Finding Motivation in the Madness

I don’t know about you, but everything feels a little . . . nutty right now. I posted a silly meme about being exhausted on Instagram last week and lost count of the number of people who responded, “Me too.” It feels like Fall blew in with a force, demanding our attention in all corners of work and life. I’m finding it a bit hard to catch my breath, quite frankly, and there’s a lot of semester to go before we get a break.

I find times like these particularly frustrating because, while I do love my day job, it’s not what I really want to be doing. I have always understood that writing will have to fit around the rest of my responsibilities, and I’m fine with that. But it’s frustrating when I can’t find motivation to do the thing I love because so many other things are pulling on my time and attention.

Earlier this year, I had a goal to finish a first draft of my WIP by the end of summer. It’s close, but still in process. I’ve had to work hard to let go of that goal and not see it as a failure. I always have a goal to write every day, and I do my best to stick to that, no matter what. But I also have a goal to move my body every day. And of course to do my job, which can take up to anything from 8-12 hours or more, depending on the day. And then there are the daily chores, catching up with friends and family, and on and on. Sometimes, something has to go.

This week I led a workshop for a group of faculty where we talked about the importance of knowing your why and determining your core values or your non-negotiables. Your non-negotiables are the things that help you to make decisions with clarity. They guide your behavior. And, they let you know when you are acting in a way that is out of alignment. It’s always a good reminder when I have these conversations, that I, too, need to remember my why.

No one ever has complete control of their lives and their choices (at least, no one I know does). Sometimes you have to skip the workout, or tell a friend no, or let your house be dirty for an extra week. No one gets it perfect, every single day. But on balance, it’s worth asking yourself: Am I staying true to who I say I am and the things I say are important to me? And if not, what changes do I need to make?

People often ask me, “Do you seriously write every day?” I really do. But sometimes it means I only write a sentence or a paragraph. Sometimes it means I write a blog post. Sometimes I get lucky and get to knock out a chapter or two. And here’s what I have to constantly remind myself: It all counts.

So, if you’re feeling a bit of pressure in the madness of this Fall and feeling a bit unmotivated to do the things that feed you, first, take a breath. We all go through seasons, and this busy-ness won’t last forever. Second, ask yourself: Could I find 15 minutes to do that thing I love? Could I take just one step forward, instead of trying to run the whole race at once?

Remember, it all counts. I’m rooting for us, friends.