Human emotions are fickle things. One moment, you’re up and at ‘em – ready to take on any challenge. The next, you feel as if you can’t achieve anything, and are skeptical you ever thought you could in the first place. But what do you expect? You can’t be high on life all of the time: there has to be a time when you feel unmotivated to do anything.
Lately, I’ve been falling into one of these slumps. You might even say that I’ve gotten a bit lazy. Not in terms of blogging (god forbid), but in terms of college life, in general.
I can hear you now: “WHAT?! What is wrong with you! I hope you’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking…”
No, no, don’t worry. I’m not dropping out. It ‘s just that recently, I’ve been asking myself what’s the point in being here. Why am I doing work that I feel nothing for? Is this really all my life will amount to be? Studying day in, day out, feeling tired all the time? Choosing to sleep rather than work on my website?
It’s madness, I tell you. I admit, sometimes I feel dropping out of school is the answer. Maybe that way, I’ll have plenty of time to start a business.
Of course, then I remember what happened over the summer…
But over summer break (when I had all the time in the world) I was still unmotivated. I was in the house, day in, day out, doing nothing besides blogging. It was torture. I loved blogging, but, man, did I need some variety. I was itching to come to college, meet my old friends, and get back to work. I thought that would motivate me.
I was wrong
I thought returning to college would solve my motivation problem, but it didn’t really do anything to it. It was just a change of venue.
Something had to be done. Would I feel this way forever?
Feeling panicky, I had a talk with my mom. She then proceeded to tell me why I was in college (she doesn’t tend to beat around the bush 
).
The reason why I’m here
She reminded me of the reason I was in college. I wasn’t here to simply get a degree. I wasn’t here just to get good grades (though she stressed a bunch of times that I have to do this regardless of how I feel). I was here to get the tools I needed to become successful. To become my “ideal self”. To become an entrepreneur – some who set his own hours to work.
Rediscover the source of your motivation
The secret is simply to go back to the beginning. Remember why you do what you do everyday. When we’re working towards an end we desire, we tend to forget the reason we’ve worked so hard for it in the first place.
There will be times when we feel on top of the world: when we’re sure life will be alright. And there will be times when we feel like crap: like we’re unsure of what the future holds for us. But the feelings of anticipation, anger, sadness, happiness, frustration – it’s all worthwhile just to rediscover your passion.
Go back to the beginning. What got you motivated? Why are you going through life as you are now?
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar
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14 comments to “The Lazy Man’s Secret to Getting Motivated”
SO needed this post today! Thank you!!
No problem, Dani! At least someone found this useful
Thanks for this John. Your story about college can relate to many people who have repetitive jobs everyday and grow tired of it. However, as you say, sometimes the best way to get motivated again is to go back and ask ourselves why we started in the first place.
What gets me motivated is taking a break (sometimes forced). When I start to dwardle along we get away from the house and go fishing….
Then fresh ideas start coming through and because I am out at sea (or down at our relative’s beach house) then I can’t get them started!
This seriously motivates me into spending my time wisely! That and breaking my arm. When you physically can’t do even the trival things, it gets you motivated to do them again and well! Although I don’t recommend breaking your arm on purpose!
A recruitment officer from the Navy once told me that they would prefer to recruit a person who passed their final year of high school with average grades over a person who finished at year 10 with flying colours. Why? because it showed that they can see something through.
I have been to uni (twice) and each time I remember thinking the same thing you did: “Why am I here? Should I be doing this?”.
Now, on the other side of it I see that it was an invaluable part of my life. Something that I had to do. Sometimes the things we learn at uni aren’t the things that are taught in the classroom…..
Good luck and thank you for a great post!
Hey there!
I have just recently discovered your blog, I was searching for some career boost, motivation and some good advice, click here, click there and voila here I am. So now I am subscribed and looking forward to reading your new thoughts. It is becoming a habit to check for new posts when I come to work in the morning, while sipping my morning coffee.
Anyway, this is a great post, I really, really needed it today. I needed it yesterday and basically in the last 10 days. I have been stuck in a rut, but today is better, the sun is brighter and I am starting to come back, step by step. Your post helped me a bit more.
What I know is that when you feel like this, when that “lost in the universe” feeling comes, you have to push yourself to go out, be with people, socialize, read, listen, hear… You have to embrace everything that feels even a little bit good, in order to become your old self.
That is how I get back on track, I am just now doing it… and of course, with a bit help from this blog!
All the best,
Maya from Serbia (Europe, because I am sure not many people know!
John, here’s my take on college, for what it’s worth (and I’m NOT telling you what you should do, ’cause I ain’t yo’ momma):
I got an undergrad in International Relations and an MBA in Corporate Finance. Why? Because I would probably always be able to find a job: every business needs sales people and finance people.
I received the degrees, got the jobs, made a bunch of money for a while… so what? I felt useless. I was handling paperwork, talking to people on the phone, and putting numbers into a spreadsheet. I hated it. Same thing happened to my hubby, only he studied Management Information Systems (he hates computers).
Don’t get me wrong, I loved college. I had a great time, met wonderful friends, partied, lived by the beach, hung out in coffee houses, and read a bunch of famous books I was too young to understand. It was fun. But did it teach me anything USEFUL? Um… no.
Now we both have these HUGE student loans to pay back for those pieces of paper that say we are somehow important, or “better than”, but really don’t help us contribute to society in any meaningful way.
What do I want for MY son?
I would like for him to learn a skill… a trade of his choosing. It takes a year or two at a technical school and immediately makes him useful. After that, he can do whatever he wants.
If he decides to go to college later, I guess that’s OK. But I don’t consider it imperative… unless his goal in life has something to do with country clubs, luxury cars, and ever-increasing responsibility working for “the man”… which it probably won’t.
There it is. Everything you never wanted to know about my opinion of college.
I must admit, my motivation in the early days was financial. I wanted to have it all.
Later in life, I this motivation shifted. It had been shifting slowly as I removed myself from debt, and placed less value on having “stuff.”
After a layoff and joining the ranks of the unemployed, I got a taste of something that I was missing. More time with my wife and daughter. I went back to work to keep a roof over our heads, but I’m working towards a goal of becoming self sufficent, so I can set my own hours and spend more time with my family.
Great post, thanks for sharing your secret.
Hi John,
Love this post.
I think back and it was natural for me to go on to college and focus on my education but not without having some fun and unexpected obstacles.
Without experience the growth cycle is dormant.
Motivation is nurtured, from childhood.
I think that is why when we feel less motivated we tend to go back to mom or dad or even a teacher for encouragement.
Hey John,
awesome post you have here. I totally understand your pain. And guess what? I took a break from college for two semesters because of it. I’m planning to go back during january but only because I feel like I can take the pressure and the motivation now.
You are completely right on the motivation. I think what you have here is saying that we must have “CLARITY”. Once you have clarity on your goals and your life, you will become more motivated, because you mind will automatically shift it’s focus on the result of your clear goals.
Most of the time people feel unmotivated because their goals are fuzzy. They don’t quite know what they want, they aren’t sure of their decisions, so they don’t move on with full force and effort.
Thank you for your reminder on this, I’m going to take it into consideration when I go back to my college.
Steven
John, I think this was a great post. I think college is really about discovering yourself, about trying new things (I took Latin “for fun” – mistake!), and about stretching yourself. I miss the parts of the college environment that were about discovery, growth, exploration, and adventure. And some of my best friends (and my husband) were met in college. I found it to be a wonderful, stimulating experience. I hope that you make the most of it for YOU, whatever form that may take.
@Tristan – Going back to the beginning really puts your whole life in perspective. You may not like what you see after you acknowledge where you are now, but it really does give us a big wake up call. For example, you could become a teacher trying to help kids get a better education, but over time you come to just teach only for the paycheck.
@Kirsty – Hey Kirsty! I like your methods of motivation. I’m pretty glad that I’ve never broken any of my limbs, but regardless, it seems there’s a hidden lesson in doing so. I totally get what you mean when you work even harder once you’re able to use your limbs again.
In regards to your comment about college, maybe I should skip class more often
P.S. You’re out at sea? You should shoot me an email and tell me more about yourself. You’re life sounds interesting!
@Maya – Hey, Maya! Welcome to the blog! I’m glad you’ve stumbled upon this awesome community because there’s always room for more. Come on in!
I’m honestly glad you enjoy the blog. If I can help someone everyday, than that’s all I need.
P.S. Serbia, huh? Sweet. I plan on going to Europe sometime in the future.
@Lisis – Don’t worry, Lisis. I’ll keep that in mind
It’s how life turns out. For some, it’s not at all what they expected it to be. I’m glad to take a lesson from your life and not worry over whether I’ll fail at life if I fail at college. I’m pretty jealous about you going to college near the beach. Which one did you go to?
@Eric – I used to be focused on the money as well. Thankfully, I’ve crossed out of that stage of my life. I’m glad your motivations have changed for the better. Good luck towards the future, my friend.
@Bunny – I should just ask everyone where they’re from and where they went to college (Which one did you attend?). It’s also pretty amazing the power teachers and parents have in jump-starting our motivation and helping us stay on track.
@Steve – Hey Steven, welcome to the blog! Hope your visit here is going well
Are you an undergrad? Two semesters seems like a lot to me, but if you have better intentions, who am I to question you?
And yeah, the clarity has definitely returned to my life. Thanks for stopping by!
@Daphne – Hey Daphne, glad you enjoyed it! (I took Japanese for fun – mistake not so much, but I wish I could’ve taken it when it wouldn’t effect my grades!)
Awww, it’s cute that you met your husband on campus
And don’t worry – I’m definitely making the most of this experience.
Took me a while to get back here (I just saw your question in your reply).. I went to UCSD, in La Jolla. I didn’t even KNOW how good I had it then!