(A completely unglamorous, highly relatable guide to getting my butt in gear)
Okay, so let’s be honest here. There are days when I feel like a soggy piece of toast. Not even toasted. Just… bread. Floppy, uninspired, and aggressively unmotivated. I stare at my to-do list like it personally insulted my family. And the idea of doing anything—writing, cleaning, working out, even putting on real pants—feels absolutely impossible.
But somehow, stuff still gets done. Not always well, mind you, but it gets done.
So here’s how I fake motivation until it sort of becomes real. Sometimes. Kind of. Let’s not aim too high.
1. The “Tiny Step” Trick
This one’s basically Jedi mind-trickery. I tell myself I’ll just start—nothing big. Just open the laptop. Or write one sentence. Or move that one dish from the sink to the dishwasher. That’s it.
What usually happens next is my brain’s like, “Well, I already started… might as well keep going.” And suddenly I’ve written 500 words or cleaned the whole kitchen while angrily singing 80s power ballads. (Highly recommend.)
On days when I’m really dragging, I’ll even say, “I only have to do this for 5 minutes.” If it still sucks after 5 minutes, I can stop. But 9 times out of 10, I don’t. Momentum is a sneaky beast.
2. Bribery. Full-On, Shameless Bribery.
If I write two chapters, I get fancy coffee. If I answer all my emails, I can binge that paranormal mystery show with the hot demon and the sarcastic witch. (You know the one.)
I’m not above making deals with myself. “Finish your morning tasks and you can take a nap like a cat in a sunbeam.” That kind of motivation is weirdly effective. Apparently, I’m just a toddler who wants a cookie.
3. Change of Scenery
Sometimes, sitting in the same chair staring at the same wall makes me feel like I’ve been cursed by a productivity goblin. So I’ll move. Even if it’s just shifting from my desk to the couch, or taking my journal to a coffee shop where someone’s always vaping and playing sad indie music.
One time I sat on my porch with a cup of tea and ended up plotting an entire short story. Something about being in a different spot makes my brain stop sulking.
4. The Pomodoro Hack (but make it chaotic)
I don’t always stick to the rules, but I’ll do 25-minute “sprints” with a timer and see how much I can get done. Sometimes I race myself. Sometimes I scream “GO!” like I’m on a cooking competition show. It’s dumb. I love it.
And then after that, I do something dumb or mindless for 5–10 minutes. I watch raccoon rescue videos. I water my plants. I text a friend nonsense emojis. Then I go again.
Somehow that little chunking trick makes the day feel less like a mountain and more like a series of oddly shaped stepping stones.
5. Music That Sounds Like I’m in a Movie
If I need to feel powerful, I blast epic orchestral scores. If I need to feel mysterious, I go full synthwave or dark jazz. If I need to feel like I can write a romantic scene without cringing, I play instrumental versions of 90s love songs. Don’t ask. It works.
Basically, I create a soundtrack for my mood—or the mood I want to have. It’s like a costume change for the soul.
6. The “Okay But Why?” Question
This one’s more serious, but when I’m really struggling, I ask myself: Why do I want to do this? Not in the existential “what is life” kind of way. More like, what’s the payoff here?
Sometimes I remember that I want to finish this book because I believe in it, even if I’m having doubts today. Or that I want to move my body because it helps me sleep and not scream at pigeons. That little reminder can yank me out of the funk spiral. (Sometimes. Not always. Let’s not give it too much credit.)
7. Permission to Suck
This one? Game changer.
I remind myself that I can do something badly and still be proud of doing it. I don’t have to write the best scene ever. I don’t have to be a laundry-folding goddess. I just have to do the thing. Imperfectly. Awkwardly. Occasionally while crying and eating peanut butter out of the jar.
Because done is better than nothing. And sometimes, the doing is what brings the motivation—not the other way around.
8. Just Straight Up Lying to Myself
No shame here. I’ve said things like, “I’ll only open this document to look at it” or “I’ll just walk for five minutes” or “I’m not working, I’m playing with ideas.”
Do I believe myself? Not really. But it tricks me into taking action. And once I’m in motion, it’s easier to keep going. (I think Newton said that. Or maybe it was Oprah.)
The Unsexy Truth
Some days still suck. Some days I don’t get motivated at all and everything feels like it’s made of wet cement. And that’s okay. I try again tomorrow. Or the day after.
Staying motivated isn’t about being perfect or productive all the time. It’s about finding little hacks that work for you, especially when your brain feels like a deflated beach ball.
Anyway, I hope this helped in a “yes, it’s not just me” kind of way. You’re not lazy. You’re human. And humans are weird.
Go do your thing. Or just put on pants. That counts too.