5 Ways To Get and Stay Motivated When You Ain’t Feeling It

A freelancer’s survival cheat sheet

It doesn’t really matter how long you’ve been freelancing or how successful you are at it. There are times when you’re going to feel a block in your motivation. You just aren’t going to feel like doing your work, and to hell with work obligations or personal creative goals.

This, of course, can lead to some feelings of guilt. Maybe some questioning of self-worth. Or maybe hunger. It can affect people in different ways.

The good news is that a lack of motivation is usually a temporary thing. But it can still be a pain — especially if you have deadlines looming.

Here are five simple tips to regain your productivity mojo quickly and easily so your work and goals need not suffer.

Spruce Up Your Workspace

Don’t go nuts. But at least once a week, or whenever you’re feeling a lull in motivation, take a few minutes to straighten up your desk, workbench, drawing table — whatever.

Empty the trash. Wash the dirty coffee mugs. Put your supplies in whatever caddy, drawer, jar, or space they belong in.

Once you have a fresh-looking place to work, you will probably feel a bit more re-energized to get back to work. And as a bonus, you know where everything is now. No more hunting around for that pen/brush/notebook because you’ve put it where it belongs.

It’s nicer than getting frustrated constantly looking for things.

Messes can be chaotic and a distraction. A big enough mess can be a bit depressing to look at. Why put up with that?

Clean Up Your Digital World

I love the Internet. I’ve been online in one form or another since 1988, and it’s safe to say it’s an integral part of my life and work.

That said, I’m also aware of how toxic a place the online world can be. And that’s nothing new. The system flame wars of the late 80s and early 90s could get out of hand sometimes. And online abuse has been around since BBS days (or before).

Go through your social media and block or unfollow people who offer more negativity than not — especially when it comes to your work or personal passions. If you find a whole online environment causing you stress, shut it down for a while — if not for good. I see people doing this on Facebook all the time. Sometimes they come back, many times they find better things to do.

Or recognize when you’ve got an online addiction and try to cut it out of your life. It’s sucking energy and time from your productivity. This is why I no longer have TikTok installed anywhere. And it’s why you haven’t seen me on World of Warcraft in 10 years.

I’m not saying these are necessarily bad but they were bad for me. For you, it might be something else.

Examine your online interactions and see if you can’t pare it down a bit and lose that don’t add positivity to your life right now.

Dress For the Job

It happens a little less these days after so many people found themselves working from home this past year, but I’ve always been amazed by the number of people who think freelancers work in their pajamas.

Good lord, no. I don’t think I even own a pair of pajamas. I’m a boxers kind of guy.

Anyway…

I learned quickly when I first started freelancing that working in a robe and slippers was not putting me in a productive frame of mind. I needed to wear proper clothes. I needed to wear shoes.

I’m a writer. Why do I need shoes?

Still a mystery, but say that I’m not feeling like I’m being serious about my work if I’m not wearing shoes. I have some nice clothes put aside for the occasional meeting in the outside world, but I’m in jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of Doc Marten shoes for the most part.

Ready to take on the world.

If you’re lagging — especially in the mornings — get rid of the robe and slippers and get dressed as if you might have to encounter other humans that day.

It’ll make all the difference to how motivated you feel.

Know Your Why

Okay, a little navel-gazing. I’ll keep it short.

Why do you do what you do?

Why are you working for yourself instead of some big company?

Is it security? Is it freedom? Is it better money?

Whatever your reason — and I can’t think of any wrong reasons — try to have an understanding of why you’re doing what you’re doing.

Take a few moments when you’re next feeling a bit low energy to remind yourself. Make a cup of tea while doing so if that helps.

A little navel-gazing isn’t a bad thing from time to time.

Be Healthy

This becomes more true the older you get.

I’m 54, and I can see a definite connection between how healthy I’ve been living and how productive I’ve been feeling.

When I’m eating right (low or no carbs and sugars, the occasional vegetable), I feel a lot better than if I’ve been living off potato chips and whipped cream.

Similarly, I need to start my day with some exercise. Usually, it’s taking the dog out for a walk around the block. Sometimes it’s some stretches, twists, and bends. Three times a week, I head to the Y for a late-morning break on the weight machines.

Anything to get the blood moving.

If I start my day by increasing my heart rate a little bit, my whole body feels more ready to work.

You don’t have to become a fitness fanatic, but some regular exercise would not be amiss.

Two Little Bonus Secrets To Motivation

The first secret is one I’ve talked about before. One of my biggest motivators is my pile of bills. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. If I don’t get paid, I can’t pay the bills. If I can’t pay the bills, a guy named Sluggo comes by to shut off my lights.

That will not do.

So my bills motivate me when all else fails.

But the second secret to motivation is understanding that it’s not all about the work itself. What affects us most in regards to how productive we feel is our environment.

Take control of your environment (and, by extension, your health), then you’re large and in charge. Work, art, or whatever your gig is will come to you more effortlessly.

And you’ll feel a lot more satisfied with what you’re doing.

Enjoy.

Thank you for reading. I’d love to share more with you via my Bi-Weekly Word Roundup newsletter sent to subscribers every other Sunday. It will feature news, productivity tips, life hacks, and links to top stories making the rounds on the Internet. You can unsubscribe at any time.