Why You Can’t Find Motivation or Time
Finishing a project and sometimes even just starting one is not so easy. This has nothing to do with a lack of discipline or willpower; it’s all about capacity.
The number of decisions we make in a regular day is astounding! From small decisions, like what to wear and what to eat, to bigger, more challenging ones like investing your money and deciding to have kids or not.
Making decisions requires brain power, and you, my dear, might be at capacity already. So you say you want to do XYZ project, but fail to start. Or you get a boost of motivation and start your project, only to have your energy fizzle out. It might be because you have no more brain power to make decisions.
This is what it has been like for me for the last 6 months or so.
With my day job taking over my brain, generally creating stress and a bit of insomnia, I really wasn’t able or willing to make simple decisions.
Let me give you an example.
A few months ago, my printer stopped working. It simply would not turn on. When it happened, I researched what could be the problem, tested it on a different outlet, tried a different cord, all the things the internet was telling me to do. I also went on the company's website to see if I could get help. Still, I didn’t find any quick answer and decided against using the chat option (I didn’t have the time and couldn’t be bothered with them telling me to do the things I had already tried - like unplugging and pugging it back in!).
So instead of trying to find a repair option or buying a new printer right away, I moved it aside and hauled out our older printer from my partner’s office (AKA the basement), which thankfully still somewhat works, and used that instead.
Fast forward to today, and my unresponsive printer is still there, amassing dust. The difference is I now have the brain power to find a potential solution.
In the last 6 months, I objectively had time to research and take action. I know this because I watched loads of TV and read/listened to 33 books.
I had time!
Motivation? Not so much!
Energy? Not for that, I didn’t!
I also felt paralyzed by having to make any decisions at all.
So you see, this might be why you’re having a hard time starting or finishing your projects. Your brain power has been hijacked by your other responsibilities.
How do we fix this?
There are different ways you can help your overwhelmed brain.
Batch some decision-making
I tend to group all my life admin tasks because they’re annoying to do and are easily shoved aside, but once grouped together, it feels worth it to tackle them. It’s the same with errands. I will often pile errands all in one day and make it a game to find the best route to save time.
Delegate decisions
Know someone better than you at a specific task, like researching the best printer for your needs? Ask that person to give you some recommendations. It will feel less overwhelming to choose from that list than researching yourself.
Know when you are your most energized
Some decisions or tasks are easier at certain times of the day or week. Are you a morning person who has all the ideas and energy in the AM, or are you more of a night person and get a second wind after supper? Follow your own rhythms and help your brain process the information and increase your capacity.
Make one small decision about the next step - Don’t try to figure it all out in one go
Sometimes, we try to figure out the whole dang thing in one go, and it’s not always possible. In that case, reduce the overwhelm by making the smallest move possible. Want to declutter your whole house? Start with your sock drawer 🧦.
Outsource the motivation part
AKA hire someone to help you out: a fitness instructor, a cleaner, a professional organizer 😉
When/if you can, hire someone to support you with your project. We can’t be experts at everything, and I happily pay someone else to help me figure out stuff or simply do it for me. I know I could shorten my own pant bottoms or do my taxes, but I just don’t want to. So bringing my garments to have them done quickly and properly and paying someone else to take care of my taxes is just a no-brainer.
Reevaluate your responsibilities
There is a reason you are at capacity; there is probably too much on your plate (insert me looking deeply in your eyes so you hear this part and feel it in your heart).
Here is a question I invite you to ponder on: What might I let go of to tackle that project I really want to do?
Start tracking your time
Humans are terrible at evaluating how long tasks take to complete. If you run out of time to tackle your To-Do list, start writing down how long each task takes you. Not how long you think it’s going to take, but how long it actually took. Meal planning (1 hr), grocery shopping and putting stuff away - including driving to and from the store (2 hrs), meal prep (2 hrs on Sunday), etc.
Ready to start with #5?
