What to Do When You're Just Not in the Mood (But the Work Still Needs to Get Done)

I almost didn't write today.

Which is unusual for me - writing is usually one of my favourite parts of the week. But today? I had nothing. No powerful insight waiting to be explored. No silly anecdotes or observations that magically turn into powerful coaching moments. Just... blah.

We all have those days where we know what needs to be done, but we're just not feeling it. The question is: what do you do when motivation has left the building?

Here are three approaches I use - AND what I learned about each one today.

Approach #1: Force It (Pure Willpower)

Make yourself do it through sheer determination. It can work, but it feels awful and isn't sustainable. You can't rely on grinding through every single day.

This is the "just push through it" method. And while sometimes it gets the job done, it's exhausting and not a strategy you can use day after day without burning out.

Use it with discretion.

Approach #2: Reconnect With Your Why

Remind yourself why you're doing this in the first place. Tap back into your original motivation - the reason you set this goal or committed to this task.

This is powerful and more reliable than willpower alone because it actually feels good.

When you remember why something matters to you, the energy often follows.

But here's the thing: sometimes even reconnecting with your purpose doesn't shift the ho-humness of what's on your plate.

That was me today, and that's when you need a different approach.

Approach #3: Notice the Resistance, Then Do It Anyway

This is where the magic happens.

Notice the monkey chatter: I'm not in the mood. I've got nothing to share. Maybe tomorrow would be better...

Then do it anyway.

Now, this might sound exactly like Approach #1, but it's fundamentally different.

Approach #1 is forcing. You're overriding your feelings and white-knuckling your way through.

Approach #3 is acceptance. You accept the drama your brain is creating. You accept your reluctance. You accept that you still want this done today.

Then you get to work.

You're not fighting with yourself or pretending the resistance isn't there. You're simply acknowledging it: Yeah, I don't want to do this today. I get it.

And somehow, that acknowledgment - that acceptance - makes it so much easier to return to your original goals. Maybe sprinkle in a little Approach #2, and before you know it, you're moving again.

What I Actually Did Today

Want to know which approach worked for me?

I tried Approach #1 first—too forced. Hard to write from that place.

Then Approach #2, but that felt unattainable today. My brain said yeah, nah.

Cue Approach #3, which felt just right, so I went with it.

And here we are.

The Bottom Line

I'm good at getting stuff done not because I'm always motivated, but because I have strategies for the days when I'm not feeling it.

Different days call for different approaches. Some days, reconnecting with your why is all you need. Other days, acceptance is the key that unlocks movement.

Try This

Next time you're struggling to start a task, try one, some, or all three approaches. See which one is your Goldilocks.

And remember: the goal isn't to feel motivated all the time. The goal is to have tools that work when motivation isn't there.