Ivy says:
I’m picking up out of my funk I’ve been in, in case you were wondering. However, even though I’m a lot cheerier lately, I am feeling rather unmotivated and uninspired, largely. So, with that, I must ask the best readers in the world:
What gets you going? What really motivates you? What, or who, is your inspiration?
Also, could you guys help me find my motivation? I seem to have misplaced it somewhere. I’m thinking I might have left it in Boise.
I start by counting my blessings…..thinking of all of the people who would love to live in peace in a clean house with running water and air conditioning…etc. then I put on some up beat music and get moving….Pam South Bend
I’m in sort of the same situation as you. Can’t get the ambition to do much of anything. I found that I am able to get motivated when my husband isn’t hanging around. Since we are both retired and he can’t drive, this is very difficult. His thrice weekly dialysis treatment have turned out to be both dreadful and a blessing. I can take him to dialysis and then do whatever I want to for three to four hours, be it cleaning, washing, clothes, trying to weed a flowerbed, or just going somewhere I want and he doesn’t.
I liked the idea of the psychiatrist on an Ally McBeal episode. Find a song that motivates you, or brings you joy and sing it whenever you need to, be it continuously or in your head: YOUR SONG. I found one that was perfect, but I forgot it soon after, and haven’t been able to remember it since. If you find it, please send it to the above email address.
I treat myself. “Self, if you clean________ or run so many days or remember you still love your kids and dog, even though they are destroying you rental house, you get _____________.” Sometimes it works and sometime I jump right to the “you get _____________.”
I also do, the clean the whole house today and the next two day do nothing. I found that works better when the kids happen to not be home and you can get a room clean before they mess it back up agian.
I hope you can climb your way out and get back to, well what ever you need to be doing, or not maybe some one is telling you, “relax and soak in the slackdum”
I will stop my rambling:)
Do you need general motivation? Motivation to get a specific nasty chore out of the way? Or maybe motivation to pick your soul up out of that deep, dark hole it’s managed to find itself in?
As for domestic chores, nothing motivates me like throwing a dinner party. I forces me to clean everything that needs it and encourages me to try those new recipes I’ve been thinking about. Plus, my guests give me compliments, which is a great pick-me-up.
To get me to finally tackle a nasty chore, I just tell myself that the sooner I start, the sooner it will all be over. And if possible, I will put on some good music (Le Tigre is great for this) & maybe promise myself a special treat afterwards (cookies & a couple hours with the BBC “Pride & Prejudice” box set).
But for the funk?
Ugh. Tell me about it. There have been days in the last year when just getting dressed really was asking too much of me. Maybe I’m not the best one to offer advice on this one. 😉
Maybe we should have some sort of on-line therapy group for domestic goddesses.
Wow. Good question. I try not to revel in my funk too much when I am feeling sludgy. I am a little self indulgent when I do have the time to remember to goof off, because I can get pretty driven. I just went through a spell of available goof off time. Nice!
I also choose goals that make my daydreams come true. I try not to get too bogged down in the big ones sometimes and focus on the little ones. (Like losing weight. Soon.)
Big ones are fun, too. Med school starts in one month!!
Well, I have a “Mortal Kombat” screenshot of a “Finish Him!!!” moment as my desktop image at work. It reminds me to just get it done.
I take a few moments (or days if necessary) and try to find my center. Sometimes you just have to celebrate yourself, because as I’ve learned over time, no one else will.
God’s love and his promises keep me going.