Lack of motivation - any tips for beating it

[Sonnet]

For the last three or four weeks I have suffered from a distinct lack of motivation. This is happening both at work and at home. In both places I have bits and pieces to sort out and I just don't do it...I get all organised, write a list etc but just don't do it. It is beginning to really get me down, and the more down I get the worse the situation gets. I have begun waking inthe night and worrying about what i havn't done - come the morning nothing happens...
Has anyone else been here? and if so, how did you shake yourself out of it??
All help greatfully received...

Yeah. Its February - i always do b*er all in February. When i was at home doing my phd i literally did no work at all for about two months from mid jan to mid march.
things that help a bit (now I don't have that luxury): a lightbox (pricy though, but surprisingly effective. in fact, I really should get mine out of the attic this year...).
When it is sunny (or even if not, but especially if you see the sun shining for 5 minutes) GO OUT FOR A WALK. The exercise is good but also you get more sunlight outside and this helps enormously.
Lowering your expectations hugely and being pleased with yourself if you do more than nothing - eg, yesterday I got no work done at all (meant to be rewriting a book...) but felt very satisfied becasue I did TWO loads of washing. At least this way you stop yourself making things worse by getting depressed about not doing anything.
Also, meeting a friend for lunch or something helps a bit - even better, invite someone over and talk to them while doing a task such as washing up or ironing, so it doesn't feel so much like a chore - and tell them to make you keep doing it!!

i am there now, so will await replies with interest.

Me too - have no motivation to do anything at all!!! House is a tip - work piling up on my desk. Sleepless nights......Perhaps there is a bug going around

I hate February it really is the pits.But there is light at the end of the tunnel as the evenings are staying lighter noticeably longer and before long spring will defintely be here.
I hope this is just a yuckky winter feeling you are going through. It look like there are a lot of mumsnetters who go through this every year. But if you feel it is getting worse and may not be just a winter thing you may want to get some outside help. Do you feel you may be going into a depression ? Do you have any other symptoms apart from the lack of motivation ?
One great way of feeling better when it is nice and dry out is to go for a good walk. The fresh air is a great pick-me-up. And it's free

Sending you a big hug (((x)))

I've been a lot happier in myself when I realised that my body has a yearly cycle as well as a monthly one. Winter time is a time for slowing down and not trying to do lots of new things, spring a time for new beginnings and new projects, summer a time to enjoy those new projects and to work hard, autumn to reap the rewards of that work...

That sounds so naff written down, erk, hope you understand what I mean

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that our bodies need downtime and since I've become aware that mine needs it in winter and isn't interested in doing anything new then I just make the most of it! Lots of early nights, pampering and comfort food! Plenty of time to be motivated in the spring!

Of course I could just agree with Miranda and shorten all that to: it's perfectly natural, lower your expectations

Sad though this seems - I am so glad to hear that others feel the same way - also caught up with another thread about the same thing....

I think it is to do with a lack of sunlight...
I always hate winter and in Autumn dread the days getting shorter and shorter...It is such a grey day here at the moment....grey skies, grey trees, grey earth....Oh well, I hope that tomorrow will be better and DD2 and I can go out and about to blow those cobwebs away.....
Thanx all for your good wishes..
Sonnet