Feeling uninspired? Try something new!

Who hasn’t experienced that strange knowing while lounging on the couch, completely demotivated and lacking any urge to get up and do something that seems to be not healthy?

I assume many. Many people have taken the risk of confronting the established routine of constant work, anxiety, or at least the fear, fear of missing out, feeling not validated, going broke, losing their job, etc. But what if this moment of emptiness is a time for a reset? A chance provided by the powerful forces of the universe to recharge, to refocus, and eventually to rise and declare, “Enough is enough”?

Yeah, well. I haven’t seen a lot of people who experienced it quite like that, including me. For me, it seemed more like a gradual decline in motivation, leading more and more into nothingness. After trying many things over the years, I concluded that I had seen everything. I wondered what could possibly happen that would be different from my previous efforts. And I think this was the most detrimental thought I could have had. It wasn’t that change that wasn’t possible, but rather that I was concluding that my future would look like my past. I declared myself dead. I projected the past onto my future. Hence, nothing would change because I let my thinking step in my way.

First, it was just a thought, and well, I reminded myself of that fact for quite a while. But thoughts become things…

How did I find myself in this unfortunate place?

I think it’s similar for many of us. We keep putting in effort – trying and trying and trying – yet we often find ourselves stuck at the same dead end. I must confess this is the worst part for me. It sucks to be – to feel – stuck. It can make me feel angry at times, but more often it leaves me feeling exhausted, limited, and defeated, but mostly exhausted from trying but getting nowhere.

In these moments, I always recall the fancy gurus’ comments: The journey is what matters. The journey is the goal. Ending just in a second thought more like “Pah! Maybe that works for you, old man, but not me.” I want to see results from the effort I’m putting in. Simply working hard isn’t rewarding or fulfilling. In fact, it’s demotivating.

Yes, I can enjoy the journey, doing an action like dancing. That’s fun. It’s also exciting when I do it in a way I like. It does expel energy in a way that could count as exhausting, but it’s not because it is fun; it’s enjoyable. I like it. And I do it again and again. But sure, not every day for hours on end. That seems to me like an obligation, and obligation sounds like work. So, no thank you. But would I give up dancing at all? Of course not.

Does it sound a lot like a child’s thinking? Yes, it does. However, I have the gut feeling it’s more about experiencing those emotions rather than being an adult at this moment. Adults typically respond out of obligation and duty. While that can be fulfilling in itself, those may not experience this strange sense – this lack of motivation. So, let’s disregard the responsible adult side for a few minutes.

So, what’s the clue here then? A good mix of tasks and activities? Engaging in things I enjoy and only when I feel like I am wanting to do it? I am not sure. It feels like a mystery—and a misery—to me. For years, I’ve been attempting to understand what brings lasting happiness without unhappiness. It seems I can’t find anything that is not both – fulfilling and [at some point] not fulfilling.

Take vacations as an example. Consider a week at an all-inclusive resort; it’s incredibly relaxing. If you extend it to two weeks, it remains enjoyable, but you might get irritated by repeated sunburn or the repetition of the same meals for 14 days straight. After three weeks, you might get frustrated with things you’ve tried to ignore to enjoy your trip. After four weeks – trust me – it can become really dull. You might have read even the most tedious romance novel you bought at the local store or pulled out your laptop several times to check work emails. And when your boss asks if you’re still on vacation, because you work so much, you might even regret not booking just two weeks instead of four.

Finally, you return to work. You almost feel nostalgic for your coworkers, since your kids have been quite demanding. But now that you’re back, it feels like time went by quickly, unlike what you expected after spending four weeks at the beach. You did miss some of your friendly coworkers back then, but not nearly as much as you miss now sipping margaritas on the beach. You definitely didn’t miss the gossipy and scheming colleagues whose negativity made your days feel like a really bad soap opera. On day 27 of vacation, work seemed wonderful; now, it feels like a nightmare – again. A realization that hits you. Just as it hits me and many others.

Seemingly, you always desire what is out of your reach and can only tolerate not having it for a limited period. Now back in the soap opera, what will your choice be? Quitting? That might be an option if you have some savings or perhaps a new job lined up, but since it came upon you so gradually, you hesitate. As long as the work environment isn’t extremely toxic and doesn’t endanger your health, it seems fine to stick around. It’s a place that feels nice and safe, and who really wants to trade safety for freedom so easily? So, we stick around, and that lack of inspiration builds up. It increases to a point where we can no longer ignore it, and then we start to feel unwell. We experience the early signs of burnout—or even boreout. In reality, we’ve been sensing them all along, but not intensely enough to do something about them. Confronting them would mean having to change, and change is something we avoid. We seek security and comfort – we lazy humans….

So, what does it mean? Is it about having “balance”? A little of this joy and a little of that soap opera, along with some time limitations to give it more value. Is it about concentrating on what truly matters to us at the moment, what brings us joy—or what will bring lasting benefits?

I don’t have a perfect solution, but I believe a balanced mix seems to be a healthy target state. I’ve experienced both sides (a lot to do, nothing to do) at various times and in different ways. I’ve been fortunate to experience these things firsthand, but it also meant I had choices, which is tough for us humans (as many psychological studies show). I’ve experienced both extremes: There were times when I was highly motivated, e.g., when I had a clear goal in my mind and urgently wanted to achieve it – for various reasons. (I must admit that I found chasing goals much easier when I was still seeking my dad’s approval, which was a powerful yet harmful motivator.) Then there were times when I simply wanted to prove something to the world. I started my first direct-to-consumer business, wrote a book, created courses and workbooks, integrated technology everywhere, and did simple things like admin work. I felt amazing. But only for so long.

However, I also faced many moments where I had complete freedom but felt utterly scared. Without an employer to support me, it felt like being in the wilderness. And it’s very scary at first. It took me nearly three years to take the ups and downs of this life with ease. And despite feeling sometimes scared, overwhelmed, lost, bored, limited, happy, fulfilled, and joyful, I wouldn’t trade those experiences because they shaped me. Yes, so cliché but nonetheless true.

Even with so much freedom and the chance to do what I want, I occasionally feel a lack of inspiration. Just like earlier (and yesterday and the day before yesterday) while I was sitting on the balcony of my hotel in Egypt, I felt motivated to write this article. I might feel that way again once I’m finished. Maybe, maybe not. Who can say? What I do know is that it’s frustrating – very much so. It’s not only about having the freedom to decide what to do next; it’s also about the absence of inspiration, because being inspired is incredible, liberating, and, above all, empowering. Conversely, the lack of inspiration is downright draining.

What is the solution? I’m not sure if there is one perfect solution. I believe it varies a bit for everyone. As mentioned earlier, some experience a sudden realization (or perhaps a moment of urgency to take action), while others might never have that feeling due to their duties. However, I see more and more of today’s people who find themselves feeling uninspired, often leading to a sense of burnout, where they feel even less compelled to do anything. And I believe that lies the answer. It’s what those who came before us always had – something to do.

We won’t be magically free from all our suffering, but I believe that the most effective way to overcome feelings of boredom, sadness, or burnout is by taking action. This doesn’t mean overdoing it, like dancing non-stop until you’re worn out (which isn’t inspiring). Instead, one might start with just 5 minutes of dancing, admiring beautiful flowers, or playing soccer with the kids next door. The key is to do something – in the best case continuously.

A tarot reader I often watch tells us – when the cards indicate being stuck and uninspired – that he spent 4 years feeling unproductive and lacking excitement. He transformed his situation with a simple decision to do something. And that something was taking a daily walk. It transformed his life because it transformed him.

What is something you enjoy doing for a little bit each day, or perhaps just every other day at first? What can you do today that will lift your spirits by recalling a time when it brought you happiness? As you ponder this and hopefully take some action, I will take a walk, find a swing, and enjoy the fresh breeze on my face. Perhaps this will inspire me to write another piece. Maybe about how wonderful swings are. Or maybe about a totally different thing, to get a better “mix” in my inspired actions.