Why motivation is overrated—and is actually a waste of time

Hey friend,

Quick confession: a few weeks ago, I bought this supposedly amazing gut health supplement. And you can probably already guess where I got it from… Instagram.

You know the type—green powder, packed with all the right probiotics and promises of boosting your energy and fixing your digestion. The first week, I was all in. I took it every morning after my walk, and even convinced myself I could already feel the benefits.

But then, life got busy (and I got forgetful). The jar sat there, untouched for a couple days. Then I’d remember, take it every other day and fall off again. Those days turned into a week, and now I’m pretty sure the last time I drank it was 6 days ago. The thing is, I know I need to be consistent for it to actually work, but the initial excitement and motivation just fizzled out.

You know that feeling when you start something new—like a fresh workout routine, a productivity hack, or even a new habit—and you’re so pumped about it for the first couple of weeks? But then, just as quickly as it arrived (thanks Amazon!), your motivation seems to vanish into thin air.

You’re left wondering: What happened? Where did all my enthusiasm go?

If there was a way to repeat that initial day like groundhog day, we’d all be instant winners.

This two-week slump is incredibly common, and it’s not a sign that you’re lazy or lack discipline. There’s actually a deeper reason behind it, and understanding what's really going on is the first step to breaking the cycle.

Most people think motivation is like a magical force that will power them through any goal.

But here’s the kicker: motivation is actually a limited resource.

When you start something new, you have a surge of energy and excitement. It’s fresh, it’s different, and your brain loves the novelty. But as the days go by, that initial excitement naturally starts to wear off, and that’s when real life kicks in.

You see, the challenge isn’t about staying motivated; it’s about creating systems that keep you moving forward, even when the excitement fades.

One reason you might feel your motivation slipping away is because of how our brains are wired. We crave instant gratification—results we can see and feel now.

So when progress starts to slow, or when we don’t see immediate rewards, our brain loses interest. We start thinking, Why bother?

This is why it’s so hard to stick to a new diet or workout routine. Our logical minds are very much aware that our bodies slowly change over time, but the instant gratification kicks in and throws that logic out the window.

Another factor is that after the first two weeks, the novelty wears off. Suddenly, the new habit or project starts to feel a lot like work. The excitement you had at the beginning starts to feel more like a chore, and without a clear plan to keep things going, it’s easy to fall back into old patterns.

The trick isn’t to try and stay motivated forever—that’s not sustainable.

Instead, focus on building consistency and incorporating small wins along the way. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Set Micro-Goals: Break your big goal into smaller, manageable tasks. This way, you’re hitting milestones frequently and giving your brain the reward it craves.

   • Don’t set your next weightloss goal at 10 pounds. Make it 2! When you hit that goal in a week or two, it’s much more fun.

2. Create Rituals, Not Just Routines: Find ways to make the process more enjoyable. Add a small reward to the end of each session or pair the task with something you love (like listening to your favorite playlist while working).

   • Do you like taking baths? Pair your reading goal with a soak in the tub.

3. Prepare for the Slump: Expect your motivation to dip and have a plan in place. When you know it’s coming, it won’t feel like a failure. Instead, it’ll be a signal to lean into your system.

It’s normal for motivation to ebb and flow. What matters is having a strategy that keeps you moving, even when you don’t feel like it.

Plan ahead and you’ll be less likely to fall off track.

P.S. If you’re looking for a little extra boost, reply to this email and let me know what you’re struggling with. I’d love to share some personalized tips!

❤️‍🔥 Hot Finds

1. Toxic productivity culture? Dr. Caroline Leaf interviews Israa Nasir and they discuss toxic productivity—feeling constant pressure of trying to do more, achieve more, and be more—all at the expense of your mental health. What do you think? Is toxic productivity a thing? Anything can be toxic if there’s too much of it, right?

2. Free Reel Templates! Looking for some fun Reels templates to use during your content batching session? Grab these 5 free templates from Your Social Team. Just pop in your text and some new B-roll video (optional) and you’re good to go!

What’s happening on the podcast?

This week on Holistic Productivity we’re switching it up with a Get Productive with Me session. If you’re looking for some guidance on batching your social media content, listen to this guided audio session to help you quickly work through 45 minutes of content batching.

💕 Your Available Resources

Log into The Systems Lab here to access your available resources.

Subscribe to the Holistic Productivity podcast! We're talking productivity but with a holistic twist—self-care is the foundation, and success is the peak.

Until next time,

💌 Brought to you by Llama Life

If after all of this, you find yourself still struggling with motivation, how about a cute Llama productivity app to help?