HOW TO TELL IF YOU'RE UNMOTIVATED OR JUST TIRED

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HOW TO TELL IF YOU'RE UNMOTIVATED OR JUST TIRED

"What is life, if not the sum of a hundred thousand daily battles and tiny decisions to either gut it out or give it up?" 
- James Clear

Jas and I were out to lunch today and laughed for a good 5 minutes over the following statement:

"The juice ain't worth the squeeze, and the squeeze ain't worth the juice!"

We were taking stock of what we had accomplished this week with work, life's chores, etc. and since we both looked so bedraggled, we couldn't help but call it out! Given the state of our appearance, it would have suggested that our efforts would have produced more than the current results, and both the ridiculousness and realness of that statement truly hit home in that moment. This week we're encouraging you to take stock of what takes up the most of your time, and then ask, is it worth it?

It can be frustrating to put in work, be diligent and consistent about the execution of a plan ALL THE TIME. On our grind we can easily over-extend ourselves or forget that even the most determined person at times needs to rest. While it's one thing to be tired, at what point does feeling "tired" become more than that? What's more, how do we re-gain our motivation once we've finally hit a mental wall?

Below are some key questions to ask ourselves in figuring out how to best move forward:

1. Are you overwhelmed because you currently have too much on your plate and are not sure where to start to get it all done?

- This implies that there's an end in sight, and it's just a matter of getting over the current hump before things go back to their normal low key schedule. Meditation and thoughtful silence at the beginning of the day is a great way to keep the to-do list in order and effectively prioritized. Sometimes it just takes that moment of stepping away from the to-do list, to see what clearly needs to happen on that list and when.

2. Are you disinterested because you no longer feel connected to the goals you've set?

- There's nothing wrong with changing our minds about what we want to pursue, and aborting a mission mid-course in this instance, will save further resources and energy expended in this area. There are other times when a certain level of grit and follow through are required in the short term to see our long term goals come to fruition. If this is you, check out the Scientific Guide on How to Get and Stay Motivated. This article will be the pick-me-up you need to get back on the horse and maintain your momentum this time around.

3. Do you just need to rest and take this process much, much slower?

- I imagine the answer to this for many of us is "Yes!" The rest or break we need can be as simple as allowing ourselves to lay down for 10 minutes as soon as we get home, going to bed early one night a week, or even just cancelling plans with the understanding that we sometimes can't keep every commitment on our plate. No matter what you choose, make sure the rest you take is intentional. It's a crucial part of self-care, and it's a requirement when making sure we stay at our best in the midst of the daily grind.

If you're still not sure which category you fall into, use the checklist in 16 Signs You're Headed for Burnout to see if any of these symptoms ring true for you. And if they ring true for someone you know, share this post!

At some stage, we can all benefit from reevaluating our processes, regaining momentum, or allowing ourselves to just take a break when we're feeling overworked or overwhelmed. Whenever you find yourself on this spectrum, take the steps you need to get back on a healthy track of progress. After all, there's no need to race to the finish line, if once we get there we're too exhausted to enjoy it.

THE BLACK ZEN TEAM