We all know the feeling of being in a rut when motivation eludes us and the gravity of inertia feels too great to shrug off.
There’s a ton of work to do but you can’t seem to summon the energy or will to get off go.
With more of us in freelance roles or working from home for a day or two per week, being able to break the rut cycle is critical when you don’t have the inbuilt accountability and structure of an office environment.
Here are eight simple and effective ways to get you moving again from Aussie business strategist and best-selling author Michael McQueen.
1. Accomplish the insignificant
Believe it or not, research has shown that doing something as insignificant as making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity. Starting your day with a small but positive activity starts a chain reaction that helps you make other good choices throughout the day.
2. Have a shower
While this may not always be a practical solution, renowned neuroscientist Alice Flaherty argues that having a shower releases the creativity-enhancing chemical dopamine in our brains. To this point, West Wing writer Aaron Sorkin is famous for taking up to eight showers per day to help overcome writer’s block.
3. Get physical
Exercise not only oxygenates our blood but it also releases endorphins, which can have a remarkably positive effect on our mood when we’re feeling sluggish. Never forget that motion precedes emotion. The key is to not waste time trying to shift your mental state without shifting your physical state. If in doubt, get moving.
4. Show you care
Introspection is the cousin of inertia, so the best way to get out of a mental funk is to shift the focus from yourself onto someone else. Send an encouraging text message, or simply pick up the phone and tell that special someone you love them.
Typically, you’ll feel positive effects thanks to your efforts to show love and care to others. There is a reason why it is better to give than receive.
5. Change your environment
This could be as simple as varying your schedule or rearranging the furniture. Other times it can involve getting out into nature in order to clear your head and look beyond present circumstances.
When I am writing, I find that I need to start my day working somewhere enjoyable and inspiring like a local café.
6. Make a ‘done list’
While some Type-A personalities flourish on long to-do lists, the rest of the population can find that beginning the day with a formidable task schedule is the very thing that prevents them from getting started in the first place. Try cheating a little by kicking off your day by writing a ‘done’ list before you turn your attention to your to-do list. Not only does a list of completed tasks look impressive on paper, but it also helps build a sense of progress and achievement.
7. Pump up the jam
Music can be incredibly motivating — there is a good reason why gyms play tunes of a certain genre and tempo. Try putting together a playlist of tunes that gets your blood pumping and lifts your spirits.
8. Don’t beat yourself up
When you’re in a funk, the worst thing you can do is feel guilty about it. Cut yourself some slack; we’ve all been there. Embrace the rut so that once you emerge, you might be able to lend a helping hand to the next person you come across who is in their own.
About the author:
Michael McQueen is a 4-time bestselling author and multi award-winning business strategist. His most recent book Momentum: How to Build it, Keep it, or Get it Back, is a must-read guide to achieving breakthrough growth, unstoppable vitality and sustained success. It is available in all good bookstores and online at www.MichaelMcQueen.net
