Resources
Finding motivation
Where does motivation come from and how do we find it? We all kind of know what it is, but often it just seems like something that is missing.
Written by the Redkite Oncology Social Work team

What is motivation?
Where does motivation come from, and how do we find it? We all kind of know what it is, but often it just seems like something that is missing. Some people seem so full of motivation and energy, but for most of us, it’s common to feel like motivation is hard to find, and even harder to hang on to, especially when it comes to tasks we find tedious, time-consuming or not very high on our list of priorities.
So when we’re going through a difficult time, such as the frightening experience of your child receiving a cancer diagnosis and going through treatment, made additionally complicated by COVID-19, it can seem impossible to find the motivation to do anything other than the essentials to keep your family safe.
However, it’s not always possible to focus solely on what is most important to you right now. Everyday life continues and with it comes all the mundane tasks such as paying bills and going to work, which can seem so pointless or irrelevant at this time.
it can seem impossible to find the motivation to do anything other than the essentials to keep your family safe.
So how do we find motivation?
We often tell ourselves that we should just be able to get things done, should be able to just find motivation, should be able to do better. However, telling ourselves off and expecting to just be able to do more, sadly does not magically make it happen. At Redkite, we understand that motivation for getting things done or making changes might at this stage be non-existent, and that you might be hanging on by the tips of your fingers and that’s all you can do right now. But if you do want or need to make changes, there are other ways to approach it and we’d like to share a few simple tips that might help to make this more manageable.
All of this can sound a lot easier said than done. Redkite acknowledges that parents in your situation face a lot of challenges, and if your basic needs are not met, such as having a safe home environment and enough money for food and medication, then focusing on self-care and making positive changes can be impossible.
Please remember that you do not have to do everything on your own. If you think it would be helpful to talk to someone about any obstacles you’re facing, or how to find motivation then Redkite’s Social Workers are here to help. You can reach us on your preferred method below…
Request information And support
We’re ready to help. Please call us on 1800 REDKITE (Mon – Fri 9am – 7pm AEST), or fill out the form below.
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