Losing motivation for one or more aspects of our lives is more common than it may seem. It can occur with respect to a personal project, a sports discipline, work, studies or a general uneasiness that takes away our determination.
Sometimes, this lack of motivation is another symptom that a person is sad or going through a period of depression. Whatever the case, psychologist Alice Boyes compiles in Psychology Today seven tips for when we lose motivation, have no goals, aspirations, dreams, or feel intensely bored.
Dr. Boyes explains that “sad and depressed emotions trigger a reaction that implies the need to withdraw, walk away and reflect.” “Low emotions are a signal to pause, reflect and potentially change direction,” insists the expert. In this regard, it is common to feel afraid of losing our progress or our job due to this lack of motivation, a feeling that in turn can increase the person's feeling lost or scared.
“In most cases, these types of emotional and motivational flashes are temporary. They will last from a few hours to a few weeks if you use good coping strategies,” says the psychologist, who advises that “understanding healthy coping strategies will reduce the length of time these periods of lack of motivation last.”
Another piece of advice from Dr. Boyes is that “action drives motivation, rather than motivation drives action.” For this reason, she urges us to make an effort in a project, whether personal or work-related. And drawing on her own experience, she remembers that “when I started, my goals didn't feel very significant, but the more I did them, the more significant they felt.”
The psychologist recommends reorienting your goals by looking for a new meaning that brings you more value and satisfaction.
“When people feel depressed, their concentration is also affected. Therefore, choose actions to improve your motivation that do not rely heavily on concentration,” emphasizes Dr. Boyes.
We must review our health to make sure that our mental state does not derive from a problem such as vitamin D deficiency, iron deficiency, thyroid problems or low B12 level.
The psychologist highlights the importance of seeking professional help to improve your mood. “If you had a broken arm, you wouldn't think too much about seeking professional help. If you think you have clinical depression, do the same,” she stresses.
“Sometimes when we feel depressed, we simply become bored with the same old activities, people, perspectives, and routines. If you want to discover dreams and goals, try lots of new things, without too many expectations. When you do this, eventually new goals or dreams will emerge,” concludes the expert.
