Tips on Coping with a Lack of Motivation
A lack of motivation is one of those symptoms of depression that is hard to handle and is hard to cope with, because even though you are suffering from depression, there are still things you need to do throughout your day to function.
However, there are ways to cope with a lack of motivation when you're suffering from depression.
Fake It 'Til You Make It
It's okay to fake the energy you need because sometimes that energy can be genuine if you fake it.
Kristen suggests putting on your favorite perfume, put on your favorite clothing, and then doing something like going on a coffee run, going to work, going to school, taking the kids to school, or taking the dog for a walk.
After all of that work, do something social to get you out of the house and get you moving, because that's going to give you more energy throughout the day.
Add Structure into Your Life with a To-Do List or Making a Schedule
If you have a goal in mind that you want to get motivated on, or if you just want to try to do your daily functions and it's hard, and you don't feel motivated to do them, put them down on a to-do list.
As you go throughout your day, you can check off things that you do. It makes you have a sense of accomplishment even though this stuff is very small, like get out of bed in the morning, make breakfast. Even the smallest steps equal progress.
Positive self-talk is always good during this time as well. Don't be afraid to tell yourself that you are making progress; you are doing something good in your life, you are accomplishing things.
Make Yourself Accountable
Reaching out to friends and family to help you with this goal is a good idea.
Having your friends or family text you throughout the day to ask you how your progress is going can help motivate you because when someone else is keeping you accountable for the things that you want to do in life can contribute to making things a little easier.
