What are your go-to ways of staying motivated?
Sometimes I have so much that I want to do (cleaning, exercise, hobbies, etc) but OCD makes it so hard to have energy...especially when I'm practicing not doing compulsions! Does anyone have any tips for making it easier to do everyday activities when you aren't feeling mentally great?
Taking Action. I think a thing that helps me if I really dont wanna do something I kind of do it anyway. Im talking litte things like jumping in shower, cleaning room, maybe 10 pgs of book, just anything minor incovienent i will do bc Ik it will help down the road with bigger tasks
I agree with the person above: Taking action is always helpful. It's hard to actually do it sometimes, but I find once I start I feel a little better. I have this same issue stemming mainly from my ADHD and depression, but I think it helps all the same. If you aren't sure how or where to start a task or it feels overwhelming, then just chunk it up into a smaller attainable task. For example: you want to clean the living room, but it feels so messy you don't even know where to start and it feels overwhelming. Instead of setting out to clean the entire room, try just picking up the floor a bit and vacuuming. It's a far more realistic goal you know you can accomplish, and the feeling of accomplishing a goal will help lift your mood and feel good about yourself. Even if that's the only thing you get done, you still completed something and that always feels good.
Knowing *why* I want to do something (although I have a "this is useless" theme so I've been trying to use this less), routine without times (order of activities but not a strict time, so I can always jump back in if I get distracted or soemthing), listening to my needs and having them met or negotiating with myself ("I feel the need to play. I *will* do it after this essay.")
I agree with the commenters above! Sometimes just doing it without over-thinking is the best thing. What I do, is I make a to-do list every night for the next day. And I honestly just work my way down the list without thinking. And I'm gentle with myself- so if there's something not on the list I'd rather do that day, I do that instead. I try not to stress or beat myself up if I don't achieve everything, but just having the list helps when I'm having my adhd/ocd moments and feel overwhelmed or can't figure out what to do.
That’s what I do too
For those of you that have successfully managed your symptoms, what helped motivation-wise? Did meditation, reading, etc help you find the courage to stand up to OCD? I feel like I’m lacking the mental/spiritual/psychological energy to *really* do the work, and it’s so discouraging.
Has anyone found any success in developing a new habit. Like a new cleaning routine or something like that? While it is true that for some OCD causes them to excessively clean, mine does the exact opposite. It makes it nearly impossible for me to get started bc my anxiety is so bad. I have low energy and even the smallest tasks cause me to feel overwhelmed. And then when I think of the sheer magnitude of all that needs to be done in my house I feel hopeless and paralyzed, which causes me to feel even more tired. It feels impossible
Does anyone have any tips/calm down routine/ mental health ritual they do for days where ocd is bad? I’d love some tips.
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