We all face those moments when we feel like we’ve hit a wall. Everything seems overwhelming and your best just doesn’t seem to be enough.

But that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel. You find a way to keep going, to do your best even when you’re totally over it.

In this quest, I’ve discovered a few tricks that can make all the difference. Here are 8 effective ways to fuel that spark and keep doing your best, no matter what.

Stick around as we navigate the art of perseverance in this article, “The art of doing your best: 8 ways to keep going when you feel totally over it”. Tune in, you might just find the motivation you’ve been in search of.

1) Embrace self-care

This is not one of those points where we just say, “Take a bubble bath and you’ll feel better.” It’s much deeper than that.

Self-care goes beyond moments of pampering. It’s about setting boundaries, taking breaks, nourishing your body with good food, and practicing mindfulness. It’s about treating yourself with respect and understanding.

The truth is, you can’t run on empty. And when you feel like you’re totally over it, it often means you’ve been neglecting self-care. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Reviving your self-care routine could mean going for a walk in nature, getting more sleep, eating healthier, or simply taking time out to relax. These acts of self-care fuel your resilience and help you carry on, especially during tough times.

Remember to put yourself first. As they say on airplanes, secure your own oxygen mask before helping others. Only when you are replenished, can you do your best and keep going even when you’re totally over it.

2) Find your ‘why’

One of the most powerful ways to keep going, even when you’re totally over it, is to find your “why”. Understanding why you’re doing what you’re doing can be a major anchor in rough seas.

For me, it’s writing and sharing inspirational insights with people. There have been countless times when I have been sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and on the brink of burning out, with a ton of unwritten articles staring at me.

In those moments, I retreat into my ‘why’. I remind myself of the joy that someone might get from reading my work. That maybe they’ll feel less alone in what they’re going through or get inspired to make a positive change. That I’m not just writing words, but I’m reaching out to humans with their worries, dreams, and hopes.

Suddenly, the insurmountable goal of “finish the article” becomes “share a little light today”. My ‘why’ pulled me through when surrending would have been much easier.

So, find your ‘why’. It will carry you through the late nights, the rejections, the failures, and most importantly, moments when you’re totally over it. Connect with your purpose. It’s your best bet to keep going.

3) Practice mindfulness

When you’re feeling totally over it, your mind may be crowded with thoughts about past failures or future worries. However, dwelling on the past or future only increases stress and anxiety levels. And this is where mindfulness comes in.

A seminal study by researchers at Harvard University found that people spend approximately 46.9% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they’re doing. Interestingly, this mind-wandering typically makes people more unhappy.

Mindfulness is the art of slowing down and living in the present. It allows you to confront your problems head-on rather than endlessly worrying about them. It’s about immersing yourself in the task at hand, focusing on the process rather than the outcome.

A daily mindfulness practice, like meditation or deep-breathing exercises, helps build resilience and reduces anxiety. It equips you with better focus and emotional flexibility to navigate through tough times. By being fully present, you’re able to do your best, even when you feel totally over it.

4) Tap into your support network

When you’re feeling completely over it, it can be incredibly helpful to have a support network to lean on.

This could be trusted friends, family members or even professional counselors. Sharing your concerns and struggles with someone who genuinely cares about you can lighten the burden.

Beyond providing emotional support, they might offer a fresh perspective, provide valuable advice or simply lend a listening ear. They will remind you of your strengths and capabilities, and how far you’ve come.

Don’t shut yourself off when you are going through difficult times.
Reach out. Remember, it’s okay to ask for help. Doing your best doesn’t mean you have to do it all alone. Having a strong support network around you can make a world of difference, especially when you’re totally over it.

5) Celebrate small victories

When we set out to achieve massive goals, it’s easy to feel discouraged by the mountainous journey that lies ahead. We can feel over it before we’ve even started.

But every big goal is reached not in one giant leap, but in many, small steps. And it’s important to recognise and celebrate these mini accomplishments, no matter how tiny they seem.

Finished a tough work assignment? Celebrate. Managed to maintain your composure in a stressful situation? Bravo! Finished a page of that book you’ve been intending to read? Congrats! Every step forward is a victory, each one bringing you closer to your final goal.

Celebrating small wins boosts your morale, keeps you motivated and validates your efforts. It also helps build confidence and a can-do attitude. It reminds us that progress is progress, no matter how small.

So, cherish your small victories. They’re the heartbeats of your big dreams. Let them joyfully echo in your journey, especially when you’re totally over it and thinking about giving up. These are your reminders that you are moving, growing, evolving. And that’s worth celebrating.

6) Adopt a growth mindset

There are two kinds of mindsets – fixed and growth.

Years ago, I found myself stuck in a fixed mindset. When struck with failure, I’d blame it on my abilities or talent, believe I just wasn’t cut out for it, and then wallow in disappointment. It was exhausting and definitely made me feel over it way too often.

Then I came across the concept of a growth mindset.

People with a growth mindset understand that skills and abilities can be developed over time. That failure is not a reflection of their worth but a stepping stone towards growth.

Adopting a growth mindset changed my perspective. I began to see challenges as opportunities to learn, not tests I needed to pass. Failures turned into lessons. I started valuing effort and perseverance, not just outcomes. And that shift was liberating.

Having a growth mindset means having the courage to keep going, to keep learning, no matter how many times you stumble. It allows you to do your best, even in the most challenging of times, even when you feel totally over it. And it leads to resilience and fulfillment in the long run.

So remember, the key lies not in throwing yourself against the wall, but in learning how to climb it.

7) Break things down

When you’re working towards a big goal, it can feel overwhelming. The sheer thought of the entire journey stretched out in front of you can be stifling and make you feel over it before you even begin.

Instead of focusing on the entire mountain, focus on the immediate climb. Break your overarching goal into smaller, manageable parts.

For instance, if you’re writing a book, don’t obsess over the entire process. Break it down into chapters, then into paragraphs, and finally, into sentences. Take it one step at a time. Celebrate every little milestone as you accomplish it.

Not only does this make the task at hand seem less daunting, but it also provides you with a pathway. It makes the goal concrete and achievable, reducing feelings of overwhelm and burnout.

Remember, every big accomplishment starts with the decision to try, followed by the perseverance to keep going, one small step at a time. Break things down, and even the most formidable tasks become possible.

8) Practice gratitude

In the noise and bustle of life, it’s easy to lose sight of the good things. We often focus on what we lack, what we’re striving for, and forget to acknowledge what we already have.

Gratitude gives you perspective. It forces you to pause and appreciate the good in your life – it could be a strong support system, good health, or a streak of perseverance that refuses to die down.

When faced with hardships, practicing gratitude can serve as a beacon of hope. It sheds light on the positive aspects of your life and cultivates a sense of contentment and resilience. It allows you to tap into your inner strength and keep going, even when you feel totally over it.

Gratitude isn’t about denying the hardships but accepting them as part of your journey, while also recognizing the growth and gifts along the way.

So irrespective of where you are in your journey, remember to take a moment, breathe, and acknowledge the good. Because there’s no better time to be grateful than when you’re in the midst of the storm, fighting to keep going.

The real victory: Perseverance

The most critical aspect of doing your best and persisting, even when you’re truly over it, is fundamentally about perseverance.

As the famed American inventor, Thomas A. Edison once said, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

The art of doing your best isn’t about reaching the pinnacle right away or succeeding in the first try. It’s about the will to get up each time you fall, to keep learning, improving, and most importantly, to keep doing.

So, in your journey of accomplishments and dreams, remember that the path to triumph and fulfillment isn’t a sprint to the finish line, but a long and enduring marathon.

Let the hurdles and struggles not deter you, but empower you to strive and thrive. The spirit of perseverance, to keep going even when you feel totally over it, that’s the true triumph, even when victory seems far away.

Every step forward, every ounce of effort, is a testament to your strength and courage. As you navigate through your challenges and dreams, remember, the real victory is not just in reaching the destination, but in the journey itself. The journey made up of countless seconds of resolve, resilience, and most importantly, perseverance.

Keep going, one step at a time. And in the end, the journey will be worth it.