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Business Start Ups…Learn to Let Go so You Can Get Back to Work

What To Do When You Lose Your Motivation

Today I really didn’t feel like writing anything. It’s been a tough week dealing with impossible clients, tight deadlines, long hours and dealing with life at home. I’m in the middle of having my foundation repaired on my home, a new roof after the storms that hit Dallas; my three daughters have birthdays this month and a thousand other projects that seem to go unfinished seem to be pressing on my mind today. I’m exhausted.  With all this ‘to do’ stuff floating around my brain, I’m so exhausted I have no motivation to do anything.

These are the days when you must do at least one thing. Anything. Clean up. Tidy your desk. Don’t do any real work that requires your brain, just your back. It’s not only good for your body but it’ll give you a sense of accomplishment on that one task that’s been hanging over your head.

September is always a busy month around my house. Three birthdays and an anniversary can really empty my pockets quickly. I lose motivation to do any work with all the planning that goes into birthday parties, buying gifts and dinners. We start to order pizza and eat poorly because my wife and I are so exhausted from our day jobs and the planning that we just don’t have the energy to do anything else.

Over the years I’ve learned to combat this by creating a list of mindless, small jobs I can do around the house or in my business that when finished I at least feel like I have at least accomplished something. Even if it only takes 15 minutes.

Just do it…let go.

I make a list; this is easy work. My list consists of things that I’ve neglected because I’ve been working so much. Clean the garage. Weed the garden. Mow the lawn. Take the spouse to dinner…and yourself. Clean up the office. Get organized.

Many times we neglect cleaning our office because we are so busy. I admit to being a slob. But eventually the messy office gets to me and it part of the reason I’ve lost motivation.

The days where I’ve lost all motivation to do anything I go to the movies by myself. I have the most understanding wife any man could ask for. She can sense when Michael needs time to get away from the hormones in the house and need to go smoke a cigar with my buddies.

Just do it….let go.

A start up is no different. After 13 start ups under my belt I speak from experience. Many days we all lose our motivation. The investor that sang our praises never called again. Our banker is on the hunt for blood because our payments are late, creditors are starting to call and the customers we do have are being a pain in the butt, our spouse is being unsupportive and our kids are about to die because if we don’t get one moments of peace we are going to hang them in the closet by their toenails and feed them bread and water for a week.

Take a break. You need it. Let you mind go. Try to stop thinking about work for a moment. Go weed the garden or go window shopping (don’t take the credit card…we tend to spend more when we are depressed.) Find something new to do. I’m going to play paintball today. I’ve never done it and it sounds fun.

Just do it…let go.

I find that once I give myself permission to ‘let go’ and perform some mindless task that within a few hours or maybe a day, my mind is refreshed, my energy is back and my mind starts kicking in high gear again and my mind is once again flowing with a plethora of ideas.  Without taking a break and letting go, you’ll experience burn out and my lose motivation all together.

Just do it. Let go. Soon you’ll be motivated again. Don’t forget to get enough sleep and eat right and remember….just do it…let go.