It seems like it should be a simple thing, inspiration. Especially when it comes to money, you know what you want. You know why you want it. But sometimes there’s an invisible fence holding you back, like your neighbor’s dog.
Sound familiar?
Over my career, I’ve felt completely drained and uninspired countless times. I’ll be sitting in front of a client’s financial paperwork and I just don’t want to look at it…or I’m sitting with an empty page in front of me and nothing comes to mind to write.
I used to worry about this. A piece of me thought of inspiration as a nectar and somehow I’d drained all that I’d been allotted. What I’ve learned is that it’s exactly the opposite:
As I go to the well more often, there’s another layer of good stuff.
How did I learn this? Partly from reading. David Allen (Getting Things Done) comes to mind, as someone who believes that as you clear away the small tasks you open your mind for much bigger concerns.
The rest I’ve learned from time in the trenches. I’ve always been a high achiever. When everyone else is stopping for the day, I’m going back for more. How?
Here are five things I think about to stay inspired:
1) I don’t have to finish the next task, I just have to start it. The act of starting is usually enough to get me rolling through to completion.
2) Just puke something out and clean it up later. Having SOMETHING to work with is better than the blank screen/no notes situation.
3) Make the phone call and it’ll come to you. I hate calling people and asking favors. But if the phone is ringing, my mood completely changes and I figure out a way to make it a successful call.
4) Think about Friday and work harder today so there’s less to do then. I hate working long hours on Friday. If I bust my butt now I can decide on Friday whether I play around or spend extra time.
5) Take a break with a timer. I’ll get burnt out from focusing too hard. If I don’t set a timer on work and spend some time at play, I find that every few weeks I need a complete mental break. I used to avoid breaks because I didn’t think I deserved them. Let’s be clear: I don’t deserve them. I NEED them to keep moving toward my objective. It’s a marathon. I also use the timer for breaks. Once I start playing I rarely want to get back to work. The timer works both ways.
Those are my five. I’m sure you have more. Let’s have some weekend fun: What do you use to stay motivated and inspired?
Photo credit: xJason.Rogersx
I go out and get some fresh air. Stretch, look at the sky, and come back with a lighter mood. Doesn’t have to be for more than five minutes, but I find that I can’t stay the whole day inside the office and need some air.
We have a great deck on the back of our house and it’s awesome to do that! I forget too often to just get some air. Great tip, Pauline.
Hi Pauline,
I completely agree with you as i do the same. While doing work even i go out to get some fresh air for not more than 5 minutes. As our brain also stop working if we keep on working and working without any break..!!!
Nice article Joe. Thinking about vacation is something that inspires me:)
When I was in school, I read a book called “The Artist’s Way.” Essentially, it is a self-help book that is geared toward being creative and overcoming creative burnout. It talks about going on weekly “artist” dates with yourself to refill your creative well. It is a good book, and I’d recommend it to anybody – even those who don’t think that they are creative.
Funny, Greg, we were talking about our next summer vacation at lunch! Either we’re going to rent a house along the coast of Lake Michigan or do the really expensive one: take our kids to France. Because I’m the money guy, guess which one I’m pulling for (although I’d really enjoy the other, too…)?
You should rent a house on Lake Superior instead imo. Places like the Pictured Rocks in Munising or Little Presque Isle in Marquette are awesome places to see. I live here and I am still amazed every time we see these places. France does sound fun also though.
I bet a house on Superior would be cheaper, too.
Nice post. I find that #5 is huge, especially when you’ve just been throwing all your energy at something taking that mental break really helps. I find that what helps me a lot is to take a few minutes to play with our kids and just enjoy them. That can help me refresh many times.
Yeah, John! I agree. My kids are both seniors in high school so they’re not around a ton, but when they are, I definitely like just hanging out with them. Hang on to that time, man! It’s a cliche because it’s true: the years with kids fly.
Good article, Joe. I especially like “Just puke something out and clean it up later.”
That sounds like 80% of my site’s articles! (No comments on whether I clean them up before I hit publish; you be the judge!)
If you do just “puke it out” on your site, your puke is better than the prose on many, many sites.
Inspiration comes and goes for me so when I am inspired I try to get a lot done. When I am not I try to take a break or do something that will get me inspired again.
But there’s the question: what is the “do something that will get me inspired again” that you do?
Hmmm, a nap, a walk on the beach, or maybe something else! Yes I said it again 🙂
I use the success and failure of others to keep me motivated and inspired. I love reading books and blogs written by and about people who have had success in areas that I am striving to do the same. Likewise, I enjoy reading about failure so I know what to avoid.
Besides the fact that we’re both Tiger fans, that might be the reason I enjoy your stuff so much, Matt. I’d rather read a biography about someone who succeeded or a business book for “fun” than a novel. I will admit that I overdose sometimes, though, and have to take a break even from this.
When I’m working on a horrible project for work, I tend to break it up into little pieces. This way it’s getting done and usually I’ll feel extremely inspired to “just start the next bit as I’m almost there”. Before I know it, the project is done! I also am known for rewarding my self with something I want to do once I’ve finished up a harder task that I was dreading.
That’s a great approach…eating the elephant one bite at a time. I have to say I do the same thing (“I’ll just write a paragraph.”). Once I’m rolling, baby I’m practically done!
I recharge by being with my family or friends. A day away from all screens helps fill me back up and motivate me to tackle the upcoming tasks. Also, mastering something is VERY motivating, so if I am trying to figure something out, putting the extra time in to figure it out and master it really helps keep me motivated.
A popular success coach in Chicago uses this approach, Jacob. He calls them “free days” and you aren’t allowed to talk, look at, go near work. It should all be about you. He says that it isn’t a reward. It’s a necessity. Good stuff.
I am definitely a project puker. I find that if I just start writing crap, something halfway decent will show up in the middle and that is what I run with. The delete button is often my BFF.
I find that if I just get out and experience life I’ll get inspired. I’m often in bizarre situations and think “that would make a great post”. So I go with that.
I do struggle with motivation at times. To combat that, I’ll read or talk to really motivated or ambitious people. Or even you, Joe 🙂
And this whole time I thought I was your BFF, Jana. Foiled by the delete button again.
It is a good thing I am a self starter because my mediocre work environment is pulling me down like an anchor. I often motivate myself despite the negativeness of my environment.
That was part of why I decided NOT to go into formal teaching. My teacher clients said I’d hate it. I am not sure exactly why (I was loving the classes to become a teacher), but I’ve heard that it’s depressing a lot. Is it the teaching? Other teachers? The kids? The curriculum?
I always get inspired when I do an early stroll in the morning with my pet dog. Seeing the sun rise makes my day beautiful.
That’s a great way to start your day, Nicholle. I love an early morning run when I’m out on the trail as the sun comes up.
I have done so many eye exams that I could probably write a blog post while doing the whole “Is it bettter at #1 or #2 thing.” I have to remind myself that there are thousands of patients, but only one of me. They are paying for my time and best efforts. I’m very lucky that they chose me and I try hard not to phone it home, but really pay attention. You can tell lots about a person and what they will and won’t do well with by the way they answer questions. As far as blogging, I so new that it is all a challenge right now, but with other things at home, if I get unmotivated, I go iron. I hate ironing more than any other task and am glad to get back to whatever I’m going instead of ironing.
Ironing! That’s a classic answer. I actually love ironing. Feel free to bring yours over. I do all the ironing in our family because for some reason I think it’s fun.
Just puking something out works for me. Forward movement sometimes, many times, is what’s needed. Momentum builds, and we’re off!
Getting started is always the most important part for me. Once I start I am somehow motivated to keep going. I suspect it’s the same for many people.
For my blog, I don’t worry too much about getting inspired. I’m always thinking of ideas. I do write my best posts when I’ve “got a bee in my bonnet” though! lol
These are awesome tips. I’ve written crap before and then kept it till I was ready to edit it into something much better. It seems to me like inspiration always comes in spurts…I’ll have 70 great ideas and then 0. So, for writing at least, I have a notebook where I write it down as it comes to me, even if I don’t have time to flesh it out that moment. Then when my well is dry, I have something to come back to to work with.
With blogging, I keep my inspiration by treating my blog like a baby and a business to take care of. Reading about blogging also keeps me inspired. It also helps to remember that with my blog, I am also helping others by putting valuable content that others might benefit from.