7 Strategies to Combat Motivational Slumps
Feeling stalled out on that project you were pumped about a few months ago? In the doldrums of execution as you hit snags, unanticipated challenges surface, and can't find the time/energy/focus to keep on track? You aren't alone.
When you first feel that light bulb go off and you connect to the vision/mission, it can be intoxicating. You are firing on all cylinders and off to the races, then after a while you start to lose steam as the real work sets in. The adrenaline rush is replaced by self-doubt and judgement in as your inner critic's dialogue becomes louder in your head about slipping timelines, possibly assigning blame. As you feel you are losing traction, it becomes easier for other tasks that feel more urgent to take up time on your calendar. You say you "want" to get back to it but you've tried that multiple times and only ever seem to get back to where you last got stuck. Now you've spent another hour (or day) refreshing your memory on where you last left off and all your other work/priorities have piled up and you step away yet again. Sound familiar?
No matter your industry or project, when shit gets real and you start to feel the fatigue of the uphill climb and the excitement and newness has worn off, most people slow down or sit down and take a rest. Getting lost in the weeds of execution is real.
Many workplaces have adopted dashboards to monitor progress on detailed project to track the critical path and keep project deadlines from creeping which can be helpful to let you know that the clock is ticking and properly manage your priorities. But what if you’ve hit a wall. Knowing it needs to get done and mustering the the gumption to do it can feel insurmountable. Maybe the issues isn’t your expertise or technical savvy that has you stalled.
Here are a few different ideas for action when you notice a negative slope or dip on your motivation curve.
Reconnect to the why. What was it about the project at the beginning that had everyone fired up in the beginning? As the project moves into execution and into the weedier details, it can be easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. You start to take the next step informed by the last step and not by the larger picture.
Pick one thing. At times the list of things to do is so overwhelming, even picking one is daunting. Thoughts of making sure you're picking the "right" or the most important one can become a way of procrastinating and avoidance. Get a win under your belt. Pick something small or break a larger task into smaller bites, and then another. It builds momentum. Think Bill Murray in "What About Bob?" Baby steps to the door, baby steps to the elevator…
Ask for help. This can take a lot of different forms. You could delegate to a team member or pull in a resource that has more time or expertise. Perhaps it's work that isn't exciting for you and there is a junior or other member of the team that is excited about the opportunity. Asking for assistance isn't a sign of failure or weakness. No one gets anywhere alone.
Ask "what would this be like if it was easy"? When you adopt poison words like won't, should, never, and need to, you sink further into the can'ts. You're focusing on the barriers rather than the path forward. Are you marching straight up the steepest section of the mountain? With each step you're feeling the ache in your back, how tired your feet are, and the sun is baking your skin. Is there a switch back where, thought it might take more steps, feels more achievable? Be brave/wise enough to envision another way.
Create accountability. Find an accountability partner, inside or outside the project (or even company), to make a commitment and stick to it. Talking out loud about what's going on can help you rise out of the weeds. These are weeds of the project or of your own creation relating to judgement. The stories you are telling yourself about why it isn't getting done or how hard something is. A well-placed question can shift (or snap) you out of Stucks-ville.
Block out time. While this may seem like a luxury, at times it is necessary. Have you ever spent four hours spread out over a few weeks trying to get focused only to get interrupted and have to start all over each time with nothing to show? Imagine taking that same four hours and having something to show for it. Block off a morning or whatever time of day you feel most fresh and focused. Turn off your phone, close your email, put a sign on your desk, or hide away at home (or to the office or library if you work from home). This is your time. Get stuck after an hour? Take a quick walk, get your blood flowing, just don't open your email or try to get other stuff done. That's what got you here in the first place!
Celebrate success! No matter how small, celebrate accomplishments. Too often we finish one thing and jump to the next without looking back. Next email, please. Know why mowing the lawn or repainting that room feels so great? (Other than you were moving your body and not staring at a computer…) You have an opportunity to bask in the glory of what you have done. You feel you have something to show for your effort.
My recommendation for these tools – pick one. Which one of these speaks to you the most and had you feeling the most empowered and energized? That’s where to start. Pick a favorite and start there. Over time, try another. Build up your motivational slump toolbox kit slowly, you have enough on your plate!
