The new year is here, everyone is making new plans, everyone seems to be full of energy. But me? I don’t feel that way at all, maybe you are like me. I don’t feel like doing anything, I feel like personal reasons have sucked the motivation out of me. But I know I can overcome this. I’ve done it before, I can do it again. I’m writing this article to regain my motivation and to help others like you who are in a similar situation.
We have to start somewhere, don’t we?
I Let Myself Go
The first thing I realized was that I was being hard on myself. I was thinking, “Why am I feeling this way when everyone else is starting the year with great excitement?” But then I realized that this is just a phase. Everyone has ups and downs. There is no point in judging myself for feeling this way.
“Difficult times are an opportunity to discover your strength” (Roy T. Bennett).
Maybe this period is opening the door to a new beginning for me.
I Started Taking Small Steps
Big goals can be daunting. When I realized that, I started setting smaller goals for myself. For example, instead of struggling with a project idea, I just tested a Flutter widget. That was it. But when I did that, I felt a spark inside me and I thought, this is it. Taking small steps, winning small victories, makes a big difference.
“Great achievements begin with small but consistent steps” (Confucius).
The next day I made my goal a little bigger. But I kept it simple again. I added a piece every day.
Back to Routines
When there is no motivation, it is easy to lose order. I would wake up in the morning and scroll for a while and then the rest of the day would be a mess. I felt like I needed to re-establish my routine. Just getting my coffee in the morning and sitting at the computer, planning the first half hour of the day by thinking “what can I do today?” made a big difference.
“Routines are the foundation of creativity.” (Twyla Tharp).
I realized again that my routines lift me up.
I tried to get inspired
Sometimes, listening to other people’s stories or looking at other projects is incredibly inspiring. Browsing through the GitHub pages of Flutter projects and looking at the beautiful stories written on Reddit energized me.
Before writing this post, I reread my previous post 2025 UI/UX Design Trends with Flutter and I got a lot of ideas for new projects. Because other people’s creative process can trigger yours.
I Set Flexible Goals
Instead of big goals like completing an app, I said, “I’m just going to design the home screen this week.” Starting this way took the pressure off myself. Staying flexible actually allowed me to be more creative.
“Your plans will change. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on the goal.” (Tony Robbins).
This quote was always in my mind when I was reviewing my goals.
I Made Time for Me
Sometimes I used to think that the more I work, the more important it is, but this is a false belief. Recharging our mind and body is just as important as working. That’s why it felt good for me to watch a favorite TV show, take a walk outside or just sit and do nothing.
“Taking care of yourself is your most important investment.”
I have experienced how true this simple but profound statement is.
Remembering My Past
At some point, I decided to look at what I had achieved before. What difficulties I had overcome, what I had created! This is what motivated me the most. If I could do it before, I can do it again.
If you feel like me, look at your own story. Remembering what you have achieved will shed light on your next step.
When I wrote this article, I wanted to give myself and you a chance. Life is full of ups and downs, but every journey starts with an effort. For more tips and experiences, you can also check out my article on How I Learned to Read Code. Don’t forget to share your comments and your own stories with me!
Remember, we are stronger together. Let’s start with a small step, shall we? 😊
Thank you so much for reading.
If you found it valuable, hit the clap button 👏 and consider following me for more such content.
Selin.
