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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    I am severly unmotivated with all areas of my life including work. How can I improve my quality of life?

    Related Topics
    Depression Mental Health
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    Annette Wright

    Psychologist

    I have considerable experience in counselling people experiencing difficulties in the areas of anxiety, work stress, depression, anger management, substance abuse and relationships. My areas … View Profile

    Well certainly being severely unmotivated if that is something that has changed for a person would be an indicator that there are some problems with either, some sort of depression or anxiety problems.
    Taking that holistic approach, seeing your GP. Healthier lifestyle, increasing exercise and seeking professional help from a psychologist would be some ways to improve that heightened level of being unmotivated.

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    Karen Amos

    Counsellor, Personal Trainer

    Walk and Talk is just what you need to begin living a life that you love. I'm Karen Amos and at Walk and Talk Australia … View Profile

    Annette has answered you well and I might just add to that…

    This is often the place where I meet people - unmotivated and wanting life to have joy in it again.  It might be called a funk, but it is often the warning sign of depression being just around the corner.  Annette mentions seeing your GP - for sure.  But you can also begin by noticing your moods at particular times, possibly keeping a track of your emotions as they arrive.  In doing this patterns might emerge and you could pin down that it may not be in every aspect of life that you are unmotivated, or the contrary, that some times you do feel motivated but unable to be in that place often enough to notice it.

    Additionally getting the basics in order, like sleeping well, eating well and moving might just have a flow on effect to the rest of your day. Energy creates energy - it's just finding that initial kick start that you are searching for. 

    Kindly - Karen

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    Alicja Weidner

    Counsellor, Hypnotherapist, Social Worker

    Alicja Weidner is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Counsellor, and Clinical Hypnotherapist with a particular interest in working with people with anxiety disorders, depression, … View Profile

    I agree with both Annette and Karen and I would also like to emphasise the importance of seeing your doctor.  This is to rule out any other potential causes for your lack of motivation, such as depression. 

    I notice that your question is about lack of motivation in 'all areas' of your life, including work.   It is very difficult to get the full understanding of a person's situation after reading one paragraph but reading it I get the sense of overwhelment?   To become motivated about 'all areas' could be such a massive task, but perhaps you are able to partialise the areas and address them bit by bit?   What do you think?   I understand that this is what your wish to do?  To become more motivated in order to address various areas of your life and restore your quality of life?  If so, I have three simple, practical ideas for you to consider:   

    1.  Start off with a small, achievable step and see it increasing with time, assisting your motivatiion in other areas.  I would use exercise as an example.   If exercise is one of the areas requiring motivation, you could start TODAY with only one area (exercise) and partialise it at that.  So perhaps you could start with going outside for only a small walk (ie 5 to10 minutes).   And realise that this walk is easy and effortless. Please keep reminding yourself of it.  Because you are going for a walk today, you are also going for a walk tomorrow and you make your walk easy and effortless again yet increase the duration slightly.   And in 10 days see the length of your walk doubling at least.  And as you walking time increases together with your feeling of achievement, you are then better able to motivate yourself to tackle other tasks that are important to you.

    I have only provided walking as an eample but the same applies to other areas of life.  Think small, achievable steps.  Walking is actually a good example and I would recommend it regardless of whether this was the area of importance to you or not.   Like other types of gentle exercise, walking assists in overal physical and emotional wellbeing.  According to Friedrich Nitschke / German poet and filologist:  "All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking"  This means that when walking, people often experience a relaxing, semi meditative state of mind, which assists us in clearly focusing on our lifes and goals.  This in turn, may assit us in reviewing solutions to our concerns and explore ideas for achieving our dreams.  So all in all, I would strongly recommend daily walking along with visiting a relevant health professional (ie doctor, psychologist / or counsellor). 

    2.  Engage in daily fun.  The other positive strategy which you may consider to assist quality of life is to have at least one fun activity planned per day.  This is very simple but often works.  Doesn't matter what it is as long as you consider it fun.  This does not need to be restricted by your financial status either.  Some people chose such activities as having a bath with candles, relaxing in the lounge chair when ringing a friend or going to 'catch some sun' in the garden. 

    3.  Spend 5 minutes everyday daydreaming.  In your daydreams imagine yourself tackling the areas of your life that are important.  Imagine every step - how you approach the particular task bit by bit, how you do it, the sense of achievement you feel after each task is completed.  Imagine how your quality of life improves  everyday and what does it feel like to achieve what you aimed for.  Use this techinque as a rehersal and planning tool - to achieve what you wish to achieve.  Don't become easily discouraged, this needs a bit of practice but many people find it useful. 

    Very best of luck!

    Alicja Weidner

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