are days when I just have no clue what to post about or I hate every idea I come up with.
While I still find myself in the same boat from time to time, I have found some steps that help to pull me out of a rut and reignite some motivation. Here are a few things that work for me:
+DO IT ANYWAYS - Sometimes you just have to walk through the fire to get out. Depending on the situation, taking action on what you’re stuck on is what can help get you out of it. I find this applies to making decisions or just everyday responsibilities you might be putting off. In the case of hard decisions, ripping the band aid off and just making a choice alleviates a lot of anxiety and indecision that makes you feel stuck. It doesn’t always feel good and is easier said than done, but it works. When it comes to feeling unmotivated and not wanting to do something that is for your benefit, sometimes you just need to do it anyway. I get into ruts here and there when it comes to taking workout classes where I will skip a week or two. The longer I go without going, the more unmotivated I become. When I finally force myself to go back, I typically snap right out of the rut and can jump back into a consistent schedule. Sometimes it's as easy as creating new momentum by taking action.
+GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK - On the flip side, sometimes you actually need to just pause and give yourself a break. How's that for some contradictory advice? This again depends on the scenario you're facing but there are times when you need to just give yourself some grace. I tend to take this route when it comes to the more mentally or emotionally draining parts of life. In these cases, I allow myself to take a break and be okay with feeling stuck and unmotivated. Once upon a time, I took the approach that I just had to keep going and going and going with everything in life. What I learned was that for some things, that ends up being more harmful. I've shared this before but now I make room and allow for periods of rest when I need them. If you allow yourself to take time to recharge, it's a lot easier to regain motivation once you're in a new headspace.
+GET ACTIVE - Remember "exercise gives you endorphins- endorphins make you happy!" ;) Sometimes it's as easy as just taking a walk. Walking or doing some type of movement is scientifically proven to help lower stress levels and boost your mood. I know my overall mood and how I'm feeling definitely correlates at times to my level of motivation and ability to deal with feeling "stuck." Nature and the outdoors can also clear your head and give room for creativity to flow!
+PRACTICE GRATITUDE - Feeling stuck for me is usually tied to wanting something that I don't currently have or that feels out of reach. I think we feel stuck in life because our expectation of where we should be isn't aligned with the reality of where we're actually at. In today's world of social media, comparison and consumerism- it's all too easy to fall into. I'm guilty of this one more than I'd care to admit but when you focus on the things you do have, it helps to put things into perspective. I've always like the "I get to do X" versus "I have to do X" outlook.
I also find moments of empathy to really drive this home. Just this week, there has been a lot of talk on TikTok in regards to a pool drowning incident of a little three year old boy. The horror is unfathomable- my heart absolutely goes out to this family and anyone who has ever known or been touched personally by anything of this nature. I've felt absolutely devastated and while I don't have my own children, I can only imagine the sense of fear that must come with being a parent. I didn't plan to take this post in this direction but what a reminder to count our blessings and be grateful for the good in our lives. It scares me how quickly something like this can absolutely change your life and how both silly and lucky we are to be in a position to sweat the small things. It really puts things into perspective and THAT motivates the hell out of me.
I think that's a good place to end things- wishing you a great weekend! xx.
