What to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything

You’re bound to have moments in your life when you don’t even feel like getting out of bed. You lay there in bed, just staring at the ceiling, thinking about how miserable you are and how you really don’t feel like doing anything. Those feelings could be an emotional drain caused by stress at work or in your personal life, it might be some mild form of depression, or It could be that you’re just not feeling motivated. Whatever the reason, it’s important to remember that how you feel right now doesn’t define who you are and things can change. Also, please don’t take anything in this article as medical advice. If you think you may have a medical condition please consult your doctor.

If you’re feeling down, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure, it just means you’re human. It’s important not to go through your day feeling miserable. Instead, try escaping into a good book or watching a television show that makes you laugh. Take up a hobby that you’re passionate about and devote your time and energy to that. You’ll soon find yourself feeling excited about life and ready to take on any challenges that come your way.

If none of that works for you, here are some other things you can try:

1. Remember your why. It’s tempting to wallow in self-pity when you don’t feel like doing anything. But, if you remind yourself of why you’re doing what you’re doing, you’ll have more incentive to keep going.

   • Perhaps you want to buy a piece of property, or you want to save more money for a big trip, but you’re in a job you hate. Your “why” (the thing you want) will help to keep your mind focused on its most important goal and get through the “bad” of doing the job you don’t like.

2. Take a shower. A shower doesn’t just make you feel clean, there are also several studies that show that a morning shower causes chemical changes in the brain that improves your mood, boosts energy levels, and can help with weight loss. So, if you’re feeling down, take a quick shower. It’ll make you feel better, and it’ll be the first step toward getting out of the funk.

   • Studies have shown that specifically cold showers in the morning changed the chemical levels in the part of the brain which makes noradrenaline which helps with energy and alertness. They also increase blood flow and circulation, and lower levels of melatonin, the so-called “sleep hormone” which also can help with energy.
   • Warm showers also have their place in the morning! They can help with sinus problems, lower anxiety, detoxify your body, reduce pain, and increase feelings of wellbeing.

3. Just like a shower, try flossing every morning. Flossing, brushing your teeth, and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash isn’t going to solve all of your problems, but they can make you feel a little bit better.

   • The goal with flossing is it gives you the idea that you did one productive activity that day. It gets you off to a great start and makes you feel productive and ready to seize the day!

4. Break things down into manageable tasks. When you’re feeling totally unmotivated, you have two options. You can curl up into a ball and give up, or you can force yourself to do something.

   • So, what is your big goal? It might be to save $10,000 or to lose 50 pounds. Whatever it is, write it down then break it down into smaller goals.
     • For example, you might set a goal of saving $50 per month or 30 minutes of exercise per day. Most people can stick with goals like these.
   • The reason why breaking down tasks into manageable pieces is efficient is this: when you don’t feel like doing anything, you could feel intimidated by the sheer size of the goal. Breaking large tasks down makes it easier in your mind. Then when you achieve the small task your brain may receive a spike of the hormone dopamine. Dopamine is sometimes known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter because it does just that – it makes you feel good! This also has a double benefit because our brains are wired to do things that make us feel good, so the more you achieve goals and get that spike of dopamine, the more you’ll want to achieve your goals.

5. Speak to your doctor. If nothing is helping, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. It’s totally normal to have moments when you don’t feel ok and if you need help figuring out the solution, talking with your doctor is the best way to go.

It’s important not to let people or circumstances get you down. Life can be difficult at times, but you can make it a little bit better by changing your attitude. Don’t just think about putting one foot in front of the other, but also think about what else you can do. And remember, you’re not alone! Everyone – and I mean EVERYONE – goes through hard times, whether they show it outwardly or not. You can improve your life and things will get better; you’ve got this!