So many times we are pestered by a lack of confidence in the things that we can do, hindering us from moving forward and accomplishing our goals.
Those feelings may come from things like losing your job, settling into your routine or simply boredom.
Other times, distractions and just a general feeling of complacency pushes us into a place of laziness, keeping us from doing our best and performing at our most effective.
Never fear! There are ways of countering that lull in energy and lack of confidence. Some of them may be easy to do while others may seem like they are a little bit more difficult to achieve. But they're worth a shot, especially when you're stuck in a rut.
1. Get out of bed, or the couch, or the house....you get the picture!
When we are unmotivated, it's very easy to just stay home, under the covers, or on the couch...you name it. All the more reason, then, to get off your behind and move.
Go for a walk.
Get in your car and go for a drive.
Go visit friends, or buy some flowers, or go pay some bills.
Anything to get you out of the house and absorbing some sunshine.
2. Run errands
Face it: the electric bill isn't going to pay itself. The packages you need to mail won't hop to the post office on command. Your groceries won't magically arrive at your doorstep.
Running some errands will not only get you moving, but it will inject in you a real sense of urgency and need.
If you don't get these things done now, you'll have to do them eventually. So why not do them now, when you need some motivation anyway?
3. Keep a positive things journal
Create a journal in which every day, you make a list of ten things that you are good at, things that inspire you (people, places or things: anything that inspires you), things that you see yourself doing in ten years, ten months, ten days, ten hours, even ten minutes!
The idea is to create a positive flow of thoughts and feelings that keep your confidence up.
4. Post a bulletin board in your house or your office with things that inspire you.
I have one in my home office that has everything from phrases and headlines from magazines, to poems, to articles about inspirational people, to comic strips and even notes and drawings given to me by friends.
I look at it every day and add to it when I see something worthy. These things remind me that I have reasons to remain confident and they keep me from gravitating towards laziness.
5. Listen to some music
Find something that will keep you energized and ready for anything. Listen to feel-good, catchy songs. Cheesy pop music, as much as you may hate it, is great for revving up some much-needed energy!
Don't worry. Go ahead and dance your butt off. You're at home; no-one's looking.
6. Drink LOTS of water
Why? This may not seem obvious, but the way we feel mentally often is affected by the way our bodies react to stress. Keeping yourself well hydrated will keep you energized and awake and will give your body some much-needed fuel.
Caffeine, while a quick energy boost, will ultimately dehydrate you, which will not only not help you, but it may also give you more issues like headaches and sudden drop in energy.
7. Surround yourself with motivating people
When I lose confidence in myself or get a little lazy, I have a list of about 10 people that I can call that will make me feel instantly better.
Some of them are gentle pushers; others are the ‘get-off-your-butt-and-do-something-already!’ sort of folks.
Regardless of their methods, sometimes family and friends know exactly what to say to get you going. Let them.
When life hits us with abrupt changes, or even when it just teases us with quirky little annoyances, it can be easier for us to fall victims to our own self-doubt and laziness.
The key is to have a plan of action so that we don't succumb to those self-defeating vices.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: stay motivated