113. Stop Waiting for Motivation: What to Do Instead

Ever find yourself waiting to feel motivated before you start?

You’re not alone. And it might be the exact reason you’re stuck.

In this episode, I’m sharing a real-life moment from this week when I caught myself putting something off… and what I did instead. (Spoiler: motivation never showed up.)

We’re flipping the script on the idea that motivation has to come first, and instead focusing on what actually works: taking small, simple actions that build momentum.

Whether you’re navigating a job search, trying to get back into a routine, or tackling something that feels overwhelming, this episode will help you stop waiting and start moving forward.

Inside the episode, I talk about:

•  why waiting for motivation keeps you stuck 
•  how procrastination shows up in everyday life (and how to catch it) 
•  simple ways to take action when you don’t feel ready 
•  why small steps create real momentum 
•  practical examples from job search, productivity, and daily life 

If you’ve been putting something off, this is your nudge.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Work with Me

Want an HR expert’s eyes on your resume?
Book a 30-minute Resume Review with Christina - live on Zoom, recorded, and focused on one goal: getting you interviews. 

Want to talk through your career goals and explore next steps?
Schedule a career consultation to see how I can support you. 

Email me directly at christina@hernextchapters.com

Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Free Resource

Grab the Strengths-First Resume Template - ideal for career transitions, whether you’re returning after a break, navigating a layoff, pivoting roles, or ready for a change.

Transcript

Welcome And Who This Is For

Christina Kohl 0:03

Hi, and welcome to Her Next Chapters Podcast. I'm your host, Christina Kohl. I'm a mom of three and soon to be an empty nester. I'm also a certified HR pro who restarted my career after being a stay-at-home mom for over a decade. I created this podcast to connect with moms who have an empty nest on the horizon and are wanting to redefine their identity outside of motherhood, which might include a job search. On this show, we'll have raw conversations about our ever-changing roles with moms. We'll hear from women who restarted their careers, and share tips for job search after a career break. So if that's you, you're in the right place, friend. Let's get started. Hi friends, I have a quick note before we jump into today's episode. So, today is Wednesday, April 15th, and this episode is going out a little later than usual. Normally it drops at 5 a.m. on Wednesdays while I'm still sleeping. But today I put it off. And instead of skipping the episode or waiting until next week, I decided to hit record anyway and still get it published today. Which honestly makes today's topic even more fitting. Because what I want to talk about today is motivation. So a quick question for you. Have you ever told yourself, yeah, I'll do that when I feel more motivated? Yeah, same. Me too. I have been living in that space the last couple of weeks, not doing nothing, but doing all the other things, the easy things, the busy things, and putting off some of the things that actually matter. And here's the irony. This episode is going live on April 15th. So if you haven't done your taxes yet, there's your motivation. Deadlines have a funny way of showing up when motivation doesn't. But here's what I've been thinking about. What if motivation isn't actually the thing we should be waiting for? Because I think a lot of us tend to operate with thoughts like this. I'll start the job search when I feel ready. Or I'll work on the budget when I feel motivated. Or maybe it's this one. I'll finally organize the house when I have the time. And the problem is that moment doesn't always come. Or it comes with a lot of pressure attached to it. I'm looking at you, the late tax filers, April 15th, get it done. Um, and now it feels big, right? It feels overwhelming. Like you have to do everything all at once. And that's usually where we stall out. So here's the shift that I want to offer you. Motivation doesn't come first, action does. And I know that sounds really simple and maybe even a little annoying, but it's true. Big goals don't happen in one big inspired moment. They happen through small and consistent action. So let's take the job search as an example because you know that's my world. If you're in a job search, there are a lot of things you could be doing. Updating your resume, tweaking LinkedIn, scrolling job postings, applying online. And most people spend the majority of their time there. What actually moves the needle? Networking. That's where the traction is. And I know it's not always the easiest thing. And even for me, it can be a little uncomfortable to reach out. So instead of thinking, I need to build this big networking strategy, what if your only goal was this? Reach out to one person. One. That's it. So maybe at the beginning of the week, you write down five names. So be thinking of past coworkers, a former boss, someone from your neighborhood, or just a friend you haven't talked to in a while. And then each day you reach out to one person, not asking for a job, just reconnecting, catching up, letting them know what you're working toward. And I know I've shared this example before in the podcast, but it is such a good example. Years ago, when I was still a stay-at-home mom, but very much wanting to get back into the workforce, I was at a dinner party. It was right between Christmas and New Year's. And the question came up, what are your New Year's resolutions? And I got my courage up and I just announced it. I proclaimed it to the table. I'm going back to work. And someone at the table said, had asked, you know, what do you do? And I said, HR, my career's been on human resources. And right away, she's like, oh my gosh, you need to meet my neighbor. She's the director of recruiting at the local hospital. Well, that one conversation led to an introduction, which led to an interview, which led to making it all the way to the final round. And you guys, I hadn't worked for like 13 years at this point, but I got all the way to the final round of interviews because of that one introduction. Now I did not get the job, but it did get me in the room. And that only happened because I said something out loud and a casual conversation. That's the power of small action. And I just want to build on that for a minute. Those interviews helped me for the next round of interviews when I did get the job. So there is a happy ending to the story. And you guys, this doesn't just apply to job search. These little small action steps really applies to everything. If it is your budget that needs, that feels overwhelming and needs to be looked at, you don't have to try to fix the whole thing all at once. One step would just be opening up your bank statement. Open it up and look for any recurring charges. And if there's something you can get rid of, make that call. Do that happen, make that happen. That is progress. Okay. You didn't fix everything. You just did one step. Another example is if your house feels out of control. You don't have to spend the entire weekend decluttering the entire house. I I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be able to do that. Um but what you could do is pick one drawer, set a timer for 15 minutes, and sort through it. When the timer goes off, you're done and you've made progress, right? Those small action steps. And then I've got one more for you. Um, if you're trying to get back into exercise, you don't have to commit to an hour-long workout, driving to the gym or making a big production of it. Just do something during commercials when you're watching TV. Do push-ups, um, do planks. Or if you're like me, sometimes I'll grab a hula hoop and I'll hula hoop while I'm watching a show. And that helps me stay active at all counts. And the thing is, in all of these situations, these little action steps, you what you and I are proving to ourselves, I can start. And that's where momentum comes from. And a couple of things that really help me when I'm in that stuck and unmotivated place. The first thing is a brain dump. I'm sure you've heard this before, you've probably done it, but just really truly sit down with a piece of paper, get everything out of your head and onto the paper, all of it. And then go back. This is this is the key for me, and maybe this will be a good tip for you. Go back and find the smallest thing on that list, the teeniest thing, the thing that would take two minutes to do. Do that first. And then you have a quick win. Instant momentum, right? Because you've you accomplished something, you can grasp it off the list. And then go look for other things that are small and you're gonna chip away at things. So the second thing that is really helpful, and I mentioned it a little bit earlier, is setting a timer, whether that's 15 minutes or 30 minutes, not two hours, right? Give yourself a contained window and a single focus. Because when things are open-ended, they expand, and that's when overwhelm can start to creep in. So having that timer and up and honoring it, and maybe you go over by a couple minutes, but it's just we're like, okay, this is it. I can do this in 15 minutes and get something done. And then you've got that momentum started. And you guys, I'll be honest, I didn't feel like recording this podcast today at all. I didn't know what I wanted to talk about. I wasn't feeling particularly motivated. And then I thought, well, there's the topic. So my action step today was opening my laptop and hitting record. That's it. That's the work. Not waiting until everything feels clear or perfect. Just starting. So if you take one thing from this episode, let it be this. Don't wait for motivation. Take one small action step today. If you are in a job search, reach out to one person just to connect. If you're feeling overwhelmed, do a brain dump. If you've been putting something off, set a timer and start. Because you'll find momentum builds after you begin, not before. And if you are listening to this on April 15th and you're one of those who hasn't done your taxes yet, this is your reminder. Turn this off, set a timer, and go do the thing you've been avoiding. I promise you'll feel better on the other side. All right, well, friends, that's all that I've got for you today. And as always, keep showing up, even in the messy chapters. I'll see you next time. Thank you so much for listening today. I hope this episode hit home for you. And if you haven't already, be sure to connect with me on LinkedIn and say hello. I can hardly thank you for listening. Until next time, remember your story is uniquely your own. And your next chapters are ready to begin.