Motivation is a hot topic. We think a lot about what motivates us to take action and move toward our goals. We also spend a lot of time struggling with the things that de-motivate and prevent us from going forward. What gets in the way of your motivation?

We can identify and remove those obstacles by looking from the “challenges” perspective. As you read, note the challenges that resonate with you. Are there additional motivation challenges that you’ve experienced? What helps?

I’d love to learn about you. Please add to the conversation.

10 Common Motivation Challenges & Easy Solutions

1. Abundant Choices

When the options are too plentiful, they can overwhelm us with inaction. The thought of moving ahead becomes exhausting.

Tip: Narrow your choices to just two or three options. Pretend you have blinders on and ignore the external input. If you’re still stuck, ask a friend to be a sounding board.

2. Fear of Failure

Perfectionism, or fear of incorrectly doing something, can stop us from moving forward.

Tip: Being perfect isn’t possible. Striving to be our best is. Failing is an essential part of the journey. We learn by trial and error. As Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Test out this alternate perspective.

3. Fear of Success

Low self-esteem can compromise your view of success. You might doubt that success is possible and lack the motivation to attain it.

Tip: Look to the past. Acknowledge your small and large successes. Look at the present. Be aware of your current accomplishments. Practice noticing and appreciating your wins. Build from the past and present to reduce your fear and boost your confidence.

4. Lack of Clarity

When we don’t know which step is next or why we’re doing what we’re doing, we can quickly become de-motivated.

Tip: Take a step back. Set aside time to revisit your projects, goals, and values. Perhaps there has been a parameter shift, and it’s time to adjust.

“When we don’t know which step is next or why we’re doing what we’re doing, we can quickly become de-motivated.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®

5. Exhaustion

Sleep is essential for the optimal mind and body functioning. When we’re exhausted, it’s difficult to remain motivated.

Tip: Review your current sleep patterns and needs. If lack of sleep contributes to your lack of motivation, make the necessary adjustments. Experiment with how much sleep you need to feel rested, alert, and ready for the day. Most adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

6. Comparison

Focusing on how we do or don’t measure up compared to our colleagues, family, friends, neighbors, or whoever only promotes unproductive thinking. This is a sure-fire formula for de-motivating ourselves. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It also can be the thief of motivation.

Tip: Forget about the “grass is greener” concept. It never is. Instead, practice gratitude. Focus on your gifts, successes, dreams, and desires. Build and encourage a life that is uniquely yours.

7. Excuses

We all make them. They are the negative messages we repeatedly tell ourselves, which prevent us from doing. We say things like, “I’d like to do ‘x,’ but I’m too tired or too busy or not smart enough or….”

Tip: Set the internal alert. Become aware of the excuses that are not useful, real, or true. Begin challenging them when they appear. Reframe the dialogue to the positive.

8. Drudgery

Routines can be helpful, but they can become so tedious that we lack the motivation to maintain them. 

Tip: If you are feeling bored, add the fun factor to the equation. Playing upbeat music, introducing pleasing colors, or bringing mood-boosting scents into your environment could make a difference to your patterns. How about a change in the pace or sequence of the routine? Experiment with altering one element and see how that influences your motivation.

9. Patience

We expect so much of ourselves and want instant results. When things aren’t happening as fast as we think they should be, it can de-motivate us to continue.

Tip: Striving to achieve, become, and do takes time. Extend yourself the gift of patience. 

10. Distractions

When your attention is pulled in too many directions, you can lose focus and motivation to work on what’s most important.

Tip: Pay attention to the “distraction-makers.” Are you being interrupted by people, sounds, emails, and phone calls? How can you minimize distractions during certain times of your day? Recently, I turned off all the dings and alerts on my electronic devices. The positive effects on my focus, productivity, and motivation have been noticeable.

We’re human. We experience times when our motivation wanes. That’s normal. Understanding which is your motivation challenge and implementing some of the suggested strategies will help get you back on track. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation. What de-motivates you? What gets you unstuck? 

The newest installment (v16) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature is here with my latest discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. I’ve included unique and inspiring motivation-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme. You are an extraordinary and engaged group. I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced for you. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Motivating Choices

Wait, What? by James E. Ryan

Finding the answers we seek are in the quality of the questions we ask. Asking the right questions can motivate us to start or stop doing something, move us forward when we’re stuck, or help us understand something more deeply. One of the books I recently read was Wait, What? And Life’s Other Essential Questionsby James E. Ryan, author and dean of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Ryan says, “Posing irresistible questions…is an art worth cultivating.”  He shares five essential questions like “Wait, what?” which is effective for getting clarification or avoiding quick judgments, and “I wonder…?” which fosters curiosity. Specifically for getting unstuck and motivating movement, Ryan suggests, “Couldn’t we at least…?”  This book is a wonderful resource that will add quality questions to your motivation toolbox.

2. Interesting Perspective – Motivating Action

What do you do when your To Do listoverwhelms you? I came across this pin, which adds some lightness to the serious list-makers among us. To tame those long lists, make a “Today” list. Keep it short … really short as in two to three items. Your list’s brevity will boost your motivation, increase your action, and make you feel good about your accomplishments. I can see your success.

3. Interesting Tech – Motivating Mindfulness

Even the busiest among us can make time for mindfulness moments with the Buddhify app. It provides both solo or guided meditations that help even during the most hectic times. If you need a mindfulness work break, are experiencing difficult emotions, are feeling stressed, or can’t sleep, Buddhify has a unique meditation designed just for you. Your pocket mindfulness coach will motivate you to embrace some much-needed Zen.

4. Interesting Product – Motivating Preparedness

It’s challenging to find the motivation to think or talk about death preparedness. It’s a topic that many of us avoid. We know it will happen, but not yet, not now. So we delay preparing. We delay discussing. We delay until it’s too late and we put that burden on our family. Fortunately, Amy Pickard, CEO of Good To Go created the Departure File, which “eliminates stress, guilt, doubt and provides those you leave behind with the certainty of knowing they are carrying out your wishes.” She was motivated to create this product, along with support to go with it, when her mother died unexpectedly leaving no paperwork and hundreds of details to handle. Maybe the Departure File is just the motivation you need to get your affairs in order for your loved ones.

5. Interesting Thought – Motivating Positivity

Sometimes we need a positive reminder to recognize that we can move forward, we can get unstuck, and we can accomplish the goals we desire. To reignite your motivation, use a positivity mantra like “I can” or something else that feels right for you.

What are your interesting finds? Which of these resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

When we're feeling stuck, it's especially challenging to get motivated. During several recent organizing visits with clients, I was reminded about one of the benefits of enlisting help as a way to boost motivation.

My clients were feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Those feelings resulted in procrastination and lack of motivation to tackle their organizational challenges. Yet in each of these cases, they recognized that no movement forward was going to happen unless they reached out for help. They had hit a wall of overwhelm. They called me for help.

It was fascinating to see the transformation. By talking about their goals, offering organizing support, and working by their sides, their feelings of overwhelm lifted and their motivation returned. In between organizing visits they were able to accomplish a lot on their own. They no longer felt stuck and had a renewed sense of purpose and energy around what they wanted to accomplish. They found the path forward.

So while enlisting the help of a professional organizer isn't the only way to jumpstart your waning motivation, it is definitely one of the effective strategies.

If you're struggling with moving forward and your lack of motivation and clarity is blocking you, reach out for help. You may be surprised at how valuable it is to hire a professional organizer or enlist the help from a trusted family member or friend.

Have you ever experienced positive change in motivation after enlisting help? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

Motivation is a funny thing. Sometimes it's just there with enough force and energy to help us easily activate and accomplish "x." When that happens, the doing almost seems effortless because we aren't fighting or negotiating with ourselves. The flip side is when we seem devoid of motivation. Making a decision, let alone actually doing something, seems out of reach and maybe even impossible. What have you noticed lately? Are you poised and ready or are you stuck and overwhelmed? Perhaps the specific type of action, project, or task influences your motivation level.

We are different and behave differently according to the circumstances. There are certain conditions that can nurture or sabotage our motivation. Are you familiar with these?

Sabotages Motivation

Distracted Mind

Distractions are part of human existence. Yet in today's world of being constantly connected and interrupted by our digital devices, those distractions have intensified. It's hard to complete a thought or task without interruptions. This can negatively affect motivation because it makes it that much harder to focus and complete what we're doing. We're only partially present. Taking some intentional digital blackout breaks, doing some deep breathing, or taking a walk in nature can shift the cycle and allow your mind and body to reconnect and release all the distractions.

Overcommitting

Is your calendar so full that every waking minute is scheduled? Do you find yourself overcommitting and under-delivering? There's nothing wrong with having a full plate. Yet if you are finding that you're missing deadlines, not getting enough sleep, or are procrastinating, all of these things can sabotage your motivation. Take a step back. What can you release from the "yes" pile? Test it out and observe what happens with motivation.

Lacking Sleep

Are you burning the candle at both ends? Exhaustion is a motivation killer. When we're operating from an exhausted state, everything takes longer, we make poor decisions, and our motivation is sluggish or even non-existent. Take a look at your sleep habits. Figure out how much sleep you need to best function. Experiment with some new sleep routines and find what works for you. As your mind and body get more sleep, notice the positive effect on your motivation.

“There are certain conditions that can nurture or sabotage our motivation.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

Nurtures Motivation

Lightening Load

When we find the right personal balance of commitments, we have the energy and motivation to handle them. When we focus on saying "yes" to the projects, people, and causes that are most meaningful, motivation just flows.

Creating White Space

Free time doesn't just happen. To create that white space in our days, we need to carve it out intentionally. It can be used for doing or not doing. Having some uninterrupted, unscheduled time without any commitments other than to you is an essential motivation booster. How much white space you need or want on a given day will vary. My needs have shifted at different points in my life. These days I crave a daily dose that allows me the quiet and space to exercise, walk and practice mindfulness meditation. I wake early to begin my day with some calm and nurturing. Caring for myself gives me the energy and motivation to care for others.

Connecting With Loved Ones

Spending time with family and friends, whether that's in small doses (like taking a walk) or for an extended time (like vacationing), helps us to relax, play, and unwind. We share stories, challenges, and successes. We talk about the small and big things in life. Those connections make us part of something so that we're not alone in this world. They ground, inspire, and motivate us.

If you are motivationally challenged or know someone who is, do any of these concepts resonate with you?  Are you a motivation nurturer or a sabotager? What else have you observed? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!