Written by: Jeanne Agius, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
From time to time, each of us will find ourselves in a rut of boredom and disinterest. We seem to lose our spark for life and feel tired, irritable, and unmotivated. We want to hide under the covers rather than face the day. Perhaps you're feeling overwhelmed by work, or sad about the pain and suffering in the world, or just bored with the routine of your daily life.
You are not alone. We all go through periods like this at some point. The good news is that we can do something about it. Here are some tips to help break out of the rut and feel excited about life again:
Take a "Time Out"
Prolonged stress can wear us down and zap any enthusiasm we once had. Before doing anything else, take a few minutes to breathe and BE. Empty your mind of all stress and worry. This takes practice, but don't give up! As thoughts come into your mind, gently push them back out and continue to keep your mind empty and calm. Take slow, deep breaths and let all of your muscles relax. Sit quietly and recharge your batteries. Try to do this daily, or even twice daily (morning and night). We need quiet time as much as we need anything else in life. Give yourself the gift of inner peace.
Get Inspired
Read something motivational, inspirational, or uplifting. Look at some beautiful nature photos, or read something humorous. Consciously move your thoughts to a more positive place. Focusing on nothing but work and our daily tasks in life can leave us feeling pretty uninspired. It's easy to turn it around if we want to. We have to seek out things that will lift our spirits and our moods. Make it a point to laugh, be happy, joyful, and lighthearted each day. Please don't wait for inspiration to come knocking on your door; go out and find it, or create it. Conjure up some funny or touching memories. Write them in a journal so you can go back and read them when you're feeling down.
Get Excited
Think about the things you have planned for the day, and rekindle the enthusiasm you once felt for them. When we first begin a new project or start a new job, we are excited about the possibilities and eager to get moving! Over time, we can lose that enthusiasm for a variety of reasons. Travel back in time for a moment, and think about what got you so excited initially. What made your heartbeat a little faster? Recapture that feeling and hang onto it! Even if your tasks aren't anything to be enthusiastic about, at least think of some positive benefits to doing them. For example, list how they will benefit your children, your spouse, yourself, your job, or your home. Identify the payoff, and focus on that. Even mundane tasks have some benefits. Sometimes it's just a matter of switching our mindset to see the positive side.
Baby Steps: Sometimes, the hardest part is getting started. A project seems so monstrous that we cringe at the thought of all that time and energy we'll have to expend. Instead of overwhelming yourself, start small. Set a timer for 15 minutes and start working on it. Allow yourself to stop after 15 minutes if you want to. But most often, once we start working on something, we won't want to stop. Don't focus on the big picture; look at the more minor details and take them on one at a time. Any enormous task seems manageable once we break it down into smaller steps.
Care of the Body
Sometimes, our feelings of fatigue are caused by physical deficiencies, not mental. Be sure you are getting enough rest, eating food that nourishes your body, drinking enough water, getting enough exercise, etc. Especially when we're swamped, we tend to grab the quickest, most easiest meals, which aren't always the best choice for our bodies. Eating a lot of highly processed foods and sugar is like putting watered-down gasoline into our cars. For our cars to run smoothly, we need to maintain them properly, and so it is with our bodies also. Remember, the body is the vehicle for the mind and soul!
Reward Yourself
Finally, remember to reward yourself from time to time, and be gentle with yourself! There will always be things that "need" to be done. But some of us take on way more than we can handle, and our lives turn into a pit of struggle because of it. Try to eliminate the things that truly don't bring you joy, or at least minimize the time you spend on them. Do what you can, and let the rest go. Or ask for help. Don't feel you have to do everything yourself.
Remember that motivation, just like happiness, is something we CHOOSE. We may need to give ourselves a little push initially, but once we get into the right mindset, it's simple to stay there if we choose to.
Jeanne Agius, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jeanne Agius is a former Corporate Escapee of 15+ years turned founder of Self-Care Journey Holistic Wellness. She is known for being every woman's Self-Care Coach and is currently an Executive Contributor for a digital global magazine as a Holistic Lifestyle and Self-Care Coach. Since becoming a mom of two and being the co-creator of her dream life with her husband, she has been a frequent speaker on guiding women, especially moms, to prioritize themselves with holistic self-care practices without feeling guilt, despite the many hats they wear.
She has also been featured in a number of publications such as Yahoo Finance as one of the Top 20 Female Entrepreneurs, Top 20 Female Entrepreneurs to look out for in The Digital Journal, Authority, Medium, and Brainz Magazine. Jeanne is a 2021 honoree of the CREA Global Awards for top entrepreneurs, influential leads, and innovators who have been recognized for their accomplishments in the areas of mental health.
With decades of experience in the fitness industry and several certifications in holistic health and wellness, life and success, and as a NLP, EFT, and hypnotherapy practitioner, she has been fortunate to help hundreds of women worldwide to create sustainable, balanced, and healthy lifestyles by using self-care as their superpower to look and feel their best. She has built thriving programs teaching do-it-all-woman how to build a strong body, confident mind, and healthy lifestyles so they can reignite their inner spark and reclaim their time, energy, and joy!
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