During the last few months, I have had long conversations with friends and social media followers about the lack of motivation a lot of us are feeling right now. Most of the people I talk to seem to feel unmotivated to do some of the simplest tasks at hand. Others do not feel ready to face the semester that is starting. And those who are job hunting feel extremely affected by the uncertainty every industry is facing as we continue to fight the Coronavirus pandemic. Without realizing it or without connecting with one another, all these people are struggling in the same way: motivation is non-existent.

When lock-down began, colleges closed their doors, and companies sent people to work from home, we never expected to spend these many months in what seems like an apocalypse movie. It never crossed our minds that our lives would have to deal with such uncertainty for as long as we have. Many thought our governments would have the situation under control soon enough for us to go back to “normal." However, as classes begin again and home-office continues to be the norm, we realize things will not be changing any time soon. It seems like we need to continue adjusting to this new reality and find the best way to cope with it.

But as we try to cope with how things are, many find themselves lacking motivation to perform the tasks at hand. Students struggle to meet deadlines. Teachers continue to learn as much as possible about online teaching. Employees try to do their best as they work from home. And those who have gone back to work in their office, store, or school are trying to adjust to the new guidelines they must follow. All of these situations are very unsettling and have made people feel discouraged. Why try when nothing seems to be improving? Why risk my life to do a job that is not taking care of me? Why aim for the highest grades when the quality of our classes has changed?

These emotions we are all experiencing right now are extremely valid. There are days in which you will have so much energy you will meet all your deadlines and check every item off your to-do list. But other days you will not even want to move from your bed or turn the TV off. Those days are normal and valid as well. Sometimes it is okay if all you do is make it through the day. It is okay to understand your anger, anxiety, despair, and sadness. You need to listen to those feelings too without letting them consume you.

The lack of motivation you are feeling right now will not last forever. To fight it, you can try creating shorter to-do lists and setting more reachable goals for yourself. If you face every day differently and with a mix of tasks, it will be easier for you to go through everything you need to do. By planning out every day in a different way, you guarantee staying busy and occupied with your mind distracted. However, it is okay if you do not want to have a daily plan and would like to save a day to do absolutely nothing. The main goal is to find a balance that works for you and keeps you going without letting the bad feelings drag you down.

Remember it is important to take care of your mental health and your well-being. That is the only way you will be able to overcome the lack of motivation you may be feeling. Reach out to family or friends who may be able to help you. Try to find little things that motivate you and keep you going. It is okay to do whatever you are doing right now! Give yourself a break.

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