What do you do when you don't feel like working?

I find that by ensuring my life is (at least somewhat) balanced, I don't often get demotivated - demotivation is typically the antecedent of overwork.

I think the key to this (particularly when starting up) is to set yourself daily, weekly, monthly, and long-term goals. If you hit 'em all for the day/week/month, stop and take a breather.

There are lots of times when I don't feel like working but typically it's because i'm working 12 hour days. I need goal setting not to keep me moving, but rather to ensure that I have enough down time every week to not go crazy or have a breakdown.

If I have set a deadline for something I push through, set yourself time specific goals.
If you dont have a deadline take a break and let the mind rejuvinate.

Just sit back and relax, watch a few tutorials in areas that interest you. You might learn something and then get back to work!

Hey Steve, nice to run into you again!

I don't think you would be human if you don't have days (or atleast parts of days) that you don't feel like working on your business!

If anyone has never had a day like this, please let me know, because I love the niche that I am in, but I would be curious to hear from someone that has always felt like working on their business 24/7 (probably to determine whether or not they are telling the truth, or not, probably not)!

I love to work on my business, but when I get into a funk like that, I will take a short break!

I am not productive when working from that mind set anyways, so I might as well go do something to reenergize!

Then the motivation kicks back in, and I go back to work!

The time off that I take varies! Sometimes just a short break for a few minutes does the trick, and sometimes I will basically take a whole day off, but I will rarely, in fact I don't remember a time I have ever taken much more than a day, or at the very most a weekend off!

You still have goals that need to be met, but if you know you will not be productive working towards those goals at a certain time, why waste your time?

You only live once!

I hope that helps!

Good luck, and good to hear from you again!

Matthew Zinda

I think (if we're all completely honest) much of the activity on this and other forums is the way many of us spend our time when we don't actually feel like working!

Of course there is value in the forums. But ... well ... you know.

Motivation can come from a number of places and will vary from one person to the next.

For some, it may just be the sense of accomplishment that is important.

For some, it may just be a matter of doing the math. As in:

I need $______ to pay my bills.
I have $______ available.

If the top number is higher than the bottom number, GET TO WORK!

Maybe you're like me. I've never been a person that can be an effective worker for too long. I'm far more effective at working for an hour in the AM and then another hour in the PM. I also utilize outsourced workers to make sure that tasks get done when I need them. If I relied on myself to do that, I just know I wouldn't do it.

At this point, I've just chalked up my lolly-gagging up to a personality trait. So I tend to lean more heavily on employees who can actually carry out the mission.

We all experience this occasionally. I try to write most of the articles myself. As a matter of fact, writing articles could be a pain in the neck. There are times when the idea won't just flow. When i find myself in such situation, i try to focus on other aspect of my business.

However, in a situation when i don't feel like working at all. I take it as my off day because i try to work all through the days.

When I don't feel like working, I come to this forum and read about stuff that I would like to know more on. Like, the next step in business. Because for me, reading isn't work. It's intriguing to learn something new and maybe help someone else along the way. I have been coming here more and more lately just to get help from those that know more than I do. And to also give back when I feel that I'm strong in a certain area. You can never learn too much!

I pay everyone else to do it for me then go spend the day having fun.

Generally when I feel like this it's from overworking myself to death so I will often do one of the following...

Take a nap
Hit the gym
Read something
Go down by the lake and enjoy some time outdoors

It really comes down to just getting away for a short period of time to recharge those batteries.

When I do not feel like working, I simply switch to something else,
especially If I find myself keeping so long on an assignment that will usually take a much shorter time period.
Again, outside of activities that puts money into my purse, I try to focus on past time activities that make me excited, but do not bring money to my account.
Some other time I pray, after looking back on how successful I have been lately.

I play World of Warcraft. And actually, I find myself more motivated afterward. Something about making gold in that virtual world inspires me to try harder to make money in the real world.

If it's not something unrelated to work that's affecting my mood, then I'm usually feeling this way because I know there are a lot of tasks queued to claim my attention. I find that temporarily abandoning the high priority job that I'm meant to be working on in favour of tackling a few lower priority jobs clears my mental clutter a bit as well as the to-do list. Then I can get back to what I'm supposed to be doing with a lot more focus and the likelihood that I'll meet any deadline attached to it.

I like the sound of Mark's method of banishing a productivity crisis a lot more though

When I hit a mental wall there are three things that always work to get me up and running again:

* Playing a non stressful video game, like a casual game from Big Fish

* Hot shower

* Doing the dishes - weird because I hate doing dishes but there's so little to think about I always end up brimming with ideas

Basically the theme is anything that keeps me busy but lets my mind relax.

However there's also a balance that has to be kept. If you get that feeling you're just done for then sometimes you have to recognize it and take a break. No matter what you do you can't run a car on an empty tank.

When I don't feel like working .... I don't

I always make sure not to force myself to do anything, cause I mean that's just no fun at all

Go to the beach and try again later

I feel like hanging around the house and do nothing and play with the cat. OH..

I sit and stare at what I'm supposed to be doing all day, basically trying to push through and failing. I'd probably be better off taking a break.

You should take small breaks periodically to clear your mind. I go surfing at the beach or play golf. Those are the places where I rejuvenate and come up with new ideas.

I feel like this everyday wouldn't it be cool not having to work. Just take a break have a day or two of it will help clear your mind I have done this before really helps you refocus and become more productive when you get back into it.

Yes.

Sex.

That will be all.

For me, it all has to do with my motivation. I've being setting a lot of goals lately and even making it into a "game" to meet those goals. I find that this helps me push through, even when I don't necessarily feel like it at the moment.

This post really got me thinking over these last few hours as I went grocery shopping, cleaned the pool, went to kickboxing and practiced guitar, and I realized that I never "dont feel like working..." I have different goals in different parts of my life. They are currently:
1. Get more clients for new day gig (product development startup that I founded)
2. Work on my "side projects" (blog, a few lead gen things I'm doing for friends)
3. Drop 15 pounds
4. Become a better guitarist
5. Get dog(s) ready for CGC
6. Errands for my lady

So I'm always "working" but it's towards a goal...and a few of those somethings are even $$$ generating....but I'm rarely not working....

"What do you do when you don't feel like working?"

Usually, I don't. I'll just do whatever I have to do in another
day.

Cheers

I go hunt gemstones agates petrified wood and gold. Seriously. Sometimes you just have to get outside - way outside.

Hi everyone!! I totally understand your concern but really IM has now developed into no longer the you..you..you business!! Sounds like you are into the mom and pop business mentality..not saying that in a BAD way. In small businesses like that you always see the owner cooking,cleaning,cashier,and answering the phone..That's not efficient!! Your business should be about solving problems and the needs of your customers..Fire yourself(YOU)!! and find your MASTERMIND staff/virtual assistants!! Have a good one.....Im_me

Go to the pub drink your head off and get back to work the next day. Your only allowed to do this on a day by day basis.

Once again mindsetting plays an important part in all we do. We need to sow now if we set a goal to reap rich reward from our hard labor in the future. Everything has its own time, time to skip about, a time to relax, a time to weep and a time to laugh. If we do not have a positive outlook, tendency is we don't feel like working and we easily burn out.

I try to follow a schedule and make sure that I get to have time to relax. My schedule should always allow me for some time to rest from all the hardwork. Though there will be times that you'd either want to work more or relax more. It depends. Sometimes going out for a couple of hours or a weekend from a couple of months hard work is enough to destress.

A few things I do:

Firstly, like a few have said already, when I don't feel like it, I don't work!

I try to always have EVERY weekend to myself. This usually means Friday to Sunday, back to work Monday-Thursday! I started this business to give myself more time to do what I want, so to work weekends would be shooting myself in the foot as to the main reason I got into this!

Some weekends I do a little work but only if I WANT TOO!

For the days when I am supposed to be working and feel like I don't want to work, I do a few things!

1. Go For A Run - Its amazing how energized you feel after doing this!

2. Music - Listen to some music that motivates me, this usually does the trick if the first part doesn't!

GoGetta

When I have days like this. I know that it is time for me to step away from the computer. What I do is go and have some fun with my friends or family members. After I have my fun I come back home and get back to work. Everyone deserves a break. So take one.

I outsource

great question though, it does happen.