How Do You Motivate Yourself?

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
I've been taking an antidepressant for awhile now and have gotten up to a higher dose for about 10 days so far. My mood has improved. The problem I'm having is with motivation.

I have to kick myself in the butt to do many things. At least I'm getting a few things done but need to do more.

Anyhow, how do you motivate yourself? Thanks in advance for your reply.
 

I make my bed first thing in the morning, get up go get my vitamins, go in the kitchen , make one peice of toast , put garlic powder on it, it, set at the table and eat the bread and take my vitamins, go back in the bedroom put on an extra pair of pants and an extra coat, go out side do my walk , come inside tell my wife I love her, she's awake now, fix breakfast for her, my day begins.
 
Ruthanne said:
I've been taking an antidepressant for awhile now and have gotten up to a higher dose for about 10 days so far. My mood has improved. The problem I'm having is with motivation.

I have to kick myself in the butt to do many things. At least I'm getting a few things done but need to do more.

Anyhow, how do you motivate yourself? Thanks in advance for your reply.
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I have to kick myself, too. But once I get started, I get on a roll and just go with it. Sadly, the "roll" is sometimes short lived.

I just figure I'll do better tomorrow.
 
Ruthanne said:
I've been taking an antidepressant for awhile now and have gotten up to a higher dose for about 10 days so far. My mood has improved. The problem I'm having is with motivation.

I have to kick myself in the butt to do many things. At least I'm getting a few things done but need to do more.

Anyhow, how do you motivate yourself? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Click to expand...
🤗 🤗 🤗 It's called 'smiling', Ruth, sending you one now.......... :)
 
My "motivation" is my endless "to do" list. I keep a note pad on my desk, and write down things I need to do, as I think of them. Then, every day, I review the list, and depending upon the weather, and my "enthusiasm", I chose what to do on a given day. Trying to accomplish something positive nearly every day helps keep me going.
 
What motivates me is visualizing the end result of what I'm trying to accomplish. I think of how nice the clean house will be or how I will love the new paint job. I think of how my finished embroidery project will look. It might take me a little extra time after breakfast to get going but once I start I don't quit and pity the person who gets in my way.
 
I have also been on anti-depressants since 2005. In my case, it is Lexapro and I've had no issues. I also take various supplements. I motivate myself by setting a routine for the day. I know I am going to have my coffee in the morning while I watch the news, play Wordle and Wordscapes and check my email. I then look forward to whatever lunch salad I have made the previous day. Then I know I am either going to the gym, the grocery store and walk by the lake if the weather is decent. Then I need to make dinner. I think it is the structure that keeps me sane.
 
dseag2 said:
I have also been on anti-depressants since 2005. In my case, it is Lexapro and I've had no issues. I also take various supplements. I motivate myself by setting a routine for the day. I know I am going to have my coffee in the morning while I watch the news, play Wordle and Wordscapes and check my email. I then look forward to whatever lunch salad I have made the previous day. Then I know I am either going to the gym, the grocery store and walk by the lake if the weather is decent. Then I need to make dinner. I think it is the structure that keeps me sane.
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I have a friend who's occasionally on that and sleeping pills. I asked about them out of curiosity and he said they are fine.
I have always had trouble sleeping all my life. It comes and goes so I don't think it's serious...? A routine helps but when something breaks my schedule, it's like my brain doesn't know when to tell itself to rest.
I still don't trust myself with pills stronger than an aspirin. Some say I need to meditate but I lack patience for that. It's like my mind is firing on all directions. Hence why I'm on here so much. :ROFLMAO:
 
RFW said:
I have a friend who's occasionally on that and sleeping pills. I asked about them out of curiosity and he said they are fine.
I have always had trouble sleeping all my life. It comes and goes so I don't think it's serious...? A routine helps but when something breaks my schedule, it's like my brain doesn't know when to tell itself to rest.
I still don't trust myself with pills stronger than an aspirin. Some say I need to meditate but I lack patience for that. It's like my mind is firing on all directions. Hence why I'm on here so much. :ROFLMAO:
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I completely understand. My mind is always active. I was actually off Lexapro for a week when we were on vacation and I was fine, so I think it's a bit of a crutch. I discovered Trazadone when my mother was in assisted living. It is a non-narcotic pill that was originally prescribed for depression but also enhances sleep. I'm not even sure of the dosage that is prescribed but I take 1/4 of a pill each night and it relaxes my brain and allows me to sleep. I'm not drowsy in the morning and can get on with life.
 
Ruthanne said:
I've been taking an antidepressant for awhile now and have gotten up to a higher dose for about 10 days so far. My mood has improved. The problem I'm having is with motivation.

I have to kick myself in the butt to do many things. At least I'm getting a few things done but need to do more.

Anyhow, how do you motivate yourself? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Click to expand...
You have birds, right? Or is that Ruth n Jersey?

Either way, here's my story...a couple decades ago I fell off a sheer ridge, a 60ft fall. I busted myself up pretty dearly and worked really hard over the next year to get back to normal. Normal aside from having to live with chronic pain and occasional set-backs. Might sound silly, but just going outside will get me through the bad days. Sometimes I just sit and feed the wild birds. Sometimes I walk around setting out food for the feral cats here, and when the little neighbor kids see me, they come and chatter at me.

I might only be out there for 15-20 minutes, but by the time I come back inside I feel all perked up. Kind of jazzed, really.
 
Murrmurr said:
You have birds, right? Or is that Ruth n Jersey?

Either way, here's my story...a couple decades ago I fell off a sheer ridge, a 60ft fall. I busted myself up pretty dearly and worked really hard over the next year to get back to normal. Normal aside from having to live with chronic pain and occasional set-backs. Might sound silly, but just going outside will get me through the bad days. Sometimes I just sit and feed the wild birds. Sometimes I walk around setting out food for the feral cats here, and when the little neighbor kids see me, they come and chatter at me.

I might only be out there for 15-20 minutes, but by the time I come back inside I feel all perked up. Kind of jazzed, really.
Click to expand...
Yes I have a bird and so does the other Ruth. Thank you! I enjoyed your post!
 
, Ruthanne....So very hard, and in addition to stay on top of physical care such as what we eat and resting.

While going to school I kept telling myself the alternative would be worse so giving up was not an option.

Once I get going I'm able to complete no matter what.

I do not tell myself what I'm going to do until once underway.

Had to visit the dentist. Kept thinking it will be over soon. I ache now, it will pass.

Love this song. Just Hold On


At my worse This Totally Helped
It really worked.


Hugs Ruthanne!!!
 
I don't know how I do it.. I have no idea.. Some days I don't want to wake up... ,but I do, and I just know I have to get on and do everything because no-one else is going to do it..
I don't take anti-depressants , nor do I drink alcohol..and god knows some days I think I should start drinking to numb things.. .. I have an absolute fear of AD's because my mum was addicted to them, and ultimately took an overdose and ended her life..

I've been through the worst last 6 months of my life, and it's still ongoing which has led me to seek therapy for the first time in my life.. , and I know I need something else to help, but I know not what... I don't want to be a walking zombie on some prescribed pill...so in the meantime ..you guys keep me going, if it wasn;t for you all, being here , and just available to chat when I need to find a friend and just about any little thing... and for the 2 most wonderful, sainted, wise friends who will remain nameless here for now , who have been there to listen and support at every turn, the last 6 months, without whom , and with no exaggeration ..I wouldn't be here now telling you this story, I'd be in a straight jacket somewhere or worse .. so what gets me motivated each day ?.... You folks... 🥰
 
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I am a big list maker. Every night I write out a list of what I want or need to do. I think what motivates me is moving through the list. Being busy doing things really helps me. I might put off doing some things but eventually I get them done. So what exactly motivates me? I think it is the feeling that I did all this today and looking at the results. Sticking to whatever plan I have in mind and following through and then seeing the improvements or results after I do.
 
There is a lady on tv who is what I call a 'livewire'. I can't imagine her ever sitting still, she's quite exhausting to watch. However, she gets things done. Whenever I find myself with that 'can't be bothered' feeling, or putting things off, I ask myself what she would do. I find it energizes me to just get on and get it done. I spend more time thinking about doing something than actually doing it!
 

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