The Inevitable Wall…

I don’t know about you, but every now and then I hit a wall. Not a dramatic wall. Not a life-crisis wall. Just… a “blah” wall. A “why am I tired for no reason” wall. A “I know I should be doing something productive but the couch is pulling me in like a magnet” wall.

And here’s the thing: our teens hit that wall too.

They just show it differently—sometimes with silence, sometimes with snark, sometimes with complete horizontal collapse under a blanket while scrolling TikTok.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about motivation—how quickly it can disappear, how stubborn it is to rebuild, and how often we forget that motivation isn’t a personality trait. It’s a resource. It runs out. For all of us.

We talk so much about getting teens motivated, helping them build passions, encouraging them to be curious, pushing them to explore the world. But what about us? What about the adults who are supposed to be guiding them… while also managing work, household chaos, exhaustion, decision fatigue, and the emotional intensity that comes with raising teens?

Sometimes we lose our spark, too.

And that doesn’t mean something is wrong.

It just means we’re human.

The Myth of Endless Motivation

Somewhere along the way, we absorbed the idea that we should always be energized, inspired, and full of drive—like we’re walking Pinterest boards. But motivation isn’t a constant; it’s a cycle. Teens cycle through it. Adults cycle through it. Even the most passionate, disciplined people cycle through it.

So when you hit a low-motivation season, aka Post-Thanksgiving and Pre-Christmas…instead of panicking, judging yourself, or forcing productivity… pause and ask:

What is this season trying to tell me?

Because low motivation is usually information:

• You’re overwhelmed.
  

• You’re stretched too thin.
  

• You need rest.
  

• You need inspiration.
  

• You need a reset.
  

• Or you simply need to not be “on” for a minute.
  

Your body and brain aren’t lazy—they’re communicating.

Modeling Something Better for Our Teens

Our kids watch how we move through these seasons, more than we realize. They see:

• how we handle burnout,
  
  

• how we bounce back (or don’t),
  
  

• how we talk to ourselves,
  
  

• whether we take time to rest,
  
  

• whether we honor our limits.
  
  

Teens don’t need parents who are perfectly motivated all the time.

They need parents who are real.

Parents who say, “I’m having a low-energy week. I’m regrouping.”

Parents who show that it’s okay to pause, reset, and start again.

That’s emotional wellness. That’s intellectual wellness. That’s resilience.

Finding Your Spark Again

If you’re in a slump, here’s the permission slip you didn’t know you needed:

You don’t have to feel motivated to take the next small step.

Motivation doesn’t come before action.

Motivation comes from action.

Even tiny action.

Try one of these today:

• Go for a 10-minute walk.
  
  

• Clean one drawer.
  
  

• Start the thing for five minutes—set a timer.
  
  

• Watch or read something inspiring.
  
  

• Talk to someone who energizes you.
  
  

• Do something that reminds you who you are outside of your roles.
  
  

Little sparks become flames.

Your Spark Isn’t Gone

It’s just dim.

It’s resting.

It’s waiting for you to notice it again.

And the truth is, you don’t lose your spark—you lose access to it.

But it always comes back.

Even when you least expect it.

So if you’re feeling unmotivated lately… same.

But we’re still showing up.

We’re still moving forward.

We’re still modeling for our kids what it looks like to be human.

And honestly? That’s pretty powerful.

Your exhausted friend,

Caitlin