Feeling Tired, Drained, and Unmotivated?

Here’s Why It’s Okay and How to Turn It Around

Hey there, friend. If you’re feeling tired, drained, and unmotivated, you’re not alone. Life can be overwhelming, and it's perfectly natural to experience these feelings. The important thing is recognizing that it’s okay to feel this way and understanding how to turn it around without letting it control you. Let’s dive into it together.

Step 1: Acknowledge Your Feelings

First things first, acknowledge how you’re feeling. It’s okay to be tired, drained, and unmotivated. We’re human, not machines, and validating our emotions is important. Ignoring or suppressing these feelings often makes them worse. I find that when I ignore or suppress my feelings, they just simmer in the background, waiting for the heat to turn up until BAM, I lose it.

Step 2: Understand the Why

Try to understand why you’re feeling this way. Are you overwhelmed at work? Experiencing personal issues? Maybe it’s just the cumulative stress of everyday life. Identifying the root cause can help you address the issue more effectively. Sometimes, it’s not just one thing but a combination of factors. Every day we go through life, often on automatic mode, not realizing how these daily tasks impact us. Understanding your why is crucial.

Step 3: Give Yourself Permission to Rest

Rest is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Give yourself permission to take a break. Whether it’s a power nap, a weekend off, or just an hour of doing nothing, allow yourself to rest without guilt. Remember, rest is crucial for productivity and overall well-being. Without recharging, I feel like I am drowning and overwhelmed, which ultimately affects my peace, mental, and emotional health.

Step 4: Break Things Down

When you’re ready to start turning things around, break your tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces. Feeling overwhelmed often leads to paralysis. By tackling smaller tasks, you build momentum and progress without feeling too pressured. This approach has been a game-changer for me. Breaking things down works.

Step 5: Prioritize Self-Care

Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and spa days (though those can help!). It’s about caring for your physical, emotional, and mental health. Eat nourishing foods, get enough sleep, move your body, and make time for activities that bring you joy. Self-care is the foundation of motivation and energy. While I have been able to take moments to myself in the evenings, I need to prioritize my food habits next. More on this later; I'm not there yet.

Step 6: Set Realistic Goals

Set small, realistic goals to help you regain your motivation. Start with something simple, like making your bed or going for a short walk. Achieving these small goals can create a sense of accomplishment and help build your confidence to tackle bigger tasks. I have felt a great deal of satisfaction by getting in my short walks. No, it's not the duration I used to do or would like to continue, but the 10-minute walk is doable right now and still provides immeasurable benefits for me.

Step 7: Connect with Others

Reach out to friends, family, or a support group. Sometimes, just talking about your feelings can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. Social connections provide emotional support and remind you that you’re not alone in your struggles. I have set dates to spend at least one afternoon a week with a different friend to socialize and not lose that social benefit it provides.

Step 8: Practice Gratitude

Gratitude can shift your mindset from focusing on what’s wrong to appreciating what’s right. Try keeping a gratitude journal where you write down a few things you’re thankful for daily. This simple practice can boost your mood and motivation. My daughter gave me two beautiful journals, and I also have a coloring journal. Each journal is in a different part of the house, so no matter where I am, I can jot down my thoughts. Make it fun. Make it cathartic. This is not a chore. Another thing I enjoy is verbalizing my gratitude. Driving down the road, I am thankful for my health, my vehicle, and the weather. Finding the silver lining in everything around me has truly turned things around.

Step 9: Seek Professional Help if Needed

If you find that your feelings of being drained and unmotivated are persistent and severely impacting your life, it might be helpful to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can provide tools and strategies to manage your feelings and improve your overall well-being. I have had some amazing therapists and wholeheartedly believe finding professional help can have a positive impact.

Final Thoughts

Feeling tired, drained, and unmotivated is part of being human. It’s okay to experience these feelings but remember that they don’t have to control your life. By acknowledging your feelings, understanding the causes, and taking small steps toward self-care and realistic goal setting, you can start to turn things around.

Take it one step at a time, be kind to yourself, and remember: It’s okay to rest. You’ve got this, and brighter days are ahead.

Be happy, healthy, and safe!