Listlessness

Lack of drive – what to do?

Are you completely unmotivated to tackle something right now? This can be due to the fact that you simply don’t feel well, for example because you have a cold. Sometimes stress or anxiety is the reason why you are simply not able to do anything. All you can do is lie there and wish that tomorrow will be a better day. However, there are some steps you can take to get out of this situation. We’ll give you 8 tips to overcome listlessness.

Overcoming listlessness: this is how it works!

Imagine that your body is a battery that has been in use for a long time. Of course it gets weak and then you have to give it time to recharge. Give yourself time for that and support the regeneration phase by eating healthy food that gives you new energy. If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, a routine can give you momentum. For example, if you have breakfast ready in the evening, you’ll have something to look forward to right away. Exercise in the fresh air also helps against listlessness. It often helps if you consciously relax and do things that allow you to really switch off. This works, for example, with relaxation exercises. If you have a creative streak, you can also get your mind off things with new decorations and give your apartment a new look.

What are the causes of listlessness?

Listlessness due to too much stress

Sometimes it’s just exhaustion after a stressful period. If you have had a lot of stress at work, in university or in your private life for a while, at some point you simply need a break. The best thing to do is to consciously set aside moments of relaxation, even during stressful times, so that you don’t run your battery down to 0%. This way you will stay fit and active in the long run.

Lack of drive: depression and other mental illnesses

You’ve tried everything possible, but the days when you just can’t get anything done are getting more rather than less? The cause may be a mental illness like depression or burnout. If you feel like you need more than a little time off to get back on track, you should take it seriously. Talk to a doctor and get help. Your personal assessment is important here, even if friends or family have the impression that everything is okay with you.

Lack of drive due to vitamin deficiency

Another reason for your constant tiredness can be a vitamin or mineral deficiency. For example, if your body does not get enough iodine, folic acid, iron or vitamin D or B12, you may feel listless. Therefore, talk to your doctor about the listlessness. He’ll do blood work to see what you’re lacking. For more nutrients and also more pep in your food, we recommend these superfoods.

Lack of drive due to other illnesses

If you notice that even with enough sleep and exercise you’re still listless and you just don’t enjoy doing the things you normally love to do, you may also have nervous disorders behind your listlessness. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor. Thyroid problems or exhaustion diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome or burnout can be a reason why you suffer from constant fatigue even though you get enough rest. Especially if your listlessness occurs together with other problems like dizzy spells, indigestion or heavy sweating, it is obvious that one of these diseases is the cause of your fatigue.

How much is too much? The listlessness test

But how do you know whether your listlessness is just normal exhaustion and you just need a little time for yourself or whether there is an illness behind it? You can get a first clue by thinking about how you cope in everyday life. Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Do you rarely do anything in the evening because you are too exhausted? Do things around the house get left undone because you don’t have the energy even on weekends? All these can be signs that your lack of drive is a deeper problem than a stressful phase at work that will soon pass.

Causes of listlessness in children

Especially in children, listlessness is underestimated. At elementary school age, a vitamin deficiency is suspected and preparations and tablets are prescribed. In teenagers, listlessness is often blamed on puberty or they are simply portrayed as lazy, so that depression remains undetected. Medical experts estimate that 1-2% of children up to the age of 11 suffer from mental illness, and for teenagers between 12 and 17 the figure is as high as 3-10%. Depression in children and adolescents often persists into adulthood and should therefore not be underestimated. It is therefore important to have support and love in the family, especially from the parents, so that the children get a sense of security. The child must learn to deal with problems and either solve them independently or be able to get help.

Can I mentally overcome listlessness?

Set goals

If you have a cause that you like to give full effort to, you will have fewer problems with listlessness. Therefore, take time to think about what things are important to you in life and what you want to achieve. This may have something to do with your job, relationships with other people or your character. Be sure to set realistic goals, think about how long it will take you to get there and what you need to do to get there. If you know what you want to achieve, you will be more motivated to do it. It also helps to write down your goals and put them in a place where you can always see them.

Talk about it with others

How often have you thought: “It’s just me, no one else has this problem? That’s why we recommend that you talk about it. Talk to people you trust about your lack of drive. You will see that you are not the only person who sometimes feels this way. That alone can be very reassuring. Plus, you can share how everyone deals with their listlessness and motivate each other when someone is struggling right now.

Are there any home remedies for listlessness?

Home remedies for listlessness in the morning

Instead of drinking coffee in the morning, why not try vitamins: a little carrot juice, linseed oil and naturally cloudy apple juice mixed with 250 ml of organic juice makes a power drink that gets you fit for the day. But even after work, a fruit juice fresh from the juicer will give you that extra energy boost. If you’re on the go all day, a little bit of glucose in between will also get you going again. Another home remedy that has nothing to do with food is alternating showers. First you shower your legs and arms, then your chest and back, alternating between hot and cold. This stimulates your blood circulation and strengthens the immune system. It’s important to start with the parts of your body farthest from your heart and then move toward it.

Listlessness in old age

Even in old age, listlessness can occur for a variety of reasons. Even people who have not suffered from depression before can suffer from so-called old-age depression. But dementia can also be the reason for old-age depression and is often noticed late, because it tends to creep in, while the depression with simultaneous pain, dizziness and other problems appears very clearly. The lack of drive in old age often comes from the fact that everyday life changes a lot. With retirement, they lose their usual routine and often feel they are no longer needed now. In addition, the body is no longer as efficient as it used to be. If depression is the cause of listlessness in old age, then medical treatment is necessary. In other cases, it definitely makes sense to give older people the opportunity to actively participate in life and feel needed with what they can still do.