3 Simple Ways to Reignite Motivation When You’re Just... Tired
(Especially When You’re Meant to Be on Holiday!)
Let’s be honest, how often have you looked forward to your holiday, only to crash the moment it begins?
Your mind, body and soul are finally given permission to stop, and boom, you’re hit with exhaustion, headaches, maybe even a cold or a foggy brain.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. It’s surprisingly common to feel wiped out as soon as we jump off the day-to-day ride and give our body space to rest. After pushing through the stress and hustle of daily life, our nervous system finally exhales, allowing fatigue to catch up.
The slower pace isn’t a problem;
It’s an opportunity.
Why We Crash When We Finally Stop
When we’re constantly “on,” our body powers through thanks to the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. These help us to keep going, but they’re not meant to fuel us forever. The moment we relax (like at the start of a holiday), our body shifts from survival mode into recovery mode. That tiredness is our body finally feeling safe enough to let go.
Instead of seeing it as a setback, treat this moment as a gentle reset. Below are three gentle, natural ways to spark motivation, especially when you’re running on empty.
Here’s How to Reignite Your Motivation, Gently
1. Choose One Tiny Daily Anchor
There’s no need to overhaul your life to get back on the motivation train. In fact, the secret often lies in doing less, not more. Simply choose one micro habit you can turn to daily; something calming, grounding, or life-giving.
Examples:
🌱 Stretch for one minute before breakfast
🌱 Journal one line a day
🌱 Step outside barefoot and breathe for 60 seconds
I don’t know about you,
but just reading those suggestions made me feel more grounded.
You don’t snap back into it overnight; it’s about setting a rhythm your body can trust, even in the background of rest. The goal isn’t to accomplish something grand or impressive. It’s to gently tell your body, “We’re still in this.”
Once you’re in motion and these habits are settling in, it’s easier to keep going and build to a level that feels right.
2. Let Your Inspiration Be Gentle
Now’s not the time for intense personal development. The goal isn’t to accomplish a five-step plan and complete your rest more accomplished than ever. Use this time to gain motivation from softness, joy, and curiosity. It’s amazing what can come from completely relinquishing the relentless urge to produce, progress and create.
Here are some feel-good ideas to get you started:
🌱 Read something just because you want to
🌱 Listen to music that lifts you gently
🌱 Watch the sunrise or sunset, with no agenda other than enjoyment. Not to post on social media, or encourage the kids to embrace nature!
Let your mind wander. You don’t have to do anything for inspiration right now, just let it land.
So many of us tie motivation with doing more. But what if your motivation right now is to heal? To honour your own needs? Instead of thinking, “I haven’t done anything today,” try, “I’m giving my body what it needs so I can show up stronger tomorrow.”
Even 10 minutes of intentional rest, eyes closed, breath slow, no guilt, can shift your nervous system out of survival mode and back into balance.
And that balance?
It’s the soil where true motivation grows.
3. Plant the Seeds for the ‘After’
This is the perfect time to ask: “What would make my return to normality feel better?”
🌱 If you’re feeling calmer, what helped you get there?
🌱 What’s one tiny habit you can commit to when life speeds back up?
Rest is your window to experiment. You have the time and mental space to consider how you feel in moments, to consider the causal links between intentional activity and how they make you feel as a result. Understanding the way you’re wired, what benefits you, and what is detrimental to your well-being empowers you to make good decisions moving forward.
Little changes plant little seeds that have a big impact when the pace picks up again.
So, remember…
Tiredness isn't a lack of motivation; it’s a message.
It’s not a signal to push harder, but an invitation to soften, listen, and reset.
You don’t have to be full of energy to move forward. You just need one small spark, one step, one moment of kindness toward yourself to put yourself on a positive trajectory.
How will you start?
You don’t need to be fired up with passion to make progress. Sometimes, all it takes is a flicker, a little warmth, a little light, to move you forward. One breath, one step, one small act of self-kindness at a time.
Pick one gentle thing to try today, just one, and see how it feels.
If you’d like more support with sustainable lifestyle shifts, I’d love to help you build something that lasts.
👉 Book a free discovery call or drop me a message. Let’s talk about how to feel better, gently and naturally, sooner rather than later.
