“How I’ve Been Feeling, And What I’ve Been Doing About It”
Feeling unmotivated is a common experience that many of us face at some point in our lives. It's that feeling of being stuck, lacking energy or drive, and struggling to get started on tasks or goals. While it's easy to attribute this feeling to external factors such as a lack of inspiration, the truth is that motivation is often an internal process that can be difficult to control.
This is where discipline comes in. Unlike motivation, which can come and go, discipline is a trait that can be cultivated and developed through consistent effort. While it may not be as glamorous as inspiration or excitement, discipline is what helps us to take action even when we don't feel like it.
One of the main benefits of developing discipline is that it can help us to stay consistent and committed to our goals over the long term. With discipline, we can push through the ups and downs of life and continue to work towards what we want even when we encounter setbacks or challenges.
Another advantage of cultivating discipline is that it can lead to increased confidence and self-esteem. When we set goals and work consistently towards them, we begin to see tangible progress and accomplishments that boost our sense of self-worth. This, in turn, can help us to feel more motivated and inspired to continue working towards our goals. I’ve learned that I need to focus on discipline, rather than motivation.
Here are some steps I’m taking that I think may be beneficial for you too:
Setting clear goals and priorities: Having a clear sense of what we want to achieve and why can help us to stay focused and motivated. Take the time to set specific, achievable goals and create a plan for how you will work towards them. I love using Notion for just about everything. I feel like I have my life together as soon as I open the app. I’m also the type of person who loves checking things off a list. I break down problems into smaller tasks and work on them that way, checking things off as I go for sweet satisfaction.
Creating a routine: Establishing a consistent routine can help us to build discipline and make it easier to stay on track. Whether it's waking up at the same time every day, scheduling specific times for work or exercise, or establishing a bedtime routine, find a routine that works for you and stick to it. Don’t get me wrong, this may be one of the hardest parts of building discipline. There are plenty of factors in life that may not allow a set routine(children, work schedule, health, etc). Try to do the best you can with what you have.
Holding myself accountable: Whether it's tracking your progress, setting deadlines, or finding an accountability partner, find ways to hold yourself accountable for your actions and progress. I love that my boot camp helps me with this, and I’ve implemented some of their methods into my daily life. I’ve mirrored the calendar that they have for my deadlines for my own personal projects. They are organized into sprints(it’s a software engineering program, remember?"). I’ve gained a “sprint” mindset with projects and it has been AMAZING.
Practice self-care: Taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and mentally can help us to build the resilience and energy we need to stay disciplined. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. And, for the love of coffee, PLEASE take care of yourself. Learn to push away the task and go for a walk. This will help avoid burnout as well. I like to get up and play some video games and do some dancing. Discipline should involve knowing when to take care of yourself too.
