89. How to Get Started When You Have Zero Motivation

Ever find yourself staring at a growing to-do list, knowing exactly what you should do—but just not feeling like doing it? You’re not alone. In this episode of Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists, I'm diving into why getting started is often the hardest part and, more importantly, how to break through that resistance.

We’ll Cover:
🔹 The myth that motivation needs to come before action (spoiler: it doesn’t!)
🔹 How intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation affects task initiation
🔹 The “Action Before Motivation” principle and why waiting to feel motivated is a productivity killer
🔹 5 simple strategies to make starting any task easier—including lowering the barrier, temptation bundling, and using time limits
🔹 A real-life example of how I’ve used these techniques in my own life to get unstuck

By the end of this episode, you’ll have practical tools to stop procrastinating and start taking action—no motivation required.

Episode Breakdown:
[00:00 - 03:00] Why getting started is so tough & common SLP struggles
[03:00 - 08:00] The truth about motivation: Intrinsic vs. extrinsic
[08:00 - 12:00] Action creates motivation—how to use this to your advantage
[12:00 - 18:00] Small tweaks to make tasks easier to start
[18:00 - 22:00] Real-life example: How I applied these strategies
[22:00 - 25:00] Recap + your challenge for the week

Next Steps:
✅ Choose one strategy from this episode and apply it this week
✅ Join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for accountability and discussion
✅ Join me live in the group on Wednesday 3/5/25 at 12 PM ET for a  video training with even more strategies to help you take action

Tune in now and take the first step toward tackling your to-do list—without waiting for motivation to strike! 🎧✨

To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here.

Come join the SLP Support Group on Facebook for more tips and tricks!

Follow me on Instagram! @theresamharp

Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.