I Have No Motivation To Do Anything: Am I Depressed?

By: Sarah Fader

Updated July 15, 2020

Medically Reviewed By: April Brewer , DBH, LPC

Have you ever felt exhausted all the time, or scared to get out of bed to face the day? If any of this sounds familiar, you may be suffering from depression or another mental health issue. It's important to note that many people confuse depression with being unmotivated or "lazy." If you've ever said to yourself, "I have no motivation to do anything," this doesn't necessarily mean you're depressed! Depression and a lack of motivation are related and can overlap; however, they can also be separate issues. It's equally important to realize that you're not alone in these thoughts and feelings. Many people have developed drive and ambition after struggling with no motivation.

We Understand That Having No Motivation Can Be Tough To Deal With Alone Let's Talk. Get Matched With A Licensed Therapist Today

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Struggling to Find Motivation Is Common

If you're feeling unmotivated, there are many others like you who are struggling to find a sense of purpose. According to the National Research Council and Forbes, approximately 40 percent of American high school students struggle with having and maintaining academic motivation. The statistic is alarming, but it speaks to a common problem that starts at a young age. Lacking motivation can happen to anyone, teenagers or adults, but there are things that you can do to help yourself get out of that funk. The first thing to do is recognize that you're struggling, and then you can get to the source of it. You might start writing down how you feel in a private journal or talking to friends and family about your feelings. When you reveal your struggles to people who care, you can start working through them. Another thing that may help you is to process these issues with a mental health professional such as a therapist or counselor.

A lack of motivation might also be a sign of a mental health issue such as depression. If you are among the individuals who live with depression, it's important to know that many people have successfully gotten treatment, and have moved forward with their lives in productive ways. Depression is a common issue and there is help out there. A good first step is figuring out if you have depression, another mental health issue, or a lack of motivation stemming from something else.

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Depression vs. Lack of Motivation: Examining Symptoms

If you are depressed, you would have other symptoms other than lack of motivation such as sadness, tearfulness, irritability, weight loss or gain and possibly thoughts of self-harm. Many factors can contribute to depression. Traumatic or stressful events can lead to depression. There may also be a genetic component. More women than men are diagnosed with depression, though this may be because men don't seek treatment as often. If you find that you're not experiencing any of these other symptoms, you could be stuck in a rut, or a routine that doesn't satisfy you. There are some ways to help yourself and get motivated when you feel like there's nothing that excites you.

- Write a list of things that you are good at doing. Maybe these are activities you used to engage in, and it's okay if it's been a while since you've done them.

- Brainstorm little things that make you feel good. Maybe it's going for a walk or writing in your journal. When you write down your feelings and thoughts, you might discover new things that make you feel motivated and excited.

- Take your time. You don't have to discover what makes you motivated right away. It may take some time to get your bearings. Be patient with yourself.

- Talk to a therapist. A mental health professional can help you understand the source of your lack of motivation, and support you in overcoming these issues.

These are just a few ways you can counteract the lack of motivation due to depression. If not due to depression, then another of the many mental health issues that make life difficult.

These tips will be discussed in more detail below.

BetterHelp Empowers People to Find Motivation

Online counseling is a unique form of treatment where an individual is paired with a mental health professional that meets their specific needs. If you're suffering from symptoms of depression or a lack of motivation, you can find a therapist at BetterHelp who knows how to treat it effectively and teach you coping skills so you start feeling better. Your online counselor wants to see you address your problems, and support you in working through them. BetterHelp has trained mental health professionals who understand how exhausting depression can be and they aren't afraid to help you tackle it.

An online counselor can look at your life from a bird's eye view and help you figure out if you're experiencing depression. Most importantly, they can give you suggestions and teach your skills to cope. A lack of motivation can bring you down, but it's a treatable condition. Online counseling with BetterHelp is a great step in the direction of mental health recovery. Read below for some reviews of BetterHelp counselors, from people experiencing similar issues.

We Understand That Having No Motivation Can Be Tough To Deal With Alone Let's Talk. Get Matched With A Licensed Therapist Today

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Counselor Reviews

"Kristine is the best clinician I have ever worked with. She is so professional but friendly at the same time, and I feel very confident in her skills. She always asks me what I need out of our session and she gives me the tools I need to feel more in control. Every week, she helps me see and acknowledge my progress so I can keep going despite the setbacks. After years of dealing with depression and anxiety, I finally feel like I have found the right person to help me heal. I feel so proud of what she helped me accomplish so far, and that gives me hope for the future."

"Helping me through some strange times. I've learned some valuable things about myself. I'm finding paths to inner motivation."

We Understand That Having No Motivation Can Be Tough To Deal With Alone Let's Talk. Get Matched With A Licensed Therapist Today

What If I'm Depressed?

According to the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America), depression affects approximately 1.5 percent of the United States population aged 18 and older in any given year. That works out to be around 3.3 million American adults. Although this can seem daunting, millions of people have proactively sought out treatment, and experienced successful results. An extensive study by the Berkeley Well-Being Institute, for example, found that 70% of BetterHelp clients successfully reduced depressive symptoms. You may read the full study here. If you're dealing with a lack of motivation, it's important to learn the signs of depression to begin to figure out if you're experiencing depression or a different issue.

Depression Signs And Symptoms

Depression can lead to a range of cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms. It's important to note that individuals may experience varying depressive symptoms. Depression doesn't look the same two people. Also, all of the symptoms may not present to warrant a diagnosis of clinical depression. Here are some common signs & symptoms:

- Low or depressed mood or noticeable mood swings

- Loss of interest or pleasure in doing things that you once loved

- Significant change or fluctuation in weight (excessive weight loss or gain)

- Noticed decreased ability to focus or concentrate, especially for longer periods

- Decreased motivation or lack of motivation

- Increased feelings of fatigue, more days than not

- Decreased level of energy

- Slowness in activities

- Sleeping difficulties (not enough, too much, or interrupted sleep pattern)

- Feelings of worthlessness

- Recurring thoughts of death or others dying

- Depressive symptoms appear to be causing significant stress

- Depressive symptoms have last longer than two weeks

While taking into consideration the above common depression signs and symptoms, only licensed medical providers and mental health providers such as Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Professional Counselors, or Clinical Social Workers can diagnose clinical depression.

If you still have the desire and the ability to get out of bed and go about your day but feel lethargic, it's likely your lack of motivation coming into play. Some factors can decrease motivation, but the most common one relates to a lack of interest in your daily activities.

If this is what's happening, it's wise to re-evaluate your circumstances. You can consider your social environment, your work, and hobbies. Find the things you enjoy doing and spend more time doing them. Instead of over-indulging in food or entertainment, take steps to better yourself physically or mentally.

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Steps to Improve Your Motivation & Well-Being

- Try not to be so hard on yourself. You can't control your negative thoughts about yourself, but you can catch them, and reframe them to positive ones. If you find yourself criticizing yourself harshly for hurting someone's feelings, you can take a step back. We take on daily challenges in life, no matter how big or small or good or bad we perceive them to be. The reality is, with every decision we make in life, there poses a risk for a positive or negative outcome. Try to do your best and make the best decision that you believe is right. Try to counter self-criticism with positive praise, especially with even your smallest accomplishments throughout the day.

- Treat people how you would like to be treated. Be kind to others. Try to get involved with community events or even help a stranger today. People appreciate an unexpected helping hand. Also, you will gain fulfillment by helping others.

- Relaxation matters. There is healthy stress; then there is also unhealthy stress. An example of healthy stress could be experiencing anxiety about an upcoming job interview in one week, finding out if you will be expecting a baby boy or a baby girl, preparing to go out on a date, or preparing for an upcoming examination. In contrast, unhealthy stress could be cycling thoughts about if you will get back with your ex, get a new promotion at work, or worrying about bad things happening to you or your loved ones. Try to make your "peace of mind" a priority and relax. Relax by taking slow and deep breaths, listen to soothing sounds or music, watch a movie, practice meditation or yoga, go on a walk, go on an outing with a friend, or exercise to burn off some stress.

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Sleep is a priority. Are you well rested in the morning? If not, it is essential to get into a regular sleeping pattern. Go to bed and wake up at the same time. Reduce the amount of sugar and caffeine intake before bedtime.

- Avoid using drugs and alcohol to cope with problems. Alcohol and drugs will not fix your problems. They will only mask the challenges. Instead of self-medicating, confront your problems in therapy or a journal.

- Accept reality. We often create unwanted stress and low mood by excessively worrying about things that are not within our control. Acknowledging and accepting what we can and cannot change in our lives will allow us to cope more healthily. The distressful thoughts and feelings will eventually pass, which will enable you to move on.

If you are still finding that the things you used to enjoy aren't providing you the joy they once did, speak to a mental health professional. A therapist can help you figure things out so you can start to feel better.

Differentiating between depression and a lack of motivation is only the first step in getting better - the next step is to take charge of your life. Talking to a therapist will help you distinguish between a lack of motivation and depression.

Other Reasons Why You Have No Motivation

Depression and other mental health issues are reasons why someone may have a lack of motivation, but there are other reasons why you may not have any motivation, either. Let's look at some of them.

1. You Feel Overwhelmed and Stressed

Stress can be a reason why you lack motivation. You may think it's a reason why you may stay motivated, but too much stress can hurt you and make it harder to keep going.

A lot of people in their entire life experience stress and feeling overwhelmed, and it can make it hard to feel motivated. An entire life of stress is hard to handle.

Some stress is good for your body. Good stress is a state of mind that motivates you to change your life and improve, but often, you're feeling too stressed, and it can make it hard to keep going on.

Feeling overwhelmed can cause physical pain and other issues as well. When you feel overwhelmed, here are some things you can do.

Stay healthy. Avoid eating junk food, as this can further your stress, anxiety, depression, and other issues you may have. Instead, exercise to help keep your mind off your stress. You don't need to pump iron, either. A brisk walk can help. If you don't care about your problems for a bit, you can come back with a fresh start.

Break free from the stress you're feeling by breaking it down into smaller goals. Focus your energy on a goal you can do, and then work your way up. One step at a time.

Why are you feeling so stressed? What is external motivation? Do you not have the essential skills needed to handle your tasks? Knowing the reasons can help you figure out why you're so stressed, and you can seek help that way. Take it one step at a time, once again.

Don't be afraid to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. Some people don't want to ask for help. You'll find that your friends and family and talking to people who are experts can help when you have a lack of motivation.

Practice mindfulness and meditation to improve your state of mind. Don't worry about what you can't control. Think about your current achievements and feel great about them.

Take care of other mental health problems you have as well, like anxiety and depression.

2. Grief

Another reason why you may have a lack of motivation is because of grief. When people die, and they are close to you, it can lead to various issues. Grief can lead to anxiety and depression and a loss of motivation.

Also, grief is not as black and white as the model of grief makes it out to be. You can experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Your sleep patterns may be disturbed one day, and the next, you have a bout of social anxiety. Sometimes, you may even have a good day, and then go back to feeling bad the next day.

You may wonder what's a good idea when it comes to treating grief. There's no way to "get over" a loss, and people cope in different ways. However, if your grief is becoming a health condition, is lasting a long time, and is affecting how you're making money and living life, that's a problem.

Seeking grief therapy can make a huge difference; a therapist can help when you imagine feeling down about yourself. Also, peer support and people who can empathize with what you've lost are good moves as well.

Grief can change in minutes, a day, and if not days, then a week. Getting help can stop this cycle of feeling sad minutes a day. You will always have feelings for who you've lost and feel upset for a long time, but a therapist can help you return to a normal life.

3. Any Other Mental Health Issue

Mental illness can cause, or contribute to, the lack of feeling motivated. Mental illness doesn't discriminate, and mental illness is not your fault if you lack motivation. However, if you lack motivation, you must do seek help.

Sometimes, it's the mental illness itself that prevents you from staying motivated. Other times, the mental illness symptoms and their effects on you make it hard for staying motivated.

What do we mean by this? With depression, it's easy to say "I have no motivation" because you literally don't have the motivation to do so. No matter what you do, the mental illness weighs you down.

Sometimes, mental illness makes you not stay motivated in other ways. Sometimes, you are feeling motivated, but then you get overstimulated and have a breakdown due to your mental illness. You were feeling motivated, but because of your mental illness or your personality disorders, it's difficult for you to try to continue being motivated.

4. Substance Abuse and Mental Addiction

Another mental illness that can make you lose motivation is substance abuse and mental addiction. Abusing a substance like alcohol or another drug, legal or illegal, can lead to mental illness, substance abuse and mental issues, and other health issues.

Sadly, our society frowns upon substance abuse and mental addicts. It's easier to judge somebody if you haven't been through it yourself, and many don't realize that addiction can happen because of an accident, or just one try.

If you're addicted, it can lead to various health issues, but there are ways to overcome it. Here are some ways to overcome your addiction.

Remember, addiction is a mental illness. Even if you chose to do a substance, mental addiction is a mental illness. Families with a mental illness history may be more prone to being addicted.

Look at your local treatment options. Speaking to a substance abuse counselor is a good move, and going to rehab is good as well. The treatment options you have can help prevent you from suffering from detox, and the treatment options can prevent you from running into triggers that flare up your mental illness.

For some, they want to quit, but they don't feel motivated. There are ways to overcome this. Ask a friend or family member to help, and be honest about your mental illness and health issues.

Go to online forums. Online forums allow you to tell your story anonymously, and online forums are moderated to prevent judgmental people and instead allow for people who are objective. There are plenty of online forums, so check them out.

While addiction is a mental illness, having some responsibility is a good thing, as it gives you ways to overcome your shortcomings. Don't beat yourself over it, but instead realize it's easier for you to be tempted to try a substance, it's easier for you to be addicted, and it's easier for you to relapse. Be mindful of those aspects of your mental illness.

If you know someone else who has the mental illness of addiction, remember that it's a mental illness where they have to seek help. Don't do things that enable their addiction, but also don't force them to get help if they don't feel motivated to do so. If they say, "I have no motivation to get help," you can't force it. But when that "I have no motivation" turns to "I have motivation," jump on that.

Addiction is a health issue and a mental health issue. It's time that we realize this and it's time to end the stigma. One way you can do so is to inform your family members and friends about addiction.

5. Social Media

Funny enough, staying on social media all the time can lead to lost motivation. What do we mean by this? Well, if you have a Facebook page, you probably see stuff that drains your mental energy. Stories of negativity are highly effective at making you feel unmotivated, tired all the time, and sick.

Also, many of us spend too much time on it. Again, it requires mental energy. Every click and notification you see on your Facebook page gives you a dopamine loop, and you feel unmotivated to do anything else. It's also highly effective at keeping you up if you use it before your bedtime, leaving you tired all the time.

Some people have benefitted from taking a social media break. They find that spending too much time on Facebook gives you a loss of motivation, and if not a loss of motivation, it's just a time waster.

Sometimes, breaks don't work. What may work is curating your feed to prevent posts that make you lose motivation and instead encourage posts that help you raise the stakes of your own life. Look for good, wholesome posts that help you find the motivation. If not find the motivation, then stop posts that make you lose motivation.

Remember, there are other ways to communicate. Email address, in-person, or on the phone. If you're not feeling social media, you have no obligation to do it if you're not feeling it. For some, online relationships don't work, and that's not a bad thing.

Little Ways to Be Motivated

Here are some little ways to keep your motivation up.

Listen to music. Some people listen to music as a motivation to work, and many find that music has different effects. Soft, instrumental music can make you focus. As for fast-paced, energetic music, it's extremely motivating and can help give you the motivation to work.

Some people listen to music as a motivation to work, and many find that music has different effects. Soft, instrumental music can make you focus. As for fast-paced, energetic music, it's extremely motivating and can help give you the motivation to work. Try learning a new language. Even if you don't need it in your life, it can help open up passages in your brain. You don't need to read a giant textbook, either. You can spend hours a day listening to courses or using apps to learn a new language. Watching YouTube may help, as well. People's lives can improve quite a bit once they're multilingual. Good luck!

Even if you don't need it in your life, it can help open up passages in your brain. You don't need to read a giant textbook, either. You can spend hours a day listening to courses or using apps to learn a new language. Watching YouTube may help, as well. People's lives can improve quite a bit once they're multilingual. Good luck! Write a letter to yourself. Many use a letter to talk to people, and people who receive a letter are glad to hear from them. But a letter to yourself can put into words how you're feeling, and maybe you can come up with the real reason you feel this way. With the letter, also focus on your accomplishments. Have you been working hard? Have you had days where you call in sick even though you aren't? What is your current situation? A letter can help the "I'm feeling" and "I've written" parts of your mind.

Many use a letter to talk to people, and people who receive a letter are glad to hear from them. But a letter to yourself can put into words how you're feeling, and maybe you can come up with the real reason you feel this way. With the letter, also focus on your accomplishments. Have you been working hard? Have you had days where you call in sick even though you aren't? What is your current situation? A letter can help the "I'm feeling" and "I've written" parts of your mind. We tend to procrastinate when we don't have motivation. We mentioned it's easier to focus when you have music, but when you're still having problems, feel stuck on your assignment, and find it hard to continue, approach your problem from another angle. When it comes to the goals, projects, and assignments you have to do, put the goal into smaller bites. Think of a way to digest it better. You'll notice that it doesn't feel as bad to do your assignment if you look at it from another way.

We mentioned it's easier to focus when you have music, but when you're still having problems, feel stuck on your assignment, and find it hard to continue, approach your problem from another angle. When it comes to the goals, projects, and assignments you have to do, put the goal into smaller bites. Think of a way to digest it better. You'll notice that it doesn't feel as bad to do your assignment if you look at it from another way. If you're losing interest in the activities you once loved, this could be a sign of minor depression, but it may also be a sign that you're just bored of your activities, especially if you have a fake it until you make it attitude and are not doing what you love. In that case, you may not need therapy and medication, but to try something new. Think of any books that are worth reading. Ask yourself, "I'm passionate about what? I'm really glad when I do what? What is the best book I've ever read?" These questions can help.

Think of any books that are worth reading. Ask yourself, "I'm passionate about what? I'm really glad when I do what? What is the best book I've ever read?" These questions can help. If you're losing motivation at work, it's a great time to look at your job. Is it a good job? Is the company on a downward spiral, and you have no head in the game to get out? Is the board of directors just incompetent? Sometimes, your situation isn't that fixable, but by looking at your job, it may give you a small number of resources needed to make a change.Speaking of your job, maybe a part of your job is making you lose motivation. Is it because this part violates your personal values? Have you tried multiple times to do the job, only to fail? Are there moments where you feel your job is for nothing? Do you have to stay late and not get anything in return? You may need to speak to a career counselor if you work hard, but are struggling with motivation.

Is it a good job? Is the company on a downward spiral, and you have no head in the game to get out? Is the board of directors just incompetent? Sometimes, your situation isn't that fixable, but by looking at your job, it may give you a small number of resources needed to make a change.Speaking of your job, maybe a part of your job is making you lose motivation. Is it because this part violates your personal values? Have you tried multiple times to do the job, only to fail? Are there moments where you feel your job is for nothing? Do you have to stay late and not get anything in return? You may need to speak to a career counselor if you work hard, but are struggling with motivation. Getting enough sleep may help you if you have a motivation issue. Sometimes, a cup of coffee just doesn't cut it, especially if you have sleep problems one day at a time. Sometimes, you have a creative mind, and you don't find it useful to sleep. However, sleep is important. Take small steps to change your sleep ritual. Spend time unwinding. Read a book. If you still have trouble, don't beat yourself up for it, but seek a doctor. Many will say, "Sleeping better changed my life."

may help you if you have a motivation issue. Sometimes, a cup of coffee just doesn't cut it, especially if you have sleep problems one day at a time. Sometimes, you have a creative mind, and you don't find it useful to sleep. However, sleep is important. Take small steps to change your sleep ritual. Spend time unwinding. Read a book. If you still have trouble, don't beat yourself up for it, but seek a doctor. Many will say, "Sleeping better changed my life." Clean one thing. If you have dirty dishes, or clothes lying on the floor, and find that working in a dirty room or handling a project at work or home doesn't work when everything is a mess, clean up a bit. Even a digital cleanup can work, like cleaning out your email inbox.

If you have dirty dishes, or clothes lying on the floor, and find that working in a dirty room or handling a project at work or home doesn't work when everything is a mess, clean up a bit. Even a digital cleanup can work, like cleaning out your email inbox. Take a mental health break when you have no motivation. Delete social media for a bit, as social media can sometimes make the problem worse. Find yourself. Figure out why you have no motivation.

when you have no motivation. Delete social media for a bit, as social media can sometimes make the problem worse. Find yourself. Figure out why you have no motivation. Make a to-do list. A to-do list helps you prepare for tomorrow, and makes it easier for you to rest easier. Breaking down your tasks into smaller chunks always feels so good, as these smaller chunks can be tackled much easier. When you're in poor health, be the poor health physical or mental, it's nice to break things down.

A to-do list helps you prepare for tomorrow, and makes it easier for you to rest easier. Breaking down your tasks into smaller chunks always feels so good, as these smaller chunks can be tackled much easier. When you're in poor health, be the poor health physical or mental, it's nice to break things down. Remember that some days, you may feel worse than others. If you feel worse, it doesn't mean you're regressing. Some days, it's tough, and other days, it's better. Whenever you find yourself having a hard day, don’t criticize yourself. Remind yourself throughout the day, “This feeling will pass. I will feel better.”

If you feel worse, it doesn't mean you're regressing. Some days, it's tough, and other days, it's better. Whenever you find yourself having a hard day, don’t criticize yourself. Remind yourself throughout the day, “This feeling will pass. I will feel better.” If you've lost all motivation because of a mental health episode, try seeking help for it, and trying to look for the signs of an episode. If you have bipolar disorder, try having unproductive days on your depressive episodes. Talk to a specialist in bipolar disorder if you want to learn more.

for it, and trying to look for the signs of an episode. If you have bipolar disorder, try having unproductive days on your depressive episodes. Talk to a specialist in bipolar disorder if you want to learn more. It's easy for us to dream big and want personal growth, but it does require a lot of work. Get off social media and read tales that make you dream big. Read stories about people who lost all motivation, then experienced a moment of personal growth. It's easy to write off inspirational stories that make you dream big, but for some people, these dream big stories help.

Starting Your Day Motivated

Start your day doing something motivational, and you can see results. Here are some things you can start your day with.

Read a few motivational quotes about what you want to accomplish. Motivational quotes do sound a bit cheesy, but for many, they do work.

Don't give any troubling thoughts any mind. If you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, don't waste any time mulling over them.

Instead, wake up and think about things you're grateful for. Maybe you're grateful for the roof over your head. You're grateful you got out of bed. You're grateful for another day to live. Listing the things you're grateful for sounds a bit cheesy, but it works.

Don't waste your morning dilly-dallying. Don't waste it on social media, and don't give your time to argue with anyone. Don't give in to any of that. That's not something successful people do.

However, you can begin your morning reading motivational blogs. Reading blogs about success, reading blogs about entrepreneurship, and reading blogs about life, in general, can help you. Successful people learn from other successful people.

Remember that the definition of "successful people" differs. As you wake up, think of your success. If you have problems due to depression or other mental health issues, think of how far you've come.

These are just a few habits of highly successful people. These habits of highly successful people may benefit you, or you can find your ways.

Seeking Help

If you don't know why you have a lack of motivation, talk to your doctor, and seek the help of a licensed therapist. Sometimes, the tough times and unpleasant tasks of the world make it hard. Other times, life has ways to find your weaknesses and make you lose your motivation, even if you've worked hard.

If you're depressed in any area of life, taking baby steps and getting the blood flowing is good if you want to have a brand-new life. Don't be afraid toseek help from any health services administration.

With therapy, it's worth it as well. If you have long-term depression or short-term depression, a therapist can give you effective advice on how to cope with it for the long term. If you feel bad or are feeling lethargic, a therapist can help as well. Don't be afraid to talk to someone if you feel a lack of motivation.Online therapy can make it easier. When you are feeling hopeless or overwhelmed, seeking help from the comfort of your own home is a good move, to find the internal motivation needed. No matter how small your problem is, there is strong evidence that shows that therapy benefits both the mental and physical aspects of your life.

As mentioned above, you can access BetterHelp from the safety of your own home. It's still your responsibility to speak to a therapist, but when you feel overwhelmed and don't feel like driving to a therapist at a certain hour, BetterHelp can help you.

With online therapy, you use an email, website, or smartphone to speak to a therapist about a health condition, a lack of motivation, or another mental health issue. Services tend to be cheaper, as therapists online don’t have to pay for an office space.If you have any mental health issues, including no motivation, check out BetterHelp.

Seeking Emergency Help

If your lack of motivation is so bad that you stop eating, stop thinking anything happy, and have suicidal thoughts, even during a small chunk of your time, you must talk to a suicide prevention hotline or seek the help of another service administration or mental health services administration. It doesn't matter if you've made a suicide attempt before or haven't made a suicide attempt. Seeking help is critical. A professional can help you talk about it free of charge with a prevention hotline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

With a suicide prevention lifeline, the person on the other end may start small with you. What do we mean by starting small? By starting small, we mean that the person on the other end will ask for information. Someone on a national suicide prevention lifeline has dealt with many people of all ages.

With many phone lines, it's hard to talk to someone because of long wait times and confusing menus. However, with a prevention lifeline, there is little wait. A prevention lifeline may have you wait a couple of minutes, at most. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline knows that time is of the essence.

A person who works at a suicide prevention lifeline, and who has practitioner training, has spoken to people in their teenage years and throughout life. The teenage years tend to be confusing and stressful, and many people don't understand that it's hard for a teen. High school life is rough, no matter how many people say they miss high school. Someone on a suicide prevention lifeline knows better.

The prevention lifeline will then ask you to explain your problems. If you have a loss of motivation, you may explain the loss of motivation in detail. If you find that it's hard to live, you will explain why it's hard. Someone who runs a prevention lifeline will listen.

Afterwards, the suicide prevention lifeline specialist will ask what you've done to cope with your issues. Learning coping strategies when you have a loss of motivation, suicidal thoughts, and other problems can help.

If a person has suicidal thoughts, the person on the other end will stay with you until the suicidal thoughts or actions deescalate. Afterwards, they may direct you to local resources to help you. People don't realize how effective this is, no matter your reason for calling. It can be a loss of motivation, extreme bipolar disorder episode, or anything else.It's easy to make the call, and it's easy to connect with a person who has the practitioner training needed to help you. These specialists who have practitioner training can save your life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you fix a lack of motivation?

To fix a lack of motivation, first, you need to determine what it is what's causing you to be stagnant. Maybe, you're depressed and are feeling numb. Emotional numbness and lack of emotion are commonly experienced in those with depressive disorders and other conditions. If this is the case for you, it is okay, and it isn't your fault; many people have experienced emotional numbness or other symptoms and have come out more resilient on the other side. It could also be something as simple as that you're not enjoying your job or need to change directions in your career. If you feel numb or unmotivated, there has to be a reason, so to fix it, you need to figure out why you don't want to do anything. One way you can work on feeling motivated is by writing down what drives you. Think about what excites you, and then, you can talk about that with your friends and loved ones, and also, with a therapist who will support you in becoming more motivated.

How can I restore my motivation?

Your motivation isn't gone forever. To restore it, you need to get refreshed and think about what you're passionate about so that you can work towards the goal of being motivated. If emotional numbness or clinical depression is the cause, seeking mental health treatment is an important part of getting to the root of the problem. Experiencing emotional pain or not feeling anything at all are both very difficult issues to cope with, but you don't have to do it alone. If you feel numb, emotionally, and physically drained, or if you can't seem to restore your motivation and don't know why you can talk to a therapist who will help you get to the bottom of it.

How do I increase my motivation?

Part of the motivation is about having goals, so you can write down what your goals are and how you plan to get to them. If you don't have a plan, it can be difficult or daunting, so you can increase your motivation by having a concrete plan to achieve your goals.

What are the symptoms of poor motivation?

Some of the symptoms of poor motivation are lacking a sense of interest in things, experiencing depression, emotional numbness, feeling stagnant, or like you're stuck in one place, when you don't feel like you need to do anything, and giving up on things that you intend to complete.

What is the meaning of a lack of motivation?

Lack of motivation means the absence of a drive to achieve goals. It's a lack of action. When you lack motivation, you don't want to act. You might not understand what's going on in your mind, but if you explore it, you can realize why you feel unmotivated. It's important to investigate why you feel a lack of motivation so that you can change your behavior and start to accomplish goals.

How do you motivate an unmotivated person?

You can only do so much. If you find that you're dealing with a friend or loved one who is not motivated, try to encourage them and gently remind them of their positive qualities. Talk to them about what they love so that they can remember their skills. They might not be aware that they're stagnant, but pointing out the things they excel at can make them feel more confident. Sometimes, if mental health issues cause a lack of motivation, a person needs someone who will listen. Maybe, they'll open up to you about emotional numbness or anxiety. In that case, it might be the most helpful to be there for them and support them in getting help from a licensed therapist.

How can I get more energy and motivation?

One way to get more energy and start feeling motivated is to take a moment to yourself and breathe. Think about what you want in life. If you can identify one thing that you want, then you will start to see hope. Having an objective in mind will help you begin to feel a burst of energy and want to achieve your goal. Some people find it helpful to give themselves a pep talk, whether it's internally or verbally, in front of the mirror. It's important to treat emotional numbness and other mental health symptoms if you want to be more motivated as these are common causes of lack of energy or drive to do things. Your emotional and physical well-being is important, and therapy can help. There is treatment out there for emotional numbness and any other concern you might be experiencing.

What causes a lack of motivation?

There are many things that can cause a lack of motivation. It could be from mental health illnesses such as an addiction, ADHD, eating disorders, anxiety or depression. It could also be if you struggle with goal setting or aren't sure exactly what you should be doing or spending your time on.

A lack of motivation can also be caused from physical health problems like issues with your thyroid or anemia. If you have a lack of motivation and can't determine what's causing it, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor to determine the cause. You may also want to speak with a therapist about possible mental health services that may be able to help. There are mental health treatment options that can help you learn coping strategies to feel more motivated and start making progress.

How do you help someone with no motivation?

It's important to remember when helping someone with no motivation that mental health treatment may be the most effective form of treatment to help them. While there may be some things that you can do to help, that's not always the case. For example, some people with substance abuse disorders are not going to make changes unless they decide for themselves that they want to change and get help. When people are struggling with larger challenges, it's not always about increasing motivation as it is treating the underlying cause of why they aren't feeling motivated in the first place.

If someone wants to increase their motivation levels and are looking to you for peer support or want you to be part of their support system, there are some things that you can do to help. You can help them establish a bigger reward that they'll benefit from if they achieve what they're setting out to do. Or, you can find fun ways to check in with them and encourage them to keep going even when it's tough. You can also act as a listening ear when they are experiencing challenges. For example, someone who is trying to lose weight may benefit from having a close support system that they can call for support and encouragement when they're struggling to stick to their healthy lifestyle choices.

It's important to remember though, there are some causes of lack of motivation that are best treated by mental health treatment that professionals learn during practitioner training. In this case, encourage the person to seek professional help.

How can I get my motivation back?

If you're struggling with a lack of motivation, there are several things that you can do to get your motivation back. Here are some examples:

Get started. You may not feel like it, but once you get started it might be just the thing you need to motivate you to keep going.

Start by doing something that you want to do and are interested in doing.

Break down your task into smaller steps so it's not so overwhelming.

Seek mental health treatment options for any struggles that you're facing like stress, anxiety, depression, or substance abuse.

Form a support system of friends or family members that can help encourage you to stay motivated.

Why do I have no motivation to work?

There are many reasons why you may struggle with motivation to work and you may find it affecting your daily life. Some people struggle to stay motivated when working from home instead of from an office environment. The comforts of home or the tasks waiting to be done such as laundry and dishes can make it difficult to stay on task.

You may also find yourself struggling to be motivated at work if you aren't doing something that you enjoy. Colleges and universities do their best to help students find the right path, but it's still possible that you find yourself stuck in a job that you don't enjoy. In this case it can be hard to feel more motivated.

Is lack of motivation a mental illness?

A lack of motivation is not a mental illness. However, a motivation lack can be connected to your mental health. There are mental illness and substance abuse disorders that can cause you to feel unmotivated in an area of your life. You may also find that your lack of motivation is affecting your mental health in a negative way. There is a strong connection between your mind and body which can be important to address with mental health treatment when trying to feel more motivated. So, if you're failing to increase your motivation level on your own, it could be something that you should seek professional help to address.

What causes laziness and lack of motivation?

There are so many different things that can cause laziness and lack of motivation. It can be that you feel happier doing something other than what you're supposed to be doing. You may have a challenge with your mental health. Treatment may be necessary to help you overcome it. Some other causes of laziness and lack of motivation include:

Fear of failure

Not knowing what to do or how to do what you're supposed to do

Being raised to not know how to do things on your own

Substance abuse disorders

Mental health challenges like anxiety and depression

How do I stop being so lazy?

If you want to start being more motivated and getting more done, there are steps that you can take. You may find it helpful to find the best motivation quotes to keep around you. It can be helpful to set goals and break them up into small steps that are easier to achieve. It may also help you to learn a new skill or have someone teach you a better way of doing something that you struggle with.

If you felt motivated at one time but don't anymore, you may want to explore what has changed. For example, if you used to be great at staying on top of work but find now that you're working from home that you haven't felt motivated to get your work done, look for changes you can make. Try the Pomodoro timer technique so you focus for short bursts of time and then are rewarded with a few minutes of a break.

If it seems like everything that you're trying doesn't work for you, forming a support system or seeking a health treatment for any struggles that you're facing may be the best step to take.

Is feeling unmotivated normal?

It can be normal to struggle with motivation levels from time to time. For example, colleges and universities are full of students that struggle to stay motivated to stay on task. It's not necessarily that they have problems where they need health treatment options to fix it, it just may be that they aren't that interested in the work they're supposed to be doing. This can happen to anyone.

There may be times in life when you just wish you were doing something else or when you have something hard to do and you'd rather sit on the couch and binge on Netflix. That's “normal.”

However, being unmotivated is not normal if it's long lasting and you aren't able to overcome it. Or, if it's caused by something like substance abuse. In cases like this, it may be necessary for you to build a support system that can help you or to talk with a therapist to seek mental health treatment options that will work for you.

How do I stop being so lazy?

First of all, stop labeling yourself as lazy. That's a negative term, and it's likely going to make you feel more stagnant and feel like you can't accomplish anything. It could be that you're down or depressed. It could be that you're overwhelmed or are experiencing an overall sense of emotional numbness that makes it hard to want to do anything. Sometimes, people call other people lazy when they're anxious and feel too frozen to pursue their goals, but what that person needs isn't a judgement; it's emotional support. It can be as simple as doing the dishes, but if you're feeling depressed, everything seems impossible. If you don't want to be "lazy," it's time to take a proactive role in your mental health and start working to understand what's stopping you so that you can push forward and start feeling motivated. One of the ways you can do that is to talk to a mental health professional. A therapist can support you in understanding why you're stuck and getting you out of that funk.

Conclusion

When the voice in your head tells you that you can't achieve your goals, and when you feel completely lost with a lack of motivation, it may be the sign of a mental disorder, a common mental snag, or another life situation.

Everyone hastheir reason as to why it's so hard to stay motivated. For some, it's because of abuse and mental health issues. If their childhood was filled with abuse and mental health problems, it could lower their motivation. Same if their adulthood has had abuse and mental health concerns. When you have toxic family members or even well-intentioned family members who enable your problems, it's time to change that.

It's also time to realize that not everyone who can't stay motivated is lazy. Someone can be ambitious, but also can't stay motivated.Your motivation problem, if it's something you're comfortable talking about, be it to a family member or a professional, can be fixed. It doesn't matter if your lack of motivation is caused by depression, depression, and lack of sleep, or you don't have any motivation for seemingly no reason. A professional can help.

By finding the strong reason you feel this way, you can improve your motivation the entire time. When you feel comfortable talking about your problems, you can see a result. If you can't find a reason to talk about your problems or mental health and you don't see the point, wait a little bit. Sometimes, when you don't see the point today, you may tomorrow.

We hope this article helped you figure out why you have lost motivation, or why you can't find a reason to continue working toward your goals. Even people who always raise the stakes can still have problems. Some of the biggest names out there have gone through periods where they can't find the motivation or can't find a reason to continue.

But they did. They continued to persevere days at a time. Days at a time turned to months at a time, then months at a time years. You can do it.

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