Counselor's Corner: Getting Motivated After a Setback

After you have gone through a trial or setback, do you find it difficult to get motivated? You could lack the motivation to get up in the morning, be productive at work, start and/or complete daily tasks, or build relationships.

→Reflect: One of the first questions you should ask yourself is, “Do you know the reason(s) behind lacking motivation?

 

Are you lacking in motivation?

There could be many reasons you lack motivation:

·         A recent difficult trial, setback, or circumstance

·         Someone close to you betrayed, lied or took advantage of you

·         Chronic stressors in your life.

·         Hormonal imbalances for women

·         Don’t feel you are making progress

·         Feel every time you move forward, you have a setback

·         Feel overwhelmed-physically, mentally, or relationally

·         Not getting proper sleep and/or tiredness during the day

There may need to be some changes to make first to increase your motivation, such as getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep nightly. Visiting a nutritionist/doctor for hormonal balance issues as well as having blood work done to test proper levels. If you don’t feel physically well, it will be most challenging to motivate yourself.

After assessing your health and getting the proper treatments, the following are ways to get motivated again:

1.      Start small and make one or two goals for yourself each day.

2.      Take off your plate what is draining you and wasting time.

3.      Get inspired through a movie, a book or reading about a success story.

4.      Recognize that motivation ebbs and flows, some days you will have lots of motivation and other days not so much. Just keep going anyhow on the days you don’t feel motivated, knowing you will have motivational days ahead.

5.      Stop the negative self-talk about why you are not getting more accomplished.

6.      Go out in nature and let the beauty of nature inspire you.