All of us deal with stress sometimes and sometimes stress is good. It pushes us forward, in a way it can give us sustenance– but that’s only in short bursts. Prolonged stress is another thing altogether. Lost motivation.
Prolonged stress leads to illness. It drains our motivation as effectively as a leak in a balloon. When you feel the heavy weight of stress bearing down on you, there are a few simple things you can do to bring yourself back to center.
Remember you are not meant to be “on” 24/7
With smart phones and texting and emails and the thousand other ways we have to stay in touch with each other, we sometimes forget about the importance of taking a break. If you don’t turn off regularly you will burn out.
Make time for things that make you happy. Maybe that’s volunteering in a pet shelter, maybe it’s spending a whole day with a good book, maybe it’s making a great dinner. Joyful times, whether they be moments or hours can help you fid your way back to lost motivation.
Acknowledge your worries
Sometimes we tell others what we’re worried about, but a lot of the time we keep our worries to ourselves. If you have someone you feel like you can confide in, that’s great, but even if you don’t you can still release some of your stresses by writing them down.
Once you’ve got them out in the open on a piece of paper, take them on, one at a time. Maybe there’s a project you’re procrastinating on. If that’s the case then give yourself defined steps for getting it done. Putting an action plan in motion is motivating.
If you realize there’s nothing you can do to alleviate the problem, for instance if you’re worrying about someone in your family and there’s nothing you can do then give yourself permission to let it go. Worry won’t change the situation. Letting go of worries you’ve been carrying around gives motivation space to return.
Remember the power of your breath
When we’re stressed out we forget how centering it is to simply stop what we’re doing and breath. Take one minute away from whatever it is that’s got you all wound up and take breathe deeply.
Get outside
Ever notice how a short walk can totally change your perception? The solution to a problem you’ve been mulling over for hours suddenly seems so crystal clear when you take it for a walk or a run. Sometimes the simplest things can be the greatest motivators.
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