Finding Motivation When Times are Hard

2020 is throwing all kinds of difficult situations and emotions at us, and it can be tough to stay motivated when all the headlines are doom and gloom. An important key to finding motivation when times are hard, like now, is to focus less on the things you can’t control and more on the things you can.

Pathways to Family Wellness offers some sage advice to help you focus on the positive and find motivation during these trying times:

Choose determination over desperation.

Determination offers hope, so take action every day toward making your life better. Go for a walk, meditate, take an online course or read an article about something you want to learn - do something each day that moves your life in a positive direction.

Uplift yourself.

When you do something uplifting, you produce neuropeptides that “echo feelings of happiness, contentment, excitement, joy and hope.” Be proactive about doing things that uplift you, like listening to music, playing games, watching funny TV shows, or dancing the kitchen with your kids.

Appreciate everything.

When you’re feeling down, pause and think about happy memories. Remember the joy and contentment you felt in that moment, and bring those feelings into the present. You can also reflect on the many blessings in your life - food on the table, friends and family, happy flowers in your yard - anything you appreciate having in your life right now. If you need help practicing gratitude each day, you can start with our 30 Days of Gratitude blog series for prompts.

Learn to live with less.

Our “keep up with the Jones’s” lifestyles leave us wanting more. Stop spending energy thinking about what you don’t have, and appreciate what you do. Then start to declutter and find greater joy with the things you choose to keep. Less clutter = less stress. Plus, spending less time cleaning, organizing, and moving stuff around means you’ll have more time to enjoy activities and people that make you happy.

Forgive yourself.

This is a big one, isn’t it? Stop beating yourself up about mistakes or things you think you could have done better. Carrying that mental weight around isn’t serving so, you let it go.

Breathe.

Whenever you’re feeling anxious, sad, or worried, take a deep breath. Bring yourself into the present, and choose to feel peaceful. This belly breathing exercise with Dr. Joe and Luna is a good place to start, if you want guidance with this.

Relax your muscles.

Do you feel tense when you’re anxious? When you take that deep breath, also relax your muscles and let go of the tension they’re carrying.

This too shall pass.

The hard time you’re experiencing now is temporary. Take one day at a time, and remember that our struggles make us stronger in the long run.

Tapping into your power of positive thinking can set you up for greater happiness and hope, even in trying times. If you find that this isn’t enough, however, get the professional help you need to feel better.

Get more information by reading the full article, Staying Motivated in Tough Times.