When You Just Don’t Feel Like It: Lack of Motivation & Drive

By Dr. Rafay

For some, the winter blues linger longer than expected, stretching into the season of April showers. As we enter a time often associated with setting new goals, spring cleaning, and preparing to be our best selves for summer, many find themselves retreating under the covers—drawn back to familiar routines. This is especially true after giving our all during Ramadan, which often falls just a few weeks before spring.

Doing a Lot, But Getting Nowhere

Many of us feel drained by our current routines, making it seem nearly impossible to move forward with the goals we've been repeating to ourselves for years. The mindset often becomes: “If I’m already exhausted by what I’m doing now, adding workouts, reading, or attending more masjid events will only make me feel worse.”

It’s a common trap. That line of thinking can quickly snowball into a lack of motivation and a persistent sense of just not feeling up to it. However, if we are feeling exhausted by our current routine, it may be due to the fact that we are participating in activities that offer short term bliss, in exchange for long term aimlessness. The most obvious activity being social media and endless scrolling.

Once you are able to identify and slowly withdraw from the activity that isnt adding benefit to your daily routine, and instead is leaving you feeling unmotivated and lethargic, step by step adding in one of your goals like working out or reading 10 pages of a book seem more attainable.

Recognizing Your Capabilities

Allah (SWT) has made our souls capable of maintaining outside of Ramadan what we were able to achieve during it. Rather than viewing Ramadan as a spiritual peak that can only be reached once a year, let it serve as motivation—a reminder of what we are capable of when we commit ourselves fully. This isn’t to say you won’t have days where you stay in bed, scrolling endlessly. But the goal is that those days no longer define your routine.

It’s easy to lose sight of our values. Where do we want our careers or education to take us? Which relationships do we hope to nurture? How are we spending our free time, and in what ways do we want to grow personally in the coming years? I can’t tell you exactly what will work for you, or when you’ll, in shā’ Allāh, feel motivated again. But revisiting your values is never a bad place to start. And when the discomfort of ghafla—aimlessness—and laziness begins to sink in, don’t ignore it. Hold onto it. Let it push you forward.

Taking the First Step:

1. Start Small and Stay Consistent

Don’t overhaul your whole routine overnight. Instead, commit to one small beneficial habit—like praying your sunnah prayers or reading two pages of Qur’an a day. Small actions done consistently are beloved to Allah.

2. Replace, Don’t Just Remove

It’s not just about cutting out distractions—it’s about replacing them with meaningful alternatives. Swap endless scrolling with a walk, a short podcast, or reaching out to a friend.

3. Anchor Your Goals in Your Values

Revisit your “why.” Whether it’s your health, your family, or your faith—reminding yourself of your values can reignite the drive to show up for yourself.

4. Be Around Energy You Want to Reflect

Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be better. Attend a local halaqah, join a group workout, or connect with friends who are also working on themselves.

5. Make Du‘a and Seek Allah’s Help

Motivation comes and goes—but divine help doesn’t. Ask Allah to grant you strength, clarity, and consistency.

And remember the words of the Prophet ﷺ:

“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless.”

— Sahih Muslim 2664