Why I Stopped Waiting for Motivation (and What I Started Doing Instead)

There was a time I thought the key to change was just more motivation.

If I could just feel more motivated, then I'd eat better.
Then I’d get consistent with workouts.
Then I’d finally prioritize me again.

Sound familiar?

But here’s the truth no one really tells you (at least, not loudly enough):
Motivation is unreliable.

It comes and goes like a flaky friend. Sometimes it shows up in a burst of energy, and other times? It’s ghosting you when you need it most.

And for a long time, I let that dictate my progress.
If I didn’t feel motivated, I didn’t start.
If I missed a day or two, I waited to feel “inspired” again before getting back on track.
And spoiler: That inspiration rarely came when I needed it.

What finally started moving the needle wasn’t some big overhaul or fancy routine.

It was starting smaller.
Simpler.
More gently.

It was choosing one thing that felt doable and repeating it—no matter how imperfect.
It wasn’t dramatic or exciting, and honestly, it didn’t look like much at first.

But you know what happened?

• I built trust with myself.

• I stopped starting over.

• I felt grounded instead of guilty.

• And that became the momentum I’d been chasing all along.

Consistency and commitment—especially when things feel a bit messy or inconvenient—get you further than motivation ever will.

Lately, one of the most surprising things I’ve been consistent with?

Joy.

Yup, not just food, movement, or sleep—but fun.

I’ve been asking myself: What did I love doing as a kid?

And then… I do more of that.
Simple, right?

One of those things? Jumping in the pool.

As a kid, I was a total fish. Summer meant endless cannonballs, underwater handstands, wrinkled fingers, and laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe.

But somewhere along the way, I stopped.

Too busy.
Didn’t want to get wet and have to wash my hair.
Didn’t feel like putting on the bathing suit.
You know the story.

But lately? I don’t care about any of that.

Now, almost every day, I jump in.
No matter what’s on the to-do list.
No matter how I feel in a swimsuit that day.
No matter how “silly” it seems as a grown woman.

Because every single time I do it, I feel more alive.
And that joy spills into every other area of my life—my health, my energy, my relationships, and yes, even my motivation.

What If You Started There, Too?

You don’t need to wait until Monday.
You don’t need to wait until the kids are older or the calendar clears.
You don’t need to overhaul your entire life.

Start smaller.
Simpler.
More playfully.

Pick one thing that supports your well-being and feels doable this week.
And if you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself:

What did I enjoy doing as a kid?

There’s wisdom in that joy.
And a lot of healing, too.

P.S. This post was inspired by a recent issue of my Nurture Newsletter—a weekly note I send out filled with thoughts on gut health, midlife wellness, small habit shifts, and how to feel more like you again.

If you’d like to get these notes in your inbox, you can sign up here. 💌