Right this minute, I’m coming off of a two-day stomach virus and have a migraine from, you know, where. I want to curl up in bed, turn on my sound machine, and shut out the world. After all, if I lay still enough, my kids won’t notice me if they come into the room, right?
I came up with reason after reason why I could put this post off just one more day because, after all, 24 hours can’t hurt. And I was just about to put my computer down when I realized this was the perfect time to write this post.
I know I’m not alone in this. You’ve been here too. You may be here right now…
So worn out you want to take a break, feeling like you’re spinning your wheels and not making any progress and just ready to quit.
Well, I’m here to tell you I get it. But, sometimes, like now, that’s the perfect time to find your path and get a second wind.
This is for all you worn-out mommas out there — 10 ways to get motivated when you’re tired, frustrated, and ready to give up:
1. Go Back to Your Why
The easiest way to get excited again about anything is to remember you’re the reason for doing it in the first place. If you’re having trouble sticking to your diet, think about how much better you’ll feel once you’ve lost the weight, how much healthier you’ll be, and how your husband’s eyes will pop out of his head when he sees you in a new dress. If you want to kick off your blogging career but can’t find the motivation to write a post today, think about why you decided to start a blog… was it the extra income for your family or a way to express yourself. Whatever it is, get back to your why!
2. Rock the House
If you’re still not ready to start, kick things into high gear with music. Turn it up loud and dance around. Movement stimulates creativity, so get those creative juice flowing. And, if you embarrass your kids in the process, even better!
3. Start from Scratch
Sometimes, when you don’t feel motivated, your subconscious tells you you’re on the wrong path. So, try throwing out everything you’ve done and starting from scratch. I’ve done that several times in my writing, only to have the words flow so much more smoothly!
4. Phone a Friend
Support is important in reaching any goal. If you’re ready to give up, reach out to a friend or your sister or mom, someone you know is going to lift you rather than wallow in pessimism with you. Give them a call and take turns talking about your goals and what you can do to reach them. Commit to keeping each other accountable, and you’ll be back on track.
5. Walk It Out
Or run it out or jump it out….The point is to exercise. Getting active changes your perspective and helps you re-energize. You could even have your accountability buddy exercise with you to get double the motivation power.
6. Picture It
Pictures are powerful. They can make you happy, sad, angry, excited, and motivated! So, picture your goal in your mind. Build a three-dimensional image of what it would look like when you accomplish it. The more detail you can add, the more likely you will regain momentum. And, if you’re not good with your imagination, head over to Pinterest. You’re sure to find pictures that represent the goal you’re aiming for, whether it’s a healthy body, a happy family, a new house, more money, or just about anything else you can dream of.
7. Start Small
A lot of times, a lack of motivation happens when you’re feeling overwhelmed. There are so many steps to reaching your goal that you don’t know how it will ever happen. Break it down and start with just one small action that moves you closer and builds on your success. After all, the old saying is, “Momentum breeds success.”
8. Post Your Goals
It’s hard to be accountable for goals in your head, so write them out. Post them where you’ll see them every day. I like to tape mine to my bathroom mirror and over my coffee pot because I know that no matter what, I’ll see them 10 times each and every day.
9. Reward Yourself
The hardest part of anything is just getting started. Promise yourself a reward for completing even a small portion of your day’s goal. It can be a small break, a cup of ice cream, or even a warm bath with a glass of wine – whatever it takes to make it worthwhile to take that first step.
10. Just Do It
When all else fails, you must do it anyway. Stop procrastinating and grab the life you want right now. It’s yours for the taking.
If your motivation’s in the toilet, get back on track with the 10 tricks above. They’ll help you reach your goals even when you’re tired, frustrated, and ready to call it quits.
And now that I’ve reached my goal and written the post, I’m rewarding myself with a nap. See how I used #9?
I’d love to hear from you about what you do to stay motivated. Please post them in the comments below so we can all grow together. After all, we’re all a work in progress.
If you’re looking for a little more happiness and motivation, check out these posts too:
The 10 Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made as a Mom
The 28 Most Important Things My Kids Taught Me
And as always, I wish you a strong family, optimal health, and smart incomes.
