The Syrup: How to keep going when you're running on empty 

I can’t tell you how many people I have encountered over the past few months who have talked about how burnt out they are.  Let’s face it, we work in a people-facing business and don’t have the luxury of burying our heads in the sand.  But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t times when we’d love to do just that.  I know there are days when my business partner Colleen Blum and I look at each other and say “When are we buying that ice cream truck?”  We laugh and get back to the grind, but that 30 second check-in with someone else who “gets it” is sometimes all you need.  

But what if you don’t have someone to do that with?  Or at least you don’t think you do.

“How do you motivate yourself when you just aren’t feeling it?” was a question asked by one of our readers.

I started thinking a lot about what I do to stay motivated and when I asked myself this question, the first thing that came to mind is:  I reach out.

To be honest, this is not something that I’ve always done; during my first 5-10 years in business, I carried the load along.  I internalized and just kept grinding.  But after 18 years as a business owner,  I’ve learned better.  

You aren’t a snowflake; feeling unmotivated is a common challenge that many people face. However, with the right strategies, you can regain your motivation. Here are some things I do to keep marching when I’m running on empty:  

1. Move a muscle, change a thought:  I know this might sound a little dumb, but when you get stuck, sometimes you just need to move.  If you follow me on social media, you know I’m into CrossFit and start most days by working out. This lays the groundwork for me to take on the day, but if I feel unmotivated during other times, I walk around the block, walk down the hall or go check mail.  Sometimes, just a little movement is all you need to shift things and get back at it.  

2. Gratitude and goals: I have a girlfriend who owns her own law firm and Monday through Friday, we send each other a list of things that we are grateful for, followed by a list of what we want to accomplish for the day.  We have been doing this for over two years and it’s a great way to start the workday in a good frame of mind—with gratitude and a list of goals for the day.  I take the “goals” list and drop them into my “to do” list in Outlook and then check them off as I accomplish them.  Nothing motivates me more than checking things off a list! (#loser)

3. The power of anticipation:  It’s so important to look forward to something, whether this be a gift to yourself, a vacation, a conference, a random day off or a freakin’ popsicle.  Have something in the distance that you know is coming when you get to that date on the calendar, land that client or hit a revenue goal.

4. Do something that has nothing to do with your business:  This is something I learned from my dad.  He was a Major General in the Air Force and a civilian judge, so he was on the road a lot.  But one of the first things he would do within 24 hours of getting home was to go out to our farm and be a farm boy.  I have a very analytical brain; I like math and I love me some spreadsheets. But during open enrollment, when the work increases and I need to give my brain a break or use it in a different way, I always have a creative project to work on when I get home so I can put my phone away and just focus.  One year, it was making, bottling and labeling vanilla extract; another time, it was making Christmas ornaments. Currently, it’s knitting temperature blankets for my nieces.  We all deserve to shut down, and this has been a perfect way for me to recharge for the next day.

5. Celebrate the wins:  I made a reference earlier to sharing burnout with someone who gets it. And while some people might think they don’t have someone like that in their life, I promise that you do.  There are things related to my business that I’m not going to pick up the phone and talk about with my mom or siblings, because they don’t know this part of my world.  But my tribe is vast and strong.  Having people in your corner who you can reach out and celebrate things with is crucial—especially if you are a one-person shop.  When you land that big client, call a colleague in the business:, I promise that we will help you celebrate!

6. Take care of you.  My close friend, Mike Veny, is a mental health motivational speaker. In an era where the topic of self care is coming at us from so many angles, he really simplified things for me.  He said, “Self care is what you do for your health when you aren’t in the presence of a medical professional.” All of the suggestions in this article can be looked at as a form of self care,  but sometimes the most important thing to do is say no to someone else so you can say yes to yourself.  Don’t feel guilty about that.  

I asked a few members of my crew to share what they do to motivate themselves when they are running on empty.  Check these out!

Nancy Giacolone:  “One of my favorite tricks is to work out in the morning, as it increases my dopamine and endorphins, and I am automatically more energized and motivated.  The other trick I use is to rearrange my day.  What gives me energy?  Do that thing first!  Then I can carry that positivity and energy into other tasks or parts of my day.”  

Eugene Starks:  “ I always find I recharge when I spend time with family and friends.  Another big way I avoid burnout is by working-out.  Setting aside time to work on myself in this way puts me in the right frame of mind for the challenges I face weekly.  Another rule I have is that I never drink alone to relieve stress.  I find drinking alone never reduces stress.  I enjoy drinking in fellowship with friends because the fellowship brings down my stress.”

Erin Issac:  “The most powerful thing I do is remember what I’m working towards and  what I want the future to be. That moment ahead of me can help me take one step closer, or it might just be part of the motivation for change. Either way, taking action is what’s going to eventually get me there. Take the suck and let it inspire you to do more.  That’s one thing, but it’s usually coupled with a few others: take a break, move your body, don’t try to soothe with social media or sweets.  The other thing I always have is a lifeline — that friend, mentor, cheerleader who can remind you who you are and what you’re doing this for.”

Lester Morales:  “By having a strong external “why” and an internal look in the mirror, I force myself to be accountable.  Knowing the purpose of what I am doing, whether it be an internal or external driving force, moves me forward.  I get up every morning and think, ‘Today, I’m going to make my parents proud.’ When I think of doing anything that is hard during the day,  that is my motivation.  My parents instilled in me my strong internal drive.  I promised myself long ago that the person I have to be most accountable to is myself.  For example, if I tell myself that I’m going to get up and work out, the only person I am cheating is myself if I don’t do it.  How are you accountable to other people if you don’t start with yourself?  You can’t pour from an empty cup, so if you are taking care of you, your ability to take care of others magnifies.”  

What do you do to motivate yourself when you’re running on empty?