Mindset Advice
I KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO WHY DON’T I DO IT?
I have heard this many times in my 12 years in the physical and mental wellbeing industry. Whilst the statement itself is common, the underlying reasons for it are complex and varied. Here are some of the most common answers that may (or may not) apply to you. Address any that do and your motivation will grow: 1. Because you are exhausted. 79% of Americans and 63% of British are under slept. Lack of sleep costs the world economy almost a trillion dollars per year through lack of productivity and related illness (USA $411bn , UK $50bn). If you’re not doing what you need to do, you’re procrastinating and lethargic, you might just be utterly exhausted. Track your sleep with a device or app and make sure you’re getting enough. 2. Because you are stressed. Elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels over time cause our bodies to shut down. We don’t absorb nutrients from food, our brains don’t function clearly, our immune system (linked with energy levels) shuts down and it’s completely exhausting. Sooner or later we withdraw and burnout, our motivation destroyed. Address both your stress level and stress tolerance strategy; you can’t always change your stressors but you can change how you deal with them. 3. Because you are unfit. Probably the easiest to address. Humans evolved doing 12-14 hours of moderate physical activity daily. Exercise boosts positive hormones, positive neurotransmitters, circulation and helps us remember more and problem solve better. It boosts our sleep and improves happiness. It is no wonder that being unfit can rob you of the energy and motivation to do, well, anything. Take some responsibility, and if this applies to you, get moving. Walking first then explore other options available to you, you will not regret it.
26 | SKWilmslow & Alderley Edge - November/December 2022
4. Because you are sick. It’s not a nice thought, but illness saps our energy and drive like nothing else, so if you really can’t understand your lack of motivation and productivity then get yourself to a GP. If it’s not a mental health issue then start with a blood test and get to the bottom of it. 5. Because you have a bad diet. If you put the wrong fuel in your car it’ll break. Guess what? The same goes for you. Humans have evolved eating (and therefore being able to digest and extract nutrients from) certain foods, you already know what they are. Processed high fat or high sugar foods / drinks are not natural, they’re nutrient void and they’re addictive. Let’s not forget about alcohol of course, which, as well as being calorific, has the added ‘bonus’ of disrupting and damaging your nervous system and poisoning your liver. Review and improve your diet and motivation will follow. 6. Because you are depressed. It is sometimes a daunting fact that if you have no motivation, you aren’t doing what you want or need to do, you have no energy and ultimately don’t feel good at all, you may be depressed. It’s okay to consider that this may be the case and to ask for help. Discuss it with loved ones first and then your GP and take it from there. The good thing is that once you accept something, you can start taking positive steps to address it. Don’t be naive, if you know what to do in your life but you aren’t doing it then there is a reason, and no one is going to solve it for you. Seek help, take action and you might just start to feel your motivation return.
