When Motivation Comes and Goes, Do This Instead

Over the years I’ve noticed the ebb and flow of motivation. There are phases when it’s hard to stop working, and phases when it’s very hard to get myself to do the work. They seem to come in several-month blocks.

I haven’t figured out why these happen, but I’ve identified issues with both. During the “hard to stop working” phases, I’ll get my critical tasks done, then just stay busy until it’s time to go to sleep, doing random tasks that probably don’t need to be done.

In the lack-of-motivation phases, the issue is blatantly obvious: I don’t really want to do shit.

I talk about this a lot, but the thing that gets me through both with the right outcome is the power list. In the “hard to stop” phases, the critical task list helps me stay aligned with what’s important and not get lost in busy work.

In the low-motivation phases, it functions as the bare minimum. As long as the tasks are done, I’m still moving forward.

Five critical tasks per day, no matter how you’re feeling, will keep you in the game.

— Bus