Why Feeling Unmotivated is Normal and Okay
Here's why low motivation doesn't mean you're lazy or don’t have willpower (or anything else you might be telling yourself).
Everyone struggles with motivation
Feeling unmotivated? You are not alone! When it comes to healthy eating, starting an exercise routine, or working toward any other healthy habit, it’s common to experience times of low motivation. It’s also common for people to be hard on themselves during these times.
Not feeling motivated can be frustrating, and this is when people might start calling themselves names (lazy, etc.), start to feel like there is something wrong with them, or convince themselves that change is hopeless and consider giving up.
It’s important to know that feeling unmotivated is to be expected… and in fact will be the norm!
Change requires time and energy
When it comes to changing behavior and building a new healthy habit, feeling unmotivated will be much more common than feeling motivated.
This is due to two very simple facts:
Change requires time and energy.
Time and energy are two things that most people are trying to preserve.
We like to save time and energy
We normally make decisions throughout the day to save time and energy, not to spend it. This is why we:
Shop online instead of going to the store.
Order take-out or use a drive-through instead of cooking at home.
Postpone an errand or household chore.
Ask someone to hand us the remote.
Use a dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand.
If I gave a group of people a choice between watching TV and exercising for 30 minutes, I’m guessing most people would choose to watch TV. I probably would too!
It’s not something to beat yourself up over. Instead, it’s important to recognize and understand human behavior.
Recognize human behavior
As humans, we generally like the path of least resistance. We are motivated to do things that feel easy and convenient, and the words easy and convenient are usually not associated with making changes.
This is especially true if we are:
Tired
Hungry
Stressed
Etc.
Making changes to your behavior will require effort, and the more effort something requires, the less likely you will be to do it… plain and simple.
This is a fundamental reason why my entire approach as a Health Coach and Behavior Change Specialist is to help people make small, gradual, and realistic changes to their lifestyle… one small change at a time, one week at a time.
Create smaller steps
Instead of trying to force motivation or change (which won’t work), see if you can break your desired behavior down into smaller steps that requires less motivation.
For example:
If you don’t feel like going to the grocery store, maybe you’re willing to make a grocery list.
If you don’t feel like going to the gym, maybe you’re willing to put your exercise shoes on and walk around the block.
Give yourself options, and see if you can identify one small step that matches your motivation level. That way you’re more likely to do it and can take a step forward.
Small steps build motivation
The next time you are feeling unmotivated (which is likely to be soon), remember this is normal and may be due to the simple fact that your desired behavior requires time and energy.
Be nice to yourself and choose to do something that requires less time and energy so that it matches your motivation level, but still allows you to move forward.
Sometimes one small step forward is all you need to build momentum and motivation for another step forward.