11 Alternatives to Motivation – Stay Productive Even When Unmotivated

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Motivation is tricky. With it, you feel like you can accomplish almost anything. You sense that fire within you burning and you are invincible. Without it, it is almost paralyzing. It’s impossible to even get out of your bed. It’s remarkable how it can influence your day or even your overall success in life. But is this how it’s supposed to be? Do you truly need to be at the mercy of motivation? If not, then how exactly can you stay productive even when you’re feeling unmotivated?

Well, you can stay productive even when you’re unmotivated by simply activating other driving forces readily available within you. These alternatives to motivation are discipline, habits, systems, grit, sense of responsibility, professionalism, branding, personal standards, gratitude, trust for the process, and utilization of short-term rewards. These substitutes work because they are more stable, actionable, and repeatable.

Before I dive into the details of these alternatives, and how they actually work, let’s try to understand motivation first and why you have an on-again-off-again relationship with it.

Understanding motivation.

The most agreed-upon definition of motivation is anything that stimulates us to act to achieve the desired goal. There are two parts to this: one – the stimulus, which could be anything from our hierarchy of needs e.g. basic needs, psychological needs, or self-fulfillment needs; and two – our desired goals to satisfy the stimulus, which could be anything from being successful at work, or launching a new business, to paying off our student loans. Together, they create a driving force that fuels us in our day-to-day undertaking.

Constant vs Variables.

Our day-to-day endeavors then trigger a string of emotions depending on our day, week, or phase in life. It could be excitement, passion, or determination. However, it could also be fears, frustrations, or exasperation. So while motivation is relatively constant, the feelings surrounding it typically vary. The latter is often influenced by shorter-term circumstances like how our day is going, our situation at home, our personal and work relationships, unwelcome turns of events, or even the slightest hiccups. 

Why we fail.

We fail when we allow the variables that make us disconnected from our motivation to take over, and let these fleeting moments dictate our course of actions.

How to win.

We win by staying in control. Understanding the difference between our constant and our variables, and their relationship with each other, allows us to compartmentalize them. That is by strengthening our relationship with our constant, and then managing all that’s variable. We strengthen our constant by committing to it regardless of the noise and nuances around it. Keeping our eye on the prize and reminding ourselves why we started in the first place. And then we manage the variables by knowing they pass and that we are in charge of how we respond to them. We respond by amplifying the good variables and taking advantage of them while they last; and by acknowledging the not-so-good ones, and then getting ready to shift gears. 

These gears are the other driving forces available within us that are just waiting to be amped up. We use these alternative reinforcers every day but are usually not the stars of the show. We think of them as auxiliary components running in the background just so we could survive our day. Not realizing that they are actually much more stable, reliable and within our control.

Whew! Now that you know that solely entrusting your success to motivation is dangerous, and, to some degree, even irresponsible, I think it’s time to move forward. Without further ado, below are some of the amazing mindsets and ways to stay productive even if you’re unmotivated.

Discipline.

It’s your ability to forego short-term gratification in order to achieve long-term goals. A self-management skill on being consistent and focused to produce results. Just remember all the successful athletes and their hours spent on training.

Habit.

Habit complements discipline as it provides structure and stability to your day. It keeps the nuances at bay and lets you deliver smaller results that eventually compound. Your habits also encourage muscle memory which allows you to do the things you don’t even want to do in the first place but do it anyway because your body is looking for it.

Systems and Processes.

This is the actual design of your habits. The design is supposed to remove obstacles, make work appealing, complement your desired results, and actually bring you closer to your goal. If you know you always forget to take your vitamins, then put that bottle in a place you easily see and frequent so you are reminded to take it. If it’s not enticing to work out because the gym is five blocks away, then bring the gym to your house by dedicating a space for it and by buying simple gym equipment. This goes the same for work. If tasks are repetitive, automate them. If you are easily distracted, turn your notifications off. If you are visual, create a vision board. If you are forgetful, make to-do lists. Anything and everything that pushes you to get work done.

Grit.

The stamina, passion, and perseverance for very long-term goals. This is the firmness of mind and spirit in your core that you develop as you exercise discipline and observe habits day in and day out for prolonged periods of time. 

Sense of responsibility.

Your capacity to recognize possible adverse consequences when rewards do not seem appealing. How does your inaction affect your timelines, resources, or overall progress? Would it have a long-term impact on your goals, relationships, or even life in general? How much of a setback would it cause and is it worth it?

Professionalism.

Most times, you are bound by duty. You do not drop the ball just because it’s that day you feel disinterested in everything. It’s this level of maturity that makes you deliver, regardless. Not only because you are expected to do so, but because you have utmost respect (and consideration) for others and your craft.

Branding.

It’s how you’d like to be distinguished. A personal signature associated with your work. Your output is you. That email you sent could circulate endlessly without you knowing. That project you delivered carries your name. Your influence is only as good as your brand. 

Personal standards.

And it doesn’t have to be about branding too. It can be the bar you’ve set for yourself. You strive for excellence in everything you do not because other people are bound to notice it but because you feel good after a day’s work knowing you didn’t fail yourself.

Gratitude.

Instead of saying “I have to…” start saying, “I get to…”. Do not say “I have to finish this project”. Instead, say “I get to finish a project.”. And more I GET TO… statements like “I get to help others.”, “I get to work.”, “I get to learn.”. Imagine how many people do not get to do what you do. Gratitude releases you from toxic emotions. It clears the fog which makes you appreciate what surrounds you. It refreshes your mind and instantly repositions your perspectives. It also allows you to zoom out to remind you of your bigger vision.

Say “I GET TO!”

not “I have to.”

Trust in the process.

Most goals are long-term so the feeling of satisfaction is typically delayed. Your dreams could seem distant and elusive, and your days long and burdensome. However, the mightiest of creations endured the toughest of times. And the stretch in between the goal and the prize is what defines your journey and makes success even more meaningful. Working hard on your aspirations is also your way of earning what you think you deserve. It’s a character-building moment necessary to prepare you for your next chapter in life. It’s this faith in the process that binds your routines together and connects your smaller daily efforts into a bigger, more profound life endeavor.

Daily rewards.

Your happiness cannot exclusively rely on the actual achievement of your goals. You must also allow simple daily moments to give you comfort and joy. Welcome people’s appreciation of you, celebrate smaller victories, find humor in blunders, be generous in praises, build connections, and try to learn every day. Adore your new office view, enjoy your lunch breaks with peers, or share exciting project discoveries. Most of all, rejuvenate by going home to your family (could be your pet) at the end of your day, work out, eat healthily, meditate, socialize, or enjoy your own company. Rest if you must. At the end of the day, you want to strive for a healthy mind, body, and soul. The healthier you are overall, the more connected you feel to your higher purpose. And the more ready you are to conquer another day.

In conclusion, motivation is personal and raw. It’s up to you how to best contextualize and actualize it. It is potent and will stay only potent until we activate it and support it with a system that’s composed of the right principles, methods, and mindset. So the next time you feel “unmotivated”, switch gears. These alternative driving forces do not only serve as backup for your motivation, they can even become your actual foundation toward success.

This is also why it’s problematic to work solely based on passion. I hope this helps untangle some conflicts in your mind and heart, and allow you to systematically pursue your next (or current) endeavor in life. Wishing you all a successful and healthy journey ahead, allies.

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