Life can sometimes be hard, and there are times when it seems like nothing will ever go right again. When this happens, it’s easy to become emotionally and physically withdrawn, but this can make things much worse than they have to be. Here are several tips that can help you stay motivated when life hits hard.
Do Not Give Up
When things get tough, it’s easy to feel like giving up. But you must remember that every setback is a setup for a comeback. When obstacles and challenges arise, take note of them, but always keep your head up and continue moving forward. Remember that your purpose is greater than any obstacle or challenge you may face—and no obstacle can stand in your way if you don’t allow it to! No matter what happens, you have everything within you to overcome anything and everything. You are stronger than you think! Your will is powerful; use it to find strength in yourself and your circumstances. Always believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams. Never forget: There is a reason why you were born into this world, so make sure you live each day with passion and courage so that others can be inspired by you! It’s not about how many times we fall down; it’s about how many times we get back up again. Never give up! Never surrender!
Mindset Matters
While we can’t control what happens to us, we can control how we respond. If you put in a great effort and things don’t go your way, that doesn’t mean you failed. If a relationship ends or even if you lose your job, it doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough; it just means things didn’t work out. Things will get better if you keep working hard and stay positive! (Take a break) When we hit those moments of hardship, it’s easy to forget about our own happiness. When you feel like giving up on something or someone, take some time for yourself. Go for a walk, watch your favorite movie from childhood, read a book—do whatever makes you happy. When you come back to whatever is bothering you with renewed energy and enthusiasm, chances are high that everything will look much more manageable than before.
Personal Positivity
When your motivation is depleted, don’t let yourself fall into a downward spiral. Be proactive about increasing it. If you need help bouncing back, here are three things you can start doing right now 1. Schedule time for self-care: Make sure you have time set aside for taking care of yourself and your needs (e.g., getting enough sleep, eating well). It may sound counterintuitive at first—after all, if you’re not feeling motivated, why would you want to spend more time on yourself? But giving yourself some space can actually increase feelings of motivation. 2. Get out in nature: Take a walk outside or go for a run, even if you don’t feel like it. Research shows that spending time in nature boosts our moods by decreasing stress levels and boosting serotonin production (the feel good hormone). 3. Find something positive in your day: Look for something that went well today, no matter how small—even just one thing will work!
Focus on Improvements
The world is cruel. Period. It’s harsh, it’s tough, and it doesn’t care about your feelings or needs—the best you can hope for is that you and those around you will be able to weather its blows. So what should you do when life kicks you in the teeth? You focus on improvement, not getting even. And you improve by learning from mistakes and working towards accomplishing more and more each day. When things get bad, don’t dwell on how much worse they could be; instead, use them as motivation to push yourself forward. It’s an attitude shift that helps put problems into perspective and move forward with a new perspective on life. Instead of thinking why me? think what now? And if you can learn something from a situation (as opposed to beating yourself up over it), then go ahead: there are no mistakes, only lessons learned.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
Nothing kills motivation like negative people, so surround yourself with positivity. Go for a walk, meet up with friends, or chat online. The key is just getting out there and doing something that you enjoy. When things are tough, it’s easy to give up if you aren’t surrounded by people who understand your struggle. It’s also helpful to talk about what you are going through and gain insight from others in similar situations. Find people who motivate you and learn from them! Don’t Give Up: Life is full of ups and downs. Learning how to manage stress will help you keep moving forward no matter what happens. We all need times where we sit back and relax, but it’s important not to overdo it. Giving up completely isn’t an option; take time for yourself without isolating too much.
Reduce Negativity, Especially Social Media
It’s been shown that people generally have a harder time bouncing back from major setbacks if they are exposed to negative people, or if they spend a lot of time on social media. Is it any wonder that Facebook feeds are often full of complainers and downers? Social media can be great for many things, but one thing it is absolutely not good for is staying in touch with reality. A little bit of negativity here and there might actually be healthy; however, when you surround yourself with nothing but negativity all day long, your brain will start to believe everything is hopeless. If you find yourself feeling down more than usual—or even worse—if you feel like giving up altogether, it might be time to cut back on your social media usage. Consider turning off notifications, setting limits on how much time you spend online each day, and taking regular breaks from social media. Your brain will thank you later!
Remember You Are Stronger Than You Think
I don’t know what it’s like to have an eating disorder, but I can tell you that I have felt defeated. We all have at some point or another. When a situation arises and we feel completely powerless, we must remember that there is a light at the end of every tunnel. You are strong enough to handle what comes your way. It may not seem like it now, but one day you will look back on these times and realize how much stronger you became as a result. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself time to heal. Remember that today isn’t forever—you will make it through. And while you’re in the thick of things, be sure to take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep well, drink water and get outside for some fresh air (if possible). Take care of your body so that it can take care of you!