Lethargy is a dangerous “disease” that sneaks up softly and slowly until you are so thoroughly stuck in inaction that you make excuses even to yourself about how you need to have some relaxation time, you’ve been working too hard lately, it’ll wait for a few more days (weeks, years), it’s not really my responsibility, I’ve lasted this long without doing it so a little longer isn’t going to hurt, it’s actually not so bad this quiet in the practice (except for the lower income), it’s time for others to pick up the slack instead of me all the time, …
When lethargy has fully taken over, the path back up to action and fun and enjoyment may seem unlikely, impossible or even insurmountable. Is there a cure?
Spoiler Alert: Quit reading right now if you don’t want to know the answer.
The Route Out
- Write down what it is that you are avoiding confronting. It may be a short list with a gigantic item or you may have a long list of many little or big things. Be very thorough. Hint: Do it on one area of your life at a time, i.e. practice, home, volunteer work, kids, etc.
- Look the list over and decide on one thing that you can actually do in the next few days. Get it DONE. Congratulate yourself and have a little reward.
- Look the list over again and decide on another thing you can get done in the next few days. Get it DONE. Congratulate yourself and have a little reward.
- Up the ante a bit now and pick the next things but put in stiffer time targets to have them done by. You want to pick up the pace as you are handling these issues.
- Be sure and ask for help if you get stumped by how to handle something. Collect advice and do what makes the most sense to you. Almost any action is usually better than no action. If you are right most of the time, it doesn’t matter if you are occasionally wrong or something doesn’t work out the way you planned. Just re-do your plan and do it differently. Remember the saying: Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn!
Back up to Action
While climbing your way back up to action, you’ll notice that you stop making excuses to everyone or even yourself, you’ll feel the forward motion of accomplishment, you will enjoy your life more instead of feeling guilty and lazy at the same time, your personal sense of pride will grow and people around you just may follow your example and be happier too.
Try it, you may like it!
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