Ever have one of those days when you really don’t feel like doing anything? Or at least not what you are supposed or need to be doing?

That was me this morning. After a long weekend of camping and relaxation I just found that I could not focus on my work this morning. I had many things that needed to be taken care of but try as I might I could not get motivated to do anything.

I tried the “well if I just do this one little thing then that will be the motivator that kicks it off. Then I’ll be able to easily dive into the rest”. Nope. Did a couple things, attempted another, nothing, nada. I even tried just sitting down and writing and seeing what came up, generated a few ideas and started working on one. Seriously no motivation, no desire, no drive. I could not focus to save my life.

Oh I wrote something, but is felt like a slog, a struggle and a real reach to develop ideas. In fact looking back at it, I cringe as it was definitely not my best work. I could tell that I was reaching.

What I really wanted to do was to go and clean out my front closet. For whatever reason the pull to do this was really strong, and though definitely not an emergency I was really feeling like I needed to do it right now! But I said to myself, no I need to get some work done and a few things taken care of. So I plowed on…

After about an hour of staring at my computer screen and coming up with what I felt was a lot of junk – I gave in. I went downstairs and cleaned the front closet – thoroughly. I remembered reading an article recently where the author was discussing something very similiar, when she felt unmotivated to do things and really wanted to do something else, she did. After a long struggle with herself she finally gave herself permission to go and watch that movie for 2 hours, or read her book. She found that in doing so, she was then able to come back to her work and do it more effectively, efficiently and well.

And I have to agree. Often when I don’t feel like doing what needs to be done, if I stop and do what I really want for a bit then I come back clear, refreshed and motivated. It takes me less time to complete the task and I am much happier while doing it!

I cleared and cleaned out the closet like mad, organizing, wiping things down and washing the floor. As I did so I started to feel better, ideas started to come to me, focus and motivation too. It was like a cleansing and clearing of sorts, not only of the physical closet but for me. The movement allowed me to clear my own energy and whatever blocks it was that I was struggling with. It allowed me to be where I was and in embracing and accepting it I was able to move through it more quickly. If I had stayed at my computer and ‘pushed through’, I can only imagine that I would have been staring at it for another hour feeling even more frustrated that I hadn’t accomplished anything.

When I was done I felt good, I felt ready. I had done what I needed to do and I now felt some motivation, flow and ability to focus. So the next time I am feeling unable to focus and not motivated, I am going to give myself permission to take a break. Go do the thing that is calling to me without feeling guilty, because that is what my body, soul, spirit needs to do right then. It will feed my spirit and lift me up. It will allow me to release or move through whatever it is that is blocking me. It will allow me to be.

I realize there may be times where circumstances may dictate that this is not possible, but I will as much as possible. Cause really when you are struggling through, are you really getting anywhere? It takes you twice as long and you are often tired and frustrated afterwards. I have been told that f you are struggling you are going against the flow (of life) and you should turn your boat around.

So next time you are struggling or feeling a lack of motivation, give yourself permission to take a break. It’s ok. You’ll benefit highly in the end.