I’ve been hearing statements like this a lot lately:
“Why am I so unmotivated?” “I really don’t feel like doing anything…” “Vacation? Forget it. I’m not stepping a single foot outside.”
Negative phrases and heavy words are flying around everywhere. In severe cases, people even criticize themselves for being weak-willed.
Take my wife and me, for example. Just two weeks into our new diet pledge, we hit a brutal heatwave and are right on the brink of failing—again.
To jump straight to my conclusion: Stop beating yourself up, and don't try to fight the heat head-on.
A lot of people seem unaware that the real culprit behind their sudden lack of drive and disappointment in themselves is simply this weather.
I can't tell if this summer heat is just extraordinarily severe this year, picking on everyone regardless of age, or if it's because my friends and I are getting older and becoming more vulnerable to it, or maybe because I still lack the life wisdom to handle it.
Either way, this summer's sweltering heat is casting a much bigger shadow of negativity over the people around me than expected.
Some people find themselves completely fed up with daily tasks they used to do without a second thought—commuting, working, or even brushing their teeth. Others who set out with fresh determination find their drive broken before they even start.
It hasn't been easy for me, either. I’ve been putting things off and saying "I should do it... I really should..." while wasting time for two whole months now. I’m subtly pointing the finger at summer for making me procrastinate even more.
Even going to the gym feels like a monumental task. By the time I get home, I'm completely drained.
Of course, I can't stay like this forever. In times like this, I try to just wait it out, trusting that this too shall pass.
Instead of overwhelming myself with huge goals, I focus on maintaining what I’m already doing and give myself credit for getting through the day. I tell myself I'll tackle new challenges once I'm no longer shaken by the heat, once my mind feels strong again. Without rushing, I just protect my daily routine one day at a time.
Since I'm naturally quite hard on myself, this isn't easy. But I’m making an effort in my own way. Weight training, creating Instagram content, reading, writing book reviews, blogging... I hold onto just enough of a routine to keep myself satisfied.
And at the same time, I toss small rewards to myself to survive another hot, negativity-filled day—like having an ice-cold beer right in front of the air conditioner.
To everyone reading this: Honestly, just getting through what you have to do right now is exhausting enough.
If things feel too tough, instead of stressing out and struggling, try praising yourself a little instead. Once this heat passes and your body adjusts to the summer, there will be plenty of time to scold yourself for being lazy.
If negative thoughts cloud your mind and nothing seems to go your way, it’s just because of this sudden, relentless heat. It will pass, so let's try to take it easy and enjoy it.
For the record, I’ve adjusted to the heat a bit, and I now have a clearer picture of how much it's beaten me down.
So, to break this cycle of laziness, I’ve taken a day off (PTO) this Wednesday. I’ve made a plan, and I’m actually quite excited to hit a fresh turning point through a solid routine.
We promised to start our diet on Monday, but together with my adorable wife—who ordered a bowl of Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) by herself and is now drowning in self-blame—I’m going to step out of this slump.