For young people
How do I stay motivated when I don't feel like it?
Motivation comes in bursts and was never meant to carry you the whole way. Consistency comes from small habits and setting up your surroundings so the right thing is easier to do.
Ask a different question
Instead of "How do I feel?", ask "What do I do?" Feelings change. The next action stays the same.
Three tools that work
- The two-minute start: study for two minutes, read one page, put your shoes on. Starting is the hardest part.
- Never miss twice: everyone misses a day. Missing two in a row starts a new pattern, so get back on straight away.
- Set up your space: phone in another room while you study, book on your pillow, shoes by the door.
Progress is often invisible at first
The results of a habit usually show up long after you start. Keep going through the boring middle.
From Chapter 4, "Reading the Conditions".
Quick answers
Am I lazy if I'm not motivated?
No. Low motivation is normal. Habits do the work motivation can't.
Related questions
Why people trust Start Where You Are
- Written by Ash Manuel, a former PE teacher and founder of Growing With Gratitude, which has reached more than 1 million young people across 1,205 schools in 80 countries.
- Foreword by Dr Phil Cummins of the University of Sydney and the Sydney Character Initiative.
- Shaped by conversations with young people about what they actually wanted from a book like this.
- Published by Amba Press and featured on 9News Adelaide.