Dealing with a Lack of Motivation

In honor of our current poll I've decided to tell you what works for me when I feel less than motivated. It's not necessarily one thing that works, but there are a few things I tend to fall back on when I just can't stay awake/can't focus.

I work through it and plug along until I'm done with everything.

This obviously works if you have a deadline looming, and I have a deadline in sight. So, perhaps this is for those times when I've procrastinated to the point of no return and I have no choice but to push on through.

I grab a snack to munch on.

I fall back on this when I'm tired. I choose something small so I have to keep putting it in my mouth. Usually the break helps me wake up a little and refocus my attention back to the audio. Sometimes I put two pieces of gum in my mouth to achieve a similar effect.

I clean my house instead.

I can see several areas of my house from my desk, including my kitchen if I tilt my chair back a little bit. Sometimes it's the chaos around me that makes me feel less than relaxed when I'm trying to get some work done. If I take a moment to load the dishwasher or clean the areas in my direct line of sight I find I am more relaxed and can can concentrate better.

These are a few of the things that seem to work for me and help me stay on track during the day. Do you have anything special that works for you?

Sanity Savers During Stressful Times

Whether you work at home or in an office, the stresses of balancing work and personal life can be overwhelming at times. Being tired, malnourished or unprepared only contribute to feelings of not being able to handle everything that we face.

I know that for me personally, when I'm tired, I crave sugar. Eating sugar leaves me more tired and emotional, and I get stuck in a cycle that inevitably leads to a meltdown. On the other hand, eating a healthy balanced breakfast and lunch and drinking plenty of water during the day helps keep my energy up even when I'm sleep-deprived. Because of this, I'm able to complete my work faster as well.

This article from Lolita Carrico at Modern Mom includes five more Sanity Savers for busy working moms, but many of them are useful for anyone. They include preparing the night before, eating healthy snacks, one hand wonders, power naps and in-home spa treatments.

Above all, it's important to realize that sometimes you simply can't do it all. While some things on your task list may be urgent, others may be more important. Eliminating the unnecessary items and delaying those that can be delayed until a less stressful time is okay. No one can do everything!

Mind Tools offers many great articles and resources for time management as well as stress management (not to mention some of their other great resources). However, finding a system that works for you is an important part of dealing with the stresses of life, so if these tools don't appeal to you, keep looking for one that does!

Do you have any stress management tips or resources that help you maintain balance?