Cast your mind back to your schooldays, and those hours after school. If you were anything like me, homework was the last thing that you wanted. I remember putting it off every night until after I had played with a friend, then having dinner, watching a bit of TV… and then eventually setting to the task.

If only I could have had the benefit of hindsight, I would do it all differently now. Thank goodness my girls don’t take after me.

But this is just one example of how we put off tackling tasks that we should be doing – and I am sure you can think of lots of ways it creeps in to everyday life still. I know I can – and some I am too ashamed to admit on here!

We can come up with all sorts of excuses too. I mean, aren’t we all tired from doing our job – we don’t seem to have the energy to tackle other stuff on top too.

Feeling “sluggish,” burned out from work, or from everyday life is a common experience for most people. But, the good news is there are also plenty of solutions to get you out of that ‘rut’ – and back on your feet in no time!

Depending on the circumstances, feeling a lack of motivation, or just simply not wanting to do something may very well be related to your overall physical or mental health. In other instances, it may just simply involve doing something that perhaps your mind and body are just not ready to do.

Follow any of these 5 simple steps for motivating yourself the next time you are having struggles.

1. For many people, trying something new can make all the difference in how you feel, or how motivated you are later on in the day. Just remember, don’t quit after only trying one thing if it doesn’t work out – keep pushing yourself to learn more about what makes you happy and go with it!

So if there’s something you have always wanted to do, whether it be studying, learning a new language, a new fitness routine, or anything that has been a desire of yours for far too long, bring that to fruition. And the best time to do it is early in the morning, when you have peace and can actually spend time doing something for yourself before the everyday issues rear their heads.

Try this for 30 days and see how much you have managed to learn, master or just enjoy, and how it makes you feel to finally do something for yourself.

2. Going outside to take a walk in the morning, even if only for a few minutes, thanks to fresh air, being able to see or interact with others, and simply take in the scenery can help motivate you to do other tasks you just simply don’t feel like doing.

Now that spring is just around the corner the sights and smells of an early morning walk are amazing. But even if you can’t incorporate an early morning walk, can you somehow work one into your morning routine? Perhaps getting off the bus to work a couple of stops earlier? Maybe parking a bit further away from the office?

I love that I have a walk in the mornings. I get to see other people regularly, on nodding terms, although I do like to vary my route now and then. If you add a few extra minutes into your routine a walk in the morning can do wonders for your spirit. And you will be ready to tackle all those annoying tasks that you couldn’t face before.

3. Try making a “to-do list” of your daily goals or obligations. Even better, consider investing in a budget-friendly white-board to pin up on your home office or bedroom that you can use to precisely map out what it is you’re looking to accomplish, and how!

Listing out these items makes them seem not so hard to tackle. You will get a great feeling crossing them off too – that sense of achievement will spur you on to tackle more and before you know it those tasks will be a distant memory. Compare that feeling to sitting on the sofa beating yourself up mentally because you know you should be doing something but can’t be bothered.

Release yourself from that mental anguish!

4. Get more sleep – and I can’t emphasize this enough! Getting the proper, scientifically proven and recommended 7-10 hours of sleep each night can make a dramatic difference in how motivated you feel the next day – or how much energy you have. I have started to get to bed earlier, because I know I achieve so much more in the mornings, yet I still need to get my restorative sleep.

Also, how comfortable is your mattress? Is it time to possibly invest in a new one? I do find those adverts suggesting you need to replace your mattress every 8 years annoying, but they do have a point. Are you waking often in the night? Maybe your mattress is uncomfortable and actually causing you a bit of sleep deprivation?

As an extra tip, consider shutting off all electronic devices and lights at least 45 minutes before you intend to fall asleep. Make sure you don’t even bring your phone into the bedroom – those annoying notifications will just be an annoyance and distraction.

If you have children that are out or elderly parents then you will probably want the security of them being able to call you in case of an emergency. But you must train them that they can call you in the night, but only in an emergency. That way you won’t be distracted by that annoying blue light all night, and the buzzing as someone tags you in on a Facebook post or the latest email coming in.

5. Playing energizing music, listening to motivational videos, or even tips by personal trainers and life experts can also be very useful in gathering the necessary energy and motivation to be successful with today’s, and tomorrow’s tasks.

I am quite new to this one, but it has made a great difference to my motivation. I tend to spend 10-15 minutes in the bath each morning listening to a motivational talk to set me up for the day. That time, just me on my own, and putting messages positivity into my brain, sets me up to tackle lots of things throughout the day.

I recommend daily MOTIVATION on Youtube but you just have to type motivation into the search bar to come up with a whole host of possibilities. Maybe you will find that a podcast works better for you.

Most importantly, try to focus on what you do have in life, or even write them down if you want! This should help motivate you, and remind you of the good things you have– as well as what it took to get there. Being grateful for what you have will remind you that in the past you have achieved things, and this will help spur you on to tackle other things when you really don’t feel like it.

Let me know how you get on in the comments as I love to hear about your successes.