Everyone struggles with motivation from time to time. The key to figuring out how you can change that is digging into why you aren’t motivated in the first place. Below are several of the reasons you could be struggling to make yourself do something, or sometimes anything at all, and how you can address it.

Burnout

This is a big reason for a lack of motivation. If you’re working too hard, burning the candle at both ends and you can’t remember the last time you had a vacation or went to bed without worrying about what the next day holds, you could be burned out. This can put you in a tough position because the cure for burnout is to take some time off, but often the reason you’re burned out is because you can’t.

You should ask yourself what the worst thing is that will happen if you do. Many often convince themselves that their workplace cannot function without them. If you genuinely can’t step away right now, whether you’re the business owner, or you’re the sole caregiver for someone, start putting a plan a place to do so in the near future, even if it’s only a short break. No one can run on fumes forever. This will kickstart the need for ways to decrease stress long term to prevent yourself from getting to the point of burnout again.

The Wrong Tools

You might be struggling with motivation because you don’t have what you need to do the job. If you’re trying to make yourself run regularly but your feet and shins ache every time you do, you may need new shoes. If you’re trying to get into a habit of cooking healthy meals but you have a poorly equipped kitchen, this is going to be an exercise in frustration. If you don’t have the money to purchase the tools you need, you may want to look into taking out a personal loan. Online lenders can offer personal loans, making it easy for you to check your eligibility.

Boredom

Let’s face it that many of the things that we have to do on a regular basis are just not that exciting. Sometimes, you understandably lack motivation because you’re bored. When this is the case, the best solution is to acknowledge that you’re bored, power through, and give yourself a reward at the end.

Fear or Other Emotions

Fear can be a big element in procrastination and can affect your motivation. Alternately, you may have attached other negative emotions to a task you’re struggling to do. Maybe it reminds you of something that makes you sad. As with boredom, the first step is to identify and acknowledge this emotion. Depending on its roots and the nature of the task you need to do, this could be another thing you need to power through, or it may go deeper. It could be something you want to discuss with a counselor or therapist.

Changing Values

A lack of motivation can be a sign that your values have shifted and it’s no longer worth it to you to keep doing the thing you’re doing. If making a lot of money always motivated you at work but now you want to spend more time at family, it’s going to be hard to make yourself keep working 70-hour weeks. You may need a lifestyle change.