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Ben Halpern
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How do you handle days where you just aren't motivated?

Latest comments (41)

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jaakidup profile image
Jaaki

Yesterday was one of those days.
I was kinda sorta but not really motivated. Enough to want to do something, but not enough to overcome all the distractions. Between home renovations at one neighbour's house and other neighbours moving in and out and perhaps my headphones not being able to block all the noise, I go to a stage where I decided, "Up to here, and no further".

So I decided to go get some exercise in the park with a nice run, with no real need to go back home. Just having some fun.

A few hours later I was banging away at the keyboard like nothing was ever wrong :)

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Ted Hagos

Take a walk. Do something mundane, like the dishes, take out the trash. Mundane things seems to clear up my head quickly. I suppose when the brain gets a rest, it kinda resets itself; then I go back to my list and chug at it again.

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tadaboody profile image
Tomer

I look for an easy win

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Peter Hoffmann

Youtube binging mostly, sometimes some OSS programming. Long chatters in the hallway. I'm usually back at lunch time for some paid work.

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erm3nda profile image
erm3nda • Edited

I have a little trick.

I have lot of things to do (and learn, always). When i am not OK doing x some day I just pick another thing to do, something fresh.

Example: Meh, i won't code more game today :-/
Solution1: Coding some CLI tool that makes my usual work faster/better.
Solution2: Read that git pro manual you saved to docs and never saw again.
Solution3: Go internet to look for websites like dev.to.

In short, sometimes rains, so you do something different that day...

In case you're just paid and forced to work x hours daily, just try to compile something at work then... : xkcd.com/303/.

In case you go serious about 303... i do recommend those: goo.gl/zCtnUD.

Regards!

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Stephen Senkomago Musoke • Edited

Eat the biggest, fattest, ugliest frog in the pond (the most boring and dreadful task on your list)!! After that your day cannot can get any worse

Many times we are not motivated because of the tasks ahead of us - maybe now is the time to clear that stack, and just slog through that list

  • Write those slides and documents that have been there for weeks on end
  • File those expense, trip and activity reports
  • Write those unit tests
  • Triage that list of issues and bugs

Then reward yourself - movie, coffee, lunch whatever your heart desires

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jenc profile image
Jen Chan

Procrastinate til I can’t take it anymore and make a list

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jenc profile image
Jen Chan

That turns into three trello boards.
Also, running up and down stairs works

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shiling profile image
Shi Ling

Video game music. 🎮🎵

But only from slow-paced games that are requires carefully thinking about your moves - FTL, Endless Legends

It shifts me into a relaxed mood for serious thinking.

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Tiago Marques

Hard music!

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Strahinja Babić

For me personally saying, If i am really out of motivation, i realise any work done is better than no work done. 😃
So make a plan on how much and what you will do 😃, to me it happens by planning i get the motivation to do more so i do the full schedule hehe 🙂