How to Stay Productive (Even when you’re not feeling motivated)

We all have gone through times where we just don’t want to stay productive. Whether it’s because you hate your job, you’re dealing with depression or anxiety, or there’s just something else you’d rather be doing – we all know what it’s like. Even if you love your job, chances are you won’t love it 100% of the time. But sometimes you don’t have a choice and you have to find a way to push through and get the work done anyway.

Here are 5 tips for how to stay productive, even when you’re not feeling motivated:

Tip #1: Try to find some motivation.

This sounds so obvious. But it can seem nearly impossible in the moment. For me, social media can be a great way to find motivation. When I don’t feel like working on my blog, the other bloggers I follow on Instagram often motivate and inspire me to get to work. When I don’t feel like cleaning the house, watching some of my favorite YouTubers clean their houses often can motivate me enough to get started. I know that sounds really weird, but it can be super effective. Watch a TED talk, flip through a magazine, scroll through Pinterest, do whatever it takes to find some motivation. Of course some of this is not always possible at work. But no matter what job you have, you can find motivational quotes or pictures on Pinterest or Instagram that can help get you back on track.

Going for a walk or getting out and being social can also help to get inspired and get your motivation back. I wrote a bucket list full of good walking places and fun things to do this Fall. If you’re looking for new places to explore around Kansas City, go check out that post.

I know from experience that trying to find good podcasts can be really difficult because there is just so much out there these days. So here are some of my favorites that I have found, if you need a place to start:

Self-Made CEO by Adrienne Finch

The Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher

The BossBabe Podcast

Rise Podcast by Rachel Hollis

Kalyn’s Coffee Talk by Kalyn Nicholson

Tip #2: Set a timer and work in small chunks of time.

Sure it sounds impossible to stay productive and work hard for the entire day or even an entire hour, but you can stay productive for 5 minutes. Set a timer on your phone or computer for 5 minutes and get to work. Stay focused until the timer goes off. Then, if you feel like you need a break, you can take one. Sometimes just working for 5 minutes can get you back on track and you can gain some momentum in that short amount of time, and might not even need a break when the timer goes off. If you do need a break, again set a timer for 5 minutes and then when it goes off, repeat the process. You can get a lot done in a day if you just work in short, more manageable chunks of time.

Tip #3: Get back to the basics.

This one also sounds obvious but it’s so easy to forget. If you’re not getting enough sleep, your stress levels are high, or you’re not eating good quality meals, then your mood is going to suffer and so will your motivation. Make sure you’re getting at least 8 hours a night consistently, or as close to that as possible. Make sure you’re drinking enough water and getting enough exercise. Even just going for a 20 minute walk every day and getting that fresh air can help. Eat healthy meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. If your stress levels are getting high, try some yoga or meditation. Read or listen to some positive affirmations and repeat them to yourself. Tell yourself that you’re feeling motivated, and you might just start to believe it.

Tip #4: Reward yourself!

As they say on Parks and Rec, treat yo’ self. Finished a report you had been procrastinating on? Buy yourself some Starbucks. Got your least favorite chore done? Take a break and watch an episode of your favorite TV show. Give yourself small rewards throughout the day as you get each task completed. Even if you’re not motivated by the task itself, you’ll be motivated by the reward.

If I know I’m going to have a particularly stressful day at work, I might pick that day to stop by Starbucks or Dunkin on the way to work for some extra motivation. On days that I have particularly stressful meetings, I will often get my favorite fast food for dinner on the way home as a reward for adulting. It can be a small reward like that, or a big reward like doing some retail therapy. But rewarding yourself is the most important advice I could probably give you for being productive and staying motivated.

Tip #5: Find your “why.”

If you have been feeling unmotivated for a long time, you might need to go back and remind yourself why you are doing this in the first place. For example, as a school psychologist, sometimes my job can be extremely stressful for long amounts of time. Sometimes I am drowning in paperwork and/or meetings, and sometimes those meetings involve public speaking in front of a large group of people or telling people things they don’t want to hear. During these times it helps if I work with a student, or even just spend some time in the classrooms. This gives me a good reminder of why I became a school psychologist in the first place — because I like working with kids and helping them to be more successful at school and in life. Even working with teachers and consulting with them about student behaviors is a part of my job that I actually enjoy. I don’t mind the paperwork either, but if that’s all I do in a day then I sometimes start to forget why I like my job. Meetings and paperwork are no fun, but there are plenty of reasons why it’s worth it, and it helps to remind myself of that every once in a while.

But what if you are not able to remember your “why?” Or what if your “why” isn’t motivating to you anymore? Well, it’s never too late to find a new “why.” Or even a new career, or just a new side hustle or hobby. It’s a lot easier to stay productive when you like your job, or at least when you like how you’re spending your free time. Maybe your “why” doesn’t have anything to do with your job itself. Maybe it’s your kids, your significant other, the nice house or car you’re saving up for, or the next big trip you’re planning. Whatever it is, remind yourself of what it is you’re working towards and the work becomes more worth it.