Some days, motivation flows effortlessly. Other days, just getting out of bed feels like a battle. When life pours on the responsibilities and deadlines, it is easy to feel overwhelmed to do anything and yet too stressed about falling behind. Often times, the best thing to do is to just keep going despite everything feeling too much..
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Stop aiming for perfection
When you feel like everything needs to be done flawlessly, even starting can feel impossible. The pressure builds up, and suddenly, you’re stuck staring at your to-do list but unable to make a dent in it. Perfectionism is one of the biggest motivation killers and is the bane of progress..
The best way to push through is to lower the stakes. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for progress. Small, imperfect steps are better than being stagnant after all.
Break it down into chunks
Becoming overwhelmed tends to stem from viewing the grand picture in one glance. Your mind freaks out after seeing one massive project, telling you there’s no way to manage it all. The secret to getting anything huge done is to break it down into ridiculously tiny steps, otherwise known as chunking.
When you get one minuscule step done, your brain gets a sense of success, and you can continue to the next one easily. Momentum gathers more quickly than you realize. Break down the project into multiple, sizeable mini-activities that you can handle since they will add up eventually.
Motivation follows action
Motivation is created after action is made, not the other way around. The hardest part is getting started, but once you do, your brain shifts gears, and suddenly, the thing that seemed impossible feels doable.
If you find yourself having a hard time getting started, say to yourself you’ll just do something for five minutes. That’s all. No obligation to do more. Usually, the five minutes pass into ten, then twenty, and before you know it, you’re making actual progress.
Let yourself rest
Pushing through overwhelm doesn’t mean ignoring exhaustion. If you’re always running on fumes, motivation will never hold. Burnout creeps up when you continue to push productivity without resting. Rest isn’t a reward for completing everything but a requirement for remaining functional.
Take short breaks throughout the day, step outside for fresh air, or do something that helps your brain reset. Even a 10-minute pause can make a difference in how motivated you feel.
Change your environment
Sometimes, a change of scenery is all you need to regain your motivation. If your usual workspace feels uninspiring, dull, and lifeless, try working in a different room, heading to a coffee shop, or even stepping outside for fresh air. When we work in a place where we feel uncomfortable, it shows in our unenthused work. A new environment can reset your mindset and make tasks feel more manageable.
Lighting, temperature, and background noise also play a role. Experiment with different settings to see what makes you feel the most productive and motivated.
All-or-nothing is a trap
Many people fall into the trap of thinking, “If I can’t do everything, then I might as well do nothing.” This all-or-nothing mindset can make motivation disappear fast because of its approach of wanting to handle every task, deeming it all important and not delegating the rest out of fear that someone else may make a costly mistake. Instead, embrace the idea that doing something, even if it’s small, is better than doing nothing.
If you can’t complete an entire project, work on just one small piece and delegate the rest. If you don’t have time for an hour-long workout, stretch for five minutes. If you find it difficult to clean the entire attic, just do one quadrant at a time. Progress doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful.
Find what makes it enjoyable
Not everything in life is fun. Some tasks feel like a chore, no matter how important they are. The best way to deal with them is to make them even slightly more enjoyable, motivation comes easier.
If you can, play music while working. Shift your perspective and make a game out of finishing small tasks, or reward yourself when you complete something. Even simple changes, like working in a cozy coffee shop instead of at home, can make a difference in how motivated you feel.
Focus on what you can control
You don’t have to control everything if there is too much to handle. If you do, it will only overwhelm you. Place your focus only on what is in front of you instead of stressing over what’s out of your hands and shift your focus to what you can actually do. When you take control of the small things, the bigger picture starts feeling less intimidating.
Motivation for being motivated
It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when you’re deep in stress and responsibilities. Take a step back and remind yourself why you started in the first place. Whether it’s a work project, a personal goal, or just a daily responsibility, reconnecting with your “why” can reignite your motivation.
Ask yourself the following questions whenever you want to remind yourself of your “why”:
- What will I gain by completing this?
- How will this help me in the long run?
- What’s one positive thing that will come out of this?
When you have a strong reason to keep going, pushing through overwhelming odds becomes a little easier. It may not make it any less difficult, but it will drive you to push even harder.
Closing thoughts
Being overwhelmed can make motivation feel impossible to have and hold onto. It doesn’t have to be this way as we have learned. By shifting your mindset, practicing chunking, and letting yourself rest, you can continue to move forward even when things feel like too much.
Staying motivated despite being overwhelmed is not about being perfect, but by doing what you can when you can. Progress, no matter how small, is still progress at the end of the day. Always remember that oftentimes, showing up is a lot better than stressing about perfection.
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