How to find motivation when you’re feeling down & exhausted

Today I featured on One Crafty Mumma with Part A of this post – what a privilege! Mel is a veteran craft blogger, whose gentle soul and kind heart I am so inspired by. I’m sharing my top 10 tips to help you keep going when you’re exhausted and unmotivated. These are the things I use, or at least try to! This is for those times when you’re failing to do anything except want to hide in bed, yet you have 100 things to do. Tip’s 1-5 are on Mel’s blog.

6. You’re not alone – call a friend. Tell them how you’re feeling. Be honest. You will be amazed at the difference this 2 minute non-judgmental phone call will make! Friends struggle too. Tell them your small goal/s for the next couple of hours and tell them you will call them when it is done. Give yourself a reward when it is done – get a coffee or watch some TV.

6. Rid yourself of negative motivation – eg. ‘ if I don’t do this then so and so will think less of me or I might fail.’ This is crap. You wouldn’t allow a friend to worry about themselves like that – so why are you? Use positive motivators eg. ‘Once this is done, I’ll get my cup of coffee!’ or ‘I’m going to prove to myself I can do this and I want to feel like a champion when I enjoy that glass of wine tonight!’
   Lets use exercise for an example of negative v positive motivators:
   Negative motivator:
   That leaves a lot of pressure on you, doesn’t it?
   Positive motivator:
   
   Rather, looking to the outcome of exercise – endorphins and strength (along with a myriad of other health benefits), is almost exciting!
7. Don’t compare yourself – you are SO beautiful. Believe it or not, bloggers, celebrities and friends don’t have it together, despite what is portrayed on social media. What YOU see is probably only 5% of their life. If looking at social media becomes a source of negative comparison, limit the time you spend on there. Remember you’re beautiful as you are now. You don’t need something that makes you pine over the desire to be taller, thinner, smarter or even just more ‘together – like her’.
   

Loving you now and accepting yourself as beautiful, doesn’t mean don’t have goals! Be happy how you are and your conscience will find a happy medium to make your own realistic goals work out.

9. Plan to get out of the house – seeing beyond the four walls, even if it’s just around the block will give you a) your daily dose of vitamin D; b) a space to think away from the norm and potential issue; and c) cardio health by getting that blood pumping. I stick to the back streets where not many see me, then I won’t spend the walk worrying about how I look (crazy, but a step to avoid the crazy).
   
10. Get enough sleep – sleep is SO important for energy and motivation! Sufficient sleep helps prevent depression, anxiety, overeating, heart conditions, diabetes and increases your ability to recall information. How much sleep do we actually need? It changes from 7-9 hours for each individual, but this amount must be consistent and in a good sleeping environment.

Remember, things are going to be ok. Just breathe and take one day, or even just one minute at a time. You can do it!

What does your morning routine include? How do you find motivation when you’re feeling down & exhausted?