To a certain extent, motivation varies from person to person because, as Shabazz explains, "different things cause people to feel motivated or unmotivated.” So the first step is often to look at your individual circumstances and figure out what is holding you back from feeling motivated. For example, “in the case of those who experience anxiety in an intense way, I encourage people to consider what is at stake if they don’t take action,” Shabazz says. “It’s a modern version of a pros and cons list but the purpose is to get to the bottom of what’s holding someone back from moving forward.” For others getting motivated involves letting go of societal expectations and focusing on doing one thing, every day, that makes them happy. “Do what makes you truly happy, and that is where you will see the motivation increase,” says Schroeder. If you do something that makes you happy first, she continues, you can “fill your cup, and the motivation for other tasks will follow.”  The activity that makes you happy doesn’t have to be complicated either: it can be as simple as going for a walk, meeting up with a friend, or taking an hour for self-care.  Some people also find motivation in either starting the day with a simple task that they can do quickly—like making the bed or checking an easy item off your to-do list—so that you feel a sense of accomplishment early in your day.  Others feel motivated by having a clear plan or routine for the day that allows them to track their progress, like starting out with a regular morning routine that increases productivity, for example.