Motivating the Unmotivated During an Endless Pandemic

We are nearly one year into this pandemic and many of us are beginning to wonder if this will ever end. In some ways, it seems that we are mutating along with the virus, following the daily routine of unknown, predict, adapt, survive. Then, new day, repeat.

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Many of us are still hanging onto the idea that things will get back to normal, which has become a distant memory at this point. Drive-thru’s used to mean “getting a break today,” and “having it our way.” In fact, I can still sing the ‘70s Burger King jingle without missing a word. This very American fast-food tradition, has now been expanded to include rolling down the window to have a masked health care worker stick a large Q-tip up your nose, and then taking a scrape of our nasal cavity so deep it makes our eyes tear. This sci-fi-esque trauma has left many of us feeling somewhat numb, without a spark of motivation, inspiration, or meaning.

There are also many of us who had tricks for pulling ourselves out of a rut, and we are now finding that these no longer work. No more tricks in the bag. Tank empty.

It seems that there are three possible paths to take. Some have taken the path of resignation, which means that they are resigned to all of the imposed restrictions and inherent loss due to the pandemic, and have thrown in the towel for the time being. Then, there are those who have taken the path of detonation, meaning that they have taken radical steps to throw caution to the wind regardless of the consequences. The third path is one of exploration. Those who have chosen to take this path have accepted that a pandemic is still happening right now, and they have challenged themselves to find new ways, however small, to stay excited about life and grow.

One thing that can help us shift into exploration-mode, is to understand that motivation is not something we can pick up at the grocery store or find in a closet. Motivation is a process. It is what ignites the spark that fuels goal-oriented behavior.

Here are seven steps to becoming motivated:

1. Reach out to your peeps. Research has demonstrated repeatedly that the number one box to check for longevity and a high-quality existence is our relationships. This means having people we know we can count on no matter what.

2. Acceptance is the key to most problems. Acceptance means to stop having expectations, which typically lead us to a place of frustration and disappointment. In fact, my favorite definition of stress is wanting the present moment to be something other than it is. Once we truly accept that we are in a pandemic and it will be over when it is over, we will be much better off.

3. Be. Here. Now. Like it or not, this is what it is. We are in a pandemic. Don’t waste your valuable life-minutes trying to change it or predict when it will be over. Spend your life-minutes as if they were cash, especially during a pandemic.

4. News Fast. Go on a news-fast. Keep informed in a general sense and then turn it all off. The thoughts we allow in will dictate how we feel. The Rona-updates can turn one’s day upside down. Just say no.

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5. Find your match. Listen to your inner voice and find a match to strike. What are you interested in? Art. Music. Movies. Doing something to make a difference. Starting a business. Making money. Doing something radical to your house. Running for local political office.

6. Savor the spark. Once you strike the match, observe the spark and run with it. Savor it. Learn a new language. Try art. Design and build something. Listen to some new music instead of the same old thing. Plan a themed garden with exotic flowers and veggies. Cook something you have never made before. Pick an ethnic theme for Wednesday's family dinner. Watch a movie you would not normally watch. Change your hairstyle. Get a tattoo.

7. Fan or lighter fluid. Fuel your spark to grow into a passionate flame by fanning it or dumping lighter fluid on it. This means to take it a step further by taking that art or film-making class. Make a novice documentary. Do some research on how to start a business and make some phone calls. Have plans drawn up for your house-reno. Better yet, do it yourself. Find out what’s entailed with running for office. Buy the seeds or order the plants for your exotic garden. Add a pond with Japanese goldfish. Install an Estonian sauna.

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What it comes down to, is listening to that inner-voice about what truly excites and energizes you. Follow it.