We all feel the occasional slump. Regardless of your intentions and how badly you want to keep doing something, you’re always at risk of losing the motivation and drive.
The question is, what can we do about these slumps, and how can we get out of them? Let’s review nine simple but effective tactics.
1. Lift Others Up
Perhaps counterintuitive, but uplifting others can be a fantastic way to get out of a slump and start feeling motivated again. This can be as simple as sending a text message to your partner, parents, a colleague, or an old friend. Share some great news or congratulate them on a recent achievement. A simple positive message can brighten their day, and it can certainly boost your mood.
Alternatively, talk with someone in person. For instance, if you run a company and one of your employees has been doing a great job recently, give them some praise in person. Let your employee know that you’re paying attention.
2. Switch Things Up
Humans are creatures of habit, which means we tend to fall into routines that make our days seem identical. Unfortunately, following the same pattern for long enough can make it feel like our days blend into a never-ending spiral of work and obligations.
An excellent way to get out of a slump and start feeling motivated again is to switch things up. You can do small things initially and gradually make more significant changes that have a greater impact. For instance, start by taking a different route on your morning drive to work. Alternatively, try having something different for breakfast or include a few minutes of morning meditation and stretching.
As time passes, you can make other small changes, like working out during your lunch break instead of after work. Or, why not go out and have some fun with friends in the evening? Netflix will always be there, but playing sports, dancing, or simply taking a walk in the park can have a substantial positive impact on your mental health.
3. Go For a Walk
Many people make the mistake of trying to power through a slump, only to end up even less productive and motivated. But what if instead of trying to keep going, you took a break and went for a walk outside?
Simply going out to breathe some fresh air, soak up sunlight, engage with nature and listen to the birds can put you in a creative mood and make you feel better. As a result, you might find it much easier to find motivation and become productive again.
4. Be Mindful of Your Thoughts
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.”
Many people pay no attention to their thoughts and often struggle with confidence and self-belief. That inevitably impacts their motivation because why push yourself if you know something is impossible to do?
So, what can you do about it? One thing everyone can practice is paying more attention to their thoughts. Each day, your mind forms thousands of thoughts, many of which occur from habit. In other words, the brain develops shortcuts to react to specific situations. Playing attention to your thoughts can help you change the narrative and prevent yourself from getting negative or doubting your abilities. It only takes a few minutes to check in with yourself.
5. Talk It Out
Sharing issues is somewhat of a taboo topic, especially with men, but talking things out might be precisely what you need. Talking to a friend or family member about struggles can help you see the problem from a new angle and understand why you’ve fallen into a slump.
For instance, you might share that you’ve been working long hours six days per week. That alone can be enough to realize that you’ve been stepping on the gas pedal far too long and should lift your foot off the gas for a while. But even if you don’t come to eye-opening realizations, communication is beneficial because it never hurts to be heard and receive some feedback.
6. Review Positive Feedback
Regardless of what work you do, you probably receive positive feedback from clients, colleagues, and superiors. Save it in a folder on your computer and review it when dealing with motivation issues.
Remembering the positive impact you’ve had on others or the good impressions you’ve left on people you work with can be an excellent way to re-ignite the spark and boost your mood.
7. Take Inspiration From Others
Another practical thing you can do when you feel stuck is to take inspiration from someone else. There are tons of amazing people out there, each with a unique story of how they’ve overcome adversity to achieve success. Leverage their stories to boost your motivation and remind yourself why you started.
One option is to look at the people in your life. For example, if you know someone with an inspiring story, consider the challenges they overcame to reach their goals. Alternatively, seek inspiration online. There are tons of great stories of inventors, entrepreneurs, athletes, and other types of people you can read or watch.
8. Get Out of Town
Changing your scenery by getting out of town for a while could be precisely what you need to overcome a slump.
Many people spend their entire lives in the city, barely going anywhere and keeping themselves to the same strict routine. The problem with too much rigidity is that it makes you lose sight of two things:
As a result, you become less interested and engaged with what you’re doing. You start going through the motions and dread the work you do. Going away from it all can be a great way to restart yourself, remember why you started, and reignite your motivation.
9. Try a Standing Desk
Everyone who works long hours understands how difficult it can be to remain seated. Aside from contributing to poor posture, sitting for long periods can make you feel tired and difficult to concentrate.
A good solution might be to get yourself a standing desk. You can start the day seated and extend the desk as soon as you start feeling an energy or motivation slump. Standing on your feet can help you feel more energized and improve your productivity.
Coach Michael
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