I cannot motivate myself to do anything... any advice?

[CarolynMartens]

Really struggling to get anything, at all, done during this period.

I feel the same. Having some productive days and some frightfully lazy days.

Someone once told me that the hardest part of motivating yourself, is the getting going. Decide on a task then promise yourself that you’ll do it for 5/10/30 mins (whatever feels manageable). Set a timer and do it. When the timer has finished, you can either stop but safe in the knowledge that you fulfilled the promise to yourself or you can just carry on.

Most often, once you’re going, it’s easier to keep going.

💐

Same, no real advice, I'm lying in bed right now 😂
The best days I've had in lockdown were the ones where I set an alarm and got up and did the joe wicks live workouts then are vaguely healthily (my typical lockdown diet is a calorific nightmare)
So I should practice what I preach and do more of that myself, but I don't want to even though I KNOW it makes me feel better???

Same here. Although today I have made a fruit cake, changed the cat litter and the bathroom bin and read my book in the sun it feels like I've done nothing and the day is disappearing and tomorrow I'm back at work!

I'm the same, I am spending way too much time on the sofa, I'm even bored of all the amazing coastal walks from my house.

I find the best way to get motivated is to make yourself do small things, one little task at a time . Don't wait to feel motivated, because you won't - you have to push through to begin with. But after you've done a task you'll feel glad you did something, rather than having that guilty feeling of leaving it. Do your tasks at the same time every day - by day 3 or 4 your body will feel "ready" at that time and it will get easier to know you have to get up and do stuff. Also prioritise - self care comes first. If you have to pick a task to do choose having a shower over doing the washing up. You'll feel better and more able to take on other things. As you go to sleep at night, mentally list all the tasks you've done that day - congratulations, they're ticked off and you can wake in the morning knowing they're done. Achieving a little bit every day will make you feel so much better x

Motivation doesn't have to come first. Action can bring motivation, start with something small and doable.or set a ten minute timer for what you need to do and you might find you'll keep going. Building in exercise that you do as an appointment, ie no excuses, should help.

Same. Didn’t get up til 11am today, and haven’t really achieved anything at all.
DP baked bread with DD, put up curtains, made onion relish, made dinner. All I did was clean the bin
Am flitting from one thing to the next, and not really getting much done.
Spending way too much time on here!

Someone sent me this article today and I thought it was useful. Some ideas to restart a day that seems to have disappeared before you know it (or have got out of your pyjamas!) www.chronicle.com/article/How-to-Salvage-a-Disastrous/248569?fbclid=IwAR3_6oCgO07WO2CZ3PIBB1r_tc-zPT5limA4nke0falMwkbugXKJmEmsocw

@MyView2 good article, thanks

Thanks for the article. Really helpful.

Action doesn't seem to bring motivation for me! Yesterday I cleaned the fridge and it was torture, never seemed to end. I hated every second but I do enjoy the results.

I have friends who are practically rebuilding their house (exaggeration). Where do you get that get up and go? I seem to be stuck in a state of lassitude..

I'll read the article ^^

That was long! does she do an audio version?

Are you wfh and/or looking after children? I am wfh but it’s quiet. I just want to sleep (can’t as on a phone helpline but not many calls.) I have no children and living with parents so don’t have much housework.

In theory I should do online training in down times. Here I am on MN. Evenings and Weekends I just want to sleep....

I have been the same during this. I have tried to make a to-do list of all the things that need done around the house, everything from something really small like hoovering, to gutting my wardrobe. Each day I dedicate one task to do, e.g. on Tuesday I will clear out the kitchen cupboard, Wednesday I will clean the bathroom etc. I’ve found that once I start doing that one task & have completed it, even if it only takes an hour, I then have energy to tackle another task that may have been dedicated to another day. Means then I can have a lazy day if I really want it lol

Plus mumsnet plus browsing websites countless times for things I don't need I think this shows my motivation during furlong I'm just so put off if I have a clear out the skip isn't open the charity shops aren't open what's the point taking things from where they are to store them in bags taking more room until those shops and services are open?

I'm WFH full time and homeschooling so part of me wishes I cold do nothing, but I do think it's probably much easier if you have things you HAVE to do, as there's no getting round that.

The thread did make me think of this though: local.theonion.com/man-not-sure-why-he-thought-most-psychologically-taxing-1843004933

That made me smile thanks baubles! And feel a bit better.