How to Stay Motivated when Your Progress Feels Slow

Motivation is tough when you feel like your art is going nowhere. For me, it feels like a drag to keep creating when no one seems to notice. It can be so discouraging that it almost makes you want to quit.

But don’t.

I won’t leave you hanging with just that word. Don’t isn’t enough—it doesn’t give you anything tangible. So instead, I’m going to show you how to build motivation when you’re at that point where you just couldn’t care less.

INTERNAL BATTLE

So you’re stuck. Now you’re unsure if it’s worth it anymore? I’m here to reassure you that it is. The late nights, those early mornings—they’re worth all the tears and sweat.

Your question might be, “How?”

How is it worth it when no one is watching? I know you probably don’t want to hear it, but trust me—start small.

Take a deep breath. Go for a walk, a run, or even a car ride with your favorite playlist on.

Have fun.

SMELL THE FRESH AIR

Stop thinking about it too much. Have fun. Trust me—you’ll thank me later. Being a creative doesn’t mean being cooped up in your house, doing nothing but work.

But it doesn’t mean slacking either.

What I’m saying is you should enjoy starting small. Is being creative fun? Absolutely! Your motivation can come from absolutely anywhere.

That’s why I’m telling you to go for a walk. Go say hi to your neighbors, go and call your friend. Take a break: you deserve and need it. But what if that doesn’t work for motivation?

HIT THE MARK

If a quick walk or break doesn’t spark motivation, don’t worry. My Creative Discipline: How to Make Inspiration Show Up Daily blog post can help. But let’s dive into a few more tips here, too.

What helps me when I need motivation quickly, but something of quality is to remember. Remember when things are moving slower than you like.

Remember what you want at the end of the day, the month, the year, or even years. You’ll thank your past self for believing in you.

But let’s go back to discussing starting small for a minute. You need to get out of your head. You will blow up in time. When you start small, having fun is what your journey is all about.

MAKE SPARKS FLY

Worrying too much can steal your joy in your art. The main reason you became an artist is to have fun sharing your talent with others. When you don’t have fun every once in a while, your happiness will be taken away quickly.

Don’t let that happen.

Every minute matters. What can you do for fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, or even an hour? It’ll make a huge difference. Let me know if these tips helped you and what you did to have fun, even if just for a minute.