If you want to be more motivated and less passive in life, say goodbye to these 8 habits

Ava Sinclair by Ava Sinclair | December 8, 2024, 10:08 pm

Ever wonder why some people seem to be full of drive while others feel stuck in neutral? It’s not about luck or “natural motivation.”

The difference often comes down to habits. Certain daily behaviors can drain your energy, kill your momentum, and leave you feeling like life is just happening to you instead of you taking charge of it.

The good news? Motivation isn’t some magical force you either have or don’t have. It’s something you can cultivate — and sometimes, that means letting go of habits that are quietly holding you back.

These habits might seem small or harmless, but over time, they add up and keep you in a cycle of passivity.

If you’re ready to break out of that cycle, start by recognizing which of these habits are slowing you down. You don’t have to tackle them all at once — even letting go of one can spark a major shift.

Here are 8 key habits to leave behind if you want to live with more motivation, purpose, and energy.

1) Staying in your comfort zone

Being motivated and active in life means stepping out of your comfort zone, right? But sometimes, we find ourselves clinging to the familiar and settling for the status quo.

Many of us have this habit of staying where it’s comfortable. It’s safe, predictable, and easy. But is it pushing us forward? Probably not.

If you constantly find yourself choosing the path of least resistance, then it’s time to reconsider. It’s like being in a relationship with mediocrity – why settle for that when there’s a whole world out there waiting for you?

A life filled with passion and motivation is never built on what’s comfortable. It’s built on challenges, risks, and the willingness to embrace change.

Saying goodbye to your comfort zone isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. This is one habit that needs to go if you want to be more motivated and less passive in life.

2) Procrastination

Ah, procrastination — a silent killer of motivation. It’s a sneaky habit that creeps up on us, slowly draining our energy and productivity.

I remember this one time when I had an important project to finish. It was daunting, and rather than tackle it head-on, I found myself doing everything else but the project. I reorganized my desk, binge-watched a series, even deep-cleaned my kitchen!

Days turned into weeks, and before I knew it, the deadline was looming over me like a dark cloud. The stress was unbearable. I managed to finish the project in time but at a huge cost – my peace of mind.

Countless sleepless nights, endless cups of coffee, and frantic last-minute work are something I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. That was the moment I realized how damaging procrastination can be.

Today, whenever I catch myself putting off important tasks, I remember that experience and it propels me to act immediately.

Procrastination is definitely one habit that needs to be left behind if you want to be more motivated and take charge of your life.

3) Neglecting self-care

Oscar Wilde once said, “To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” And boy, was he right!

Falling into the habit of neglecting self-care is a surefire way to dampen motivation. It’s like trying to run a marathon without staying hydrated – you’ll eventually burn out and lose steam.

I used to be one of those people who would put everything and everyone before myself. I thought it was selfish to take time out for self-care. But then I realized that you cannot pour from an empty cup.

In order to have the energy and motivation to pursue our goals, we need to take care of ourselves first. This means eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and taking time off when needed.

So, if you’re neglecting your self-care, it’s high time you started giving it the importance it deserves.

Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship in your life. Don’t let this habit hold you back from living a more motivated and proactive life.

4) Being overly critical

Did you know that the average person has about 60,000 thoughts per day? And according to some researchers, as many as 70% of these thoughts can be negative.

This habit of being overly critical, especially towards ourselves, can be a major roadblock in our journey towards motivation.

It’s hard to get going when there’s a constant nagging voice in your head that keeps telling you you’re not good enough, or that you’re bound to fail.

So, if you find yourself being overly critical, it’s time to let go of this habit. Start practicing self-compassion and positive self-talk. Believe in yourself and your abilities.

After all, you can’t expect to be more motivated and active in life if you’re constantly bringing yourself down.

5) Living in the past or future

One of the biggest motivation-killers is constantly dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

When your mind is stuck in “what could have been” or “what might happen,” it’s nearly impossible to take action in the present. People who stay motivated know that the only time they can control is right now.

Living in the past often looks like replaying old mistakes or regrets in your head. Maybe you think, “If only I had done things differently…”

But here’s the thing — you can’t change the past, and focusing on it drains your energy.

On the flip side, living in the future means obsessing over “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios. This kind of mental time travel keeps you in a state of anxiety, making it hard to take action today.

So either way, you’re stuck. 

The most effective way to stay motivated is to focus on the present moment. Ask yourself, “What’s one small thing I can do right now to move forward?”

It could be as simple as sending an email, making a decision, or taking the first step on a new project.

By letting go of the past and future, you free yourself to take action in the only time that matters — right now.

6) Lack of goal-setting

Imagine setting off on a road trip with no destination in mind. At first, it might feel freeing to just go with the flow.

But after a while, you’d probably start to feel lost, unsure of where you’re going or why you’re even driving.

Life works the same way. Without clear goals, it’s easy to drift from one day to the next with no sense of progress or purpose.

People who don’t set goals often feel stuck, passive, or unmotivated. Why?

Because goals give your mind something to aim for. It’s a proven motivational technique — they provide direction and purpose, like a compass guiding you toward a specific destination.

Without them, you’re more likely to fill your time with distractions or low-effort tasks that feel like “being busy” but get you nowhere.

The good news is, goal-setting doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need a 10-year master plan.

Start small. Ask yourself, “What’s one thing I’d like to achieve this week?” Write it down and break it into smaller, doable steps.

Each small win builds momentum and motivates you to keep going. Once you see yourself making progress, it’s hard to go back to feeling passive.

7) Not taking action

Let’s face it: motivation isn’t going to magically appear out of thin air. It comes from taking action, no matter how small.

Many of us have this habit of waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect opportunity before we take action.

But here’s the thing: perfection is elusive, and waiting for it can leave us stuck in a state of inertia.

It’s a lot like wanting to swim but never getting into the water. You’re never going to learn that way. The key is to dive in, start paddling, and gradually you’ll learn to swim.

If you’re not taking action because of fear of failure or rejection, remember that every successful person has faced these fears and overcome them.

So say goodbye to inaction and start taking steps towards your goals. Even small steps can lead to significant changes over time. After all, as Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

8) Not believing in yourself

At the core of it all, the most crippling habit that can hold you back from being more motivated and less passive in life is not believing in yourself.

Doubting your abilities, questioning your worth, underestimating your strength – these are all manifestations of this habit. 

I’ve met many talented individuals who’ve missed out on great opportunities simply because they didn’t believe they were good enough. It’s heartbreaking, really.

Believing in yourself is essential for motivation. It fuels your drive to:

  • Set goals
  • Take action
  • Care for yourself
  • Stay positive
  • Live in the present
  • Step outside of your comfort zone

So you see, everything hinges on self-belief!

If you’ve been doubting yourself, it’s time to let go of this habit. Start acknowledging your strengths, embrace your flaws, and most importantly, start believing in your capabilities.

You are stronger than you think, more capable than you know, and worthy of all the success and happiness in the world.

And once you start believing that, there’s nothing that can stop you from being more motivated and less passive in life.