187: What to Do When You Don't Feel Motivated (Real Talk for Entrepreneurs)

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What to Do When You Don't Feel Motivated (Real Talk for Entrepreneurs)

Feeling unmotivated and don't know how to get moving again? In this episode of Thrive in Five, business coach Cindy Gordon shares the real talk about lack of motivation and three practical strategies to get back on track without forcing yourself.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why having no motivation doesn't mean you're lazy or broken
• The "ridiculously small" approach that creates momentum when you don't want to do anything
• How to reframe your relationship with motivation for long-term success
• What to do when you're feeling unmotivated at work or in your business
• Why honoring your energy patterns leads to more sustainable productivity

Perfect for: Unmotivated entrepreneurs, overwhelmed business owners, and anyone who's ever wondered "how do I get my motivation back?"

Episode Highlights: "Lack of motivation is often your body's way of saying 'I need something different right now.'"

"Motivation is actually a feeling that comes and goes, just like happiness or excitement. Instead of waiting to feel motivated, focus on your commitment to your goals."

Stop waiting to feel motivated and start building trust with yourself. This episode will help you move forward even when you don't feel like it.

👉 Tag @ExclusivelyCindy on Instagram/Facebook and share how you're using this tip as an overwhelmed entrepreneur - I'd love to connect and hear your story!

💡 Don't forget to subscribe for more quick productivity tips for overwhelmed business owners and female entrepreneurs!

💌 Get exclusive overwhelm solutions and productivity strategies for entrepreneurs straight to your inbox - sign up now! https://cindygordon.myflodesk.com/countmein

The OVERWHELM CURE - Beat entrepreneur overwhelm in one hour! Perfect for overwhelmed business owners who need fast results - https://exclusivelycindy.thrivecart.com/the-overwhelm-cure/

Daily Success Framework - Productivity system for overwhelmed entrepreneurs: https://stan.store/cindygordon/p/get-my-daily-success-framework-now

Get your Printable Success Affirmation Cards for Business Owners here: https://stan.store/cindygordon/p/success-affirmation-cards-digital-download

Connect with Cindy Gordon - Reality Check Method Coach for Overwhelmed Entrepreneurs:

• Website: ExclusivelyCindy.com
• Instagram: ...

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
It's Monday morning and you'restaring at your to-do list,
feeling like doing absolutelynothing.
Zero motivation, zero energy.
Zero.
Desire to tackle anything onyour plate.
You know what you need to do,but you just don't feel like
doing it.
What if I told you that thisfeeling is completely normal and
there are three simplestrategies to get you moving

(00:20):
again without forcing yourselfinto productivity.
In this episode of Thrive InFive, I'll share exactly what to
do when you don't feelmotivated.
This is real talk for when youare totally unmotivated, Welcome
back to Thrive in Five, where Igive you a quick burst of
motivation and productivity infive minutes or less.

(00:42):
I'm Cindy, your host, aself-made entrepreneur, busy
mom, and a business coach.
I've built and sold severaldigital businesses ranging from
five to six figure successes.
So when it comes to managingtime and priorities in both life
and work, I get it.
I've been there and I am here tohelp you thrive.
let's be honest about what'sreally happening here.

(01:05):
Maybe you've been pushing toohard for weeks and suddenly hit
a wall.
Maybe you're overwhelmed byeverything on your plate and you
don't know where to start.
Or maybe you're just having oneof those days where even simple
tasks feel impossible.
And you're wondering ifsomething's wrong with you.
The truth is feeling unmotivatedisn't a character flaw, and it's
definitely not laziness.

(01:26):
When you have no motivation todo anything, your brain is
actually trying to protect you.
You might be experiencingdecision fatigue, emotional
overwhelm, or your nervoussystem might be asking for a
reset.
The key is understanding thatthe lack of motivation is often
your body's way of saying, I amneeding something different
right now.

(01:46):
As a self-made entrepreneurwho's built and sold several
digital businesses, I have hadmy fair share of motivation
meltdowns.
I've learned that sustainablesuccess isn't always feeling
motivated.
It's about knowing how to workwith your natural energy
patterns instead of againstthem.
So when it comes to managing theups and downs of entrepreneurial

(02:06):
life.
I get it.
I've been there.
So here's how to get motivatedwhen you just don't feel like
it.
And none of those strategiesinvolve forcing yourself or just
pushing through.
First off, honor the pause.
Instead of fighting the lack ofmotivation, ask yourself, what
do I actually need right now?
Am I tired, overwhelmed, burntout?

(02:29):
Sometimes the most productivething you can do is take a 20
minute walk, have a healthysnack.
Or simply acknowledge thatyou're human and not a
productivity machine.
This isn't about being lazy.
It's about being strategic withyour energy when you honor what
your body and mind are tellingyou, you often find that
motivation returns naturally.

(02:51):
Next, start ridiculously small.
When you are feelingunmotivated, your brain sees
everything as overwhelming.
So instead of trying to tackle abig project.
Choose the smallest possibleversion of progress.
Maybe it's opening the document,maybe it's writing one sentence.
Maybe it's organizing just yourdesk instead of your entire

(03:13):
office.
The goal isn't to completeeverything, it's to create
momentum.
Once you start moving, even inthe teeny tiny ways, motivation
often follows action rather thanthe other way around.
Finally, I want you to reframeyour relationship with
motivation.
Here's where most people get itwrong.

(03:33):
They think that motivation hasto come first, but motivation is
actually a feeling that comesand goes.
Just like happiness orexcitement., Instead of waiting
to feel motivated, focus on yourcommitment to your goals and
identify as someone who followsthrough.
Ask yourself, what would asuccessful entrepreneur do in
this moment?

(03:53):
And then.
Do the thing, regardless of howyou feel, this isn't about
grinding or hustling.
This is about building trustwith yourself.
The magic happens when you stop.
Making motivation meanssomething about your worth or
your future success.
Sometimes you'll feel motivatedand sometimes you won't.
Both are completely normal partsof being human.

(04:15):
I use these strategiesconstantly in my own personal
life and I teach them to some ofmy clients.
One, overwhelmed entrepreneurtold me that she stopped the
cycle of guilt and shame aroundher daily motivation dips by
implementing the ridiculouslysmall approach instead of
beating herself up for notfeeling like working, she
committed to just opening herlaptop nine times outta 10.

(04:38):
That small, tiny action actuallyled to productive work.
Another business owner realizedthat her lack of motivation was
actually a daily signal that sheneeded better boundaries.
She was saying yes to way toomuch in her life, and her energy
was being completely depleted.
This reframe around motivationversus commitment is actually

(05:00):
one of the core mindset shiftsthat I teach in My Overwhelmed
Cure program because it's sofoundational to sustainable
success.
If you want to try this today,here is your challenge.
The next time you feelunmotivated, don't fight it.
Instead, ask yourself, what do Ineed?
Choose one small action and takethat step regardless of how you

(05:22):
feel.
And remember, you don't needmotivation to move forward.
You just need a commitment toyour future self.
You don't need to feel motivatedevery single day to build a
successful business and life.
You just need to understand thatmotivation comes and it goes,
but your commitment for showingup to yourself can be constant.

(05:42):
Some days you'll feel likeconquering the world, and other
days you'll feel like hidingunder the covers.
Both are part of the humanexperience and both are okay.
You've got this.
Thanks for tuning into theThrive in Five podcast.
If you found value in today'sepisode, I'd love for you to
leave a review.
It helps more listeners discoverthe show and don't forget to

(06:04):
subscribe so you never miss adose of productivity,
motivation, and success tips.
And hey, share this episode witha friend that could use a little
extra inspiration.
Until next time, keep thriving.
And remember, you've got this.