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How to Recharge and Get Motivated
Do you find that you’re working more than before, but getting less done? Do you ever feel drained or stuck? If you’re nodding your head, you’re not alone. We live in an amazing time filled with great opportunities, and it’s exciting to realize how much you can get done, but it can also be exhausting!
We aren’t machines. After participating in so many activities, we feel drained, emotionally flattened and stuck. Yet, we seldom stop to allow our bodies to replenish our energy. Too often, time dictates our breaks, not our body. We are conditioned to think that when more needs to be done, we must increase the amount of time spent working and decrease the amount of time spent refueling. This thinking causes a strange sense of obligation to sacrifice our wellbeing due to the time crunch and demands of the situation.
While it may seem counterintuitive, during the most hectic of times, we actually need more time to recharge.
We have a primal need for pleasure and recreation—but, as humans with free will, we can choose to ignore this need, to overcome our instincts and go against nature. We convince ourselves that there is no limit to how far we can push ourselves, that just as science produces better, faster, more reliable and steady machines, we too can hone our abilities through modifying our nature. Many of us attempt to train ourselves to need less down time—to sleep less, to rest less, to cease less—to do more and stretch beyond our limits. But, like it or not, there is a limit, and if we continue to violate nature’s demands, to abuse ourselves, we will pay the price—individually and as a society. –Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., Even Happier
In any area of your life, in order to recharge and get motivated, it’s important to give yourself permission to pause. These pauses provide you with the time and space needed to redirect your focus and energy. Over time, I’ve learned to take breaks and focus my attention on mini-activities that quiet my judgmental left-brain and ignite my inner passion. After these little timeouts, I usually discover that my productivity actually increases, as does the quality of my work.
A few activities in which I recently indulged:
Cleaning my office. Did I really need to re-organize all of my files last week? No. The files themselves could wait, but the act of organizing allows me to cleanse and recharge my mental energy. When I was done, I had the energy needed to get more done.
Creating a collage. I also didn’t need to make a collage, but the process of making art allows me to turn off part of my brain so that it can rejuvenate.
Writing in my journal. A couple of years ago, I started keeping a journal. It’s such a release for me at the end of the day to write, doodle, or tape photos to the pages.
In addition to taking breaks, it’s important to notice how you talk to yourself. Are you focusing more on what you don’t want to happen or what you DO want to happen? Do you ever say to yourself, “I am not going to procrastinate”? You probably have a laundry list of things that you don’t want to do. This list is draining your energy from what you want to be doing.
Pause and think about what you want to do. What do you want to work on today? Of course, you may not “want” to do everything that is on your plate; however, you do want to get it off of your plate, which will only happen if you take action. The key is to emphasize moving forward and to use language that supports your goals. You want to be your biggest cheerleader.
The Take-Home Message:
You are in control. Recognize when you feel drained and when you lack motivation. Rather than punishing yourself or focusing on what you should be doing, reconnect with your inner compass and determine what you want to do. Then, let the energy restoration begin!
When you are busy, what do you do to recharge? Leave a comment!
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This entry was posted on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 at 7:00 am and is filed under Balance & Simplicity, Creativity & Inspiration, Goals & Productivity, Tips + Techniques. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
11 Responses to “How to Recharge and Get Motivated”
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Twitter: leecurrie
says:
Depending on whether it’s my mind or body hitting the wall, I do one of two things: a brain dump, when I seem to be spinning my wheels and my brain won’t shut down; and, a photo walk, when I lace up my sneakers and take my camera with me to focus on the little things around me. Sometimes I do both. Right now I have to re-charge to get ready for four kids home for summer break! Maybe I’ll just sleep :)
Lee´s last blog ..A departure …
Twitter: carolynr
says:
Oh I adore your recharge techniques. I want to try a photo walk. That sounds just wonderful, especially now that the weather is FINALLY beautiful! You’ve inspired me. Photo walk, here I come. But, sleep, that is my big indulgence. I love being able to get into bed knowing that when I wake up there is a clean slate awaiting me. There is something about that awareness that really provides a unique sense of security and comfort.
Twitter: JadynSenior
says:
Hi Carolyn! Great post. I have been wondering what other people do specifically to re-charge. It seems like when I most need it, I forget what actually makes me feel better. Go figure :)
So, thanks for sharing today, it is such a good reminder.
Twitter: carolynr
says:
It is so hard to determine what we need at the moment we actually need it. I use a little technique that I keep meaning to blog about. I created a menu of items that help me to recharge, some items are as simple as a quote that inspires me, while others are 30-minute or so activities. It takes trial and error to determine what will help you in different types of situations. But it is well worth the effort — and a lot of fun to create!!
Twitter: benspoont
says:
When I need to recharge I usually will go for a walk with my dog. She always notices the little things, which reminds me to do the same.
Twitter: carolynr
says:
She is my doggie too :)! And I couldn’t agree more – Lila sees the beauty in the dullest of moments. She makes me smile when darkness tries to invade my psyche. She is my own personal energizer bunny!
I’ve had the exact three things on my list this week that I know will help me feel better. I plan to clean my office this morning, start to collect pictures for a vision board all week, and FIND my journal – I’ve got a lot of my mind! :)
Teri [a foodie stays fit]´s last blog ..I’d like to know…
Twitter: carolynr
says:
That is too funny, Teri! Hope you have a beautiful, energizing week :)
Thank you so much for those incredible ideas. finding things to do with children is so hard sometimes, especially during the winter break when they are home ALL THE TIME! Their most recent favourite is to make random sandwich crafts out of bread and salad bits, not sure how to explain it I found at this recipes for kids site here, the’res a little picture with each one which is great. Thought your readers might like to try that too. Well, I must be back to rea life now, either my kids are calling or I’m imagining things, which is also quite possible.
Twitter: sinead51
says:
Thanks Carolyn, I really love your site A Beautiful Ripple Effect and I have an RSS feed to Google Reader so that I don’t miss any of your posts. I really like this article. I agree. We all need to take time out for ourselves – to rest and become re – energised.
Recently I have felt “blocked” and just not motivated to write so I have had a break and cleaned and painted my office. Sometimes we just need to recharge our batteries. There are times that we do more by actually doing less.
Thanks again Carolyn, I look forward to reading your future posts.
Kind regards,
Angela
those are wonderful techniques, for me, the only thing i do to recharge is to Yoga! it relaxes both my body and mind.
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