How To Keep Going When You Feel Like You Can't Do It Anymore

It is not a secret — life can be overwhelming, hard, and challenging. Each of us has their own share of bitter and sour, and ironically, this is probably one of the most normal things about life.

We all have good days and bad days but what about weeks or even months of downfalls and other life trails? How do we keep going when we think we can’t do anymore?

I was sixteen when I started thinking about being a writer with all seriousness and determination. A girl that knew only few words in English dreamed to be an English-speaking writer; they told me, why would not you try to write in your native language first, but it is not we who choose the dream, it’s the dream that chooses us. I learnt it the hard way.

I have been always persistent and life dedicated to my dream and I know the days when you feel like you just can't do it anymore too well. But with all confidence I can tell; when you feel like you can't do it anymore, you have to lean in harder and keep going. Tiredness, doubt, fear — these are just moments of weakness that mean nothing at the end of the day.

If you feel like giving up is not an option for you, I have a good news for you. There are at least 4 things you can do to help the safe bubble grow back over you and return your passion to keep going forward on you dreams and life.

Now, before we get down to business, I wanted to mention my latest post on medium Efficient Guide To Decluttering Your Mind which is a perfect add to the matter. If you have not read it yet, I would strongly recommend you to have a look at it before you keep reading this post.

My top 4 secrets on how to keep going when you think you can't do it anymore.

I respect workoholics, but:

Take a break.

For a long time, I had a prejudice about taking a break. Without even realizing it, I considered a break as a from of empowerment for weakness and laziness. Taking a break, I foolishly believed, was not much different from giving up. Why would you let yourself chill if you have so much work to do, right?

No, not right.

Working non-stop is not a guarantee for success. It is a foolishness. — Franka's wisdom

In my latest post on medium, I mention Greg McKeown's book Essentialism where the author masterfully delivers the idea of achieving more by doing less. And before you get all sceptical about the concept (after all, it is well-know fact that those who work more get more), I would highly reccomend you to have a look at the book and try to use some of the offered by the author techniques to see its magic in work.

Learning to take short breaks during your working days and at least a day off every week will be benificial not only for your mental health and stamina in general but (not matter how paradoxically this may sound) for the progress of your work as well.

Find a new source of inspiration.

It can be anything; art, nature, people, motivational quotes, ted talks, or new spiritual ideas — anything to help you see the light where all you see is darkness.

I like to visit new places, watch people or listen to podcasts with real people and real stories. It helps to readjust my mind and look at things from a different angle.

Here are two of my favorite podcasts I would like to share:

The #FearBoss show—a podcast by Judi Holler.

You can also check her book: Fear Is My Homeboy

And Don't Keep Your Day Job—a podcast by Cathy Heller.

Redefine your goals and dreams.

Dreams and goals tend to get blurry over time. What inspired and motivated us before can easily lose weight in the days of monotone work and emotional struggles.

To prevent it, you need to wipe the glass of your focus from time to time and redefine what is it that you are aiming for?

I have talked about journaling before and what can be more effective in redifining your dreams and goals than that?

When what you do and your life in general loses its sense, take a break, find a quiet plae and recreate your dreams and goals on paper. Orginize them (Greg McKeown's book can be a great help with it as well), create a detailed plan, write your whys and hows, and finally, put your mind back on the rain, clearing as much of the road ahead as possible.

Connect with other people.

Social media, friends of friends, even random people at your local supermarket (that is if you are bold or desperate enough) can help your mind switch from the dead-end siding to a break through mode.

Don't close up. We all are different but yet the same.  And as highly social creatures we need other people to live emotionally healthy lives.

Now, when you feel like you can't do it anymore, you have 4 powerful methods to help you keep going. Don't give your life to the moments of weakness even if you feel like it is the only thing you can do. And remember: 

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” ― Confucius