“I’ve got no motivation. Where is my motivation?” Billie Joe Armstrong and Green Day spoke a few relatable lines when they belted this bridge out during their hit song “Longview”, which describes boredom in a Washington state suburb. No matter where in the world you stay or how old you are - it can feel hard to be inspired sometimes. As we see, Green Day was able to find a reason to get to work and became one of the most famous bands of all time. While their answer to a lack of boredom (“smoking my inspiration”) isn’t recommended for all parties, there are plenty of healthy practices to help you feel focused. Here are a few simple daily adjustments that you can make to live a more inspired life.
Get Outside
There’s nothing like the great outdoors to get your mind back on track. Don’t get me wrong, the indoors are great! But being walled in the same space can cause our mind to wander, not to mention all the distracting electronics found in our homes. Take some time for a walk, short hike, leisure activity, or simply lay in the sun and let that Vitamin D turn into inspiration.
Rest
It can be easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle when we are working towards our goals, but that can lead to one of inspiration’s worst enemies - burnout. Fortunately, we have an ally called rest that helps us recharge and stay our most focused during the hours we need to be. Rest isn’t just sleep either. It can be cooking, reading, gardening, or anything else that helps calm your nerves down.
Connect With Others
What are you working towards? Who are the people that inspire you in those categories? Chances are there are people in your life that represent these characteristics. Whether it’s friends, mentors, or watching inspirational videos online - there are plenty of ways to let the community around you uplift you.
Begin
The hardest step in many journeys is the first one. Simply getting started can feel like a monumental, almost impossible, task. But once you take it, the next steps are allowed to begin. Immersing yourself in what you are attempting to do is the quickest way to learn more about it and begin your journey. It’s also a step that can be taken any time, so it’s never too late.
Write
Writing is a wonderful way to draw inspiration. It brings creativity and allows you to be honest with yourself while expanding on your thoughts. You can choose to distract the mind by writing some fiction, journaling, poetry, or whatever feels best to you. The act of writing is all that matters to get your brain more inspired.
Another important step is acknowledging the need to grow which you are doing by reading this article, so congratulations! You are on the right path and everyone’s process looks different.
Cover image by Anna Shvets
