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I am struggling today. I would really love to close my laptop, put my pj’s back on, and veg out with Netflix. But I can’t.
I’m a mom, and I have stuff to do.
So, how do I get going when I feel like doing nothing?
1: A little self-care!
Sometimes I don’t feel motivated because I’ve been so busy taking care of everyone else that I’ve forgotten to take care of myself. Some things I like to do when I’m running on empty are:
- Take a shower
- Get out of my pj’s and get dressed
- Put on makeup
- Do my hair
- Do a quick yoga session
- Go on a walk
- Drink a cup of tea or coffee (This kava stress tea is my absolute favorite! But there is warning on it, if your pregnant or breastfeeding.)
- Eat a snack sitting down
- Paint my nails
- Power nap
Some of these are mundane, but sometimes it’s the little things that fill us up.
#2: Gratitude!
In a grateful state of mind, it’s nearly impossible to feel unmotivated.
How to get into that grateful state when your feeling down?
Stop and take several slow deep breaths. As you breathe in think “Thank you.” You can thank yourself, God, Buddha, the Universe, whoever or whatever you believe in.
And as you breathe out, name something your thankful for. It doesn’t have to be deep or spiritual, or mushy gushy about how you love being a stay-at-home mom. You can be thankful that you have taste buds for the wine you’re going to drink after your kids go to bed. Or you can be thankful for the case of Costco paper towels you bought last week, that were able to clean up all the pee on the floor from potty training.
It doesn’t matter. As you breathe in and think “Thank you,” your thing that you are thankful for will come to you as you exhale.
Another way, is to start a gratitude journal. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, any notebook works (this sloth one on Amazon is really cute, though!). And use it to write down what you’re grateful for. You can even make it a daily practice, writing a few things down each morning when you wake up is a great way to start the day. Also, a recent study found that “Gratitude Journals May Change Our Brains.” How cool is that?
#3: Get Out of the House!
Sometimes I just need a change of scenery and the kids do, too. It’s easy to want to stay home all day, especially with little ones, when you’re worried about tantrums or public poop explosions, or just the struggle of getting them into their car seat.
But when you finally do make it out of the house, it is so worth it – the fresh air, the possibilities of adult interaction, and Starbucks!
Seriously though, getting out of the house doesn’t have to be an all day trip to the zoo. Some of my simple and frugal go to outings are:
- a walk around the neighborhood
- the library (check out books or take your kids to a free class/event)
- the park (check Google maps and find a new park your kids have never been to. My kids love finding new parks to explore!)
- Target (this one is maybe not so frugal 😉 )
#4: Watch YouTube Cleaning Motivation Videos!
I know this sounds silly, and procrastinatey, but if I’m overwhelmed with mess and not pressed for time, watching a few minutes of a “Clean With Me” or an “Organize and Declutter” video really does motivate me to get it together and get stuff done.
Some of my favorites are:
- Clean My Space: https://www.youtube.com/user/cleanmyspace
- She’s In Her Apron: https://www.youtube.com/user/shesinherapron
- Love Meg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvP5FAvS734EJHkSQK6g8Ng/featured
- Beauty & the Beastons: https://www.youtube.com/user/tiffanirose
Just go on YouTube and search “Cleaning Motivation,” and I’m sure you’ll find a mom you can relate to and feel inspired by.
#5: Take it one thing at a time.
A lot of time my lack of motivation is due to overwhelm – too much stuff that needs done. I’ve learned that what helps me the most when I’m feeling overwhelmed is to figure out my top three things that need done today. I like to keep it simple and just write them down on a sticky note.
Then, I focus on just getting those three things done and checking them off. When they’re done, I feel more productive and sometimes more motivated to come up with my next three things that need done. I don’t always make it on to a second to-do list, but at least one to-do list is done and that feels good.
Some days are harder to stay motivated than others, and some days these tips don’t even help me.
Sometimes we just need to slow down, let go of our “to-dos,” have nap time with our toddler/baby, and order take out. The messes will still be there tomorrow, when hopefully we’ll feel more motivated.
Feel free to comment/share your favorite ways of staying motivated. It’s always nice to hear from other moms! Thanks for stopping by!
