Motivation in the Middle: Finding Energy in the Slower Seasons
(Image credit: Photo by Martijn Adegeest on Pexels)
By Helen Patterson
Somewhere along the way, we inherited the idea that motivation should be constant. That drive is something we should summon daily, in equal doses, no matter the season, no matter the state of our hearts or calendars.
In reality, motivation is not linear. It’s not a machine you switch on and expect to run at full speed, year-round. Instead, it’s more like a tide: coming in, going out, reshaping the shore as it moves.
And then July arrives.
The sun lingers, the inbox slows, the collective energy shifts. Suddenly, the drive we count on feels distant. Like it's sunbathing somewhere, unavailable for deadlines.
Dear friends, this isn't a failure. This is the rhythm. It’s the language your body speaks, and it’s always something worth listening to.
What Happens to Motivation in July?
There’s a reason you may feel a little softer around the edges right now. July brings with it a strange alchemy: the warmth of summer, the cultural lull of vacation season, the loosened structure of calendars and commitments.
Biologically, our bodies are responding to longer days, increased heat, and subtle social cues that signal it’s okay to slow down. Psychologically, we may be processing the first half of the year, quietly assessing where we are versus where we thought we'd be.
It’s a collective exhale. But if you're someone who ties motivation to momentum, it can feel disorienting.
You might ask yourself:
Why do I feel less driven right now?
Is this burnout? Laziness? Or something else?
How do I honour this slowdown without losing sight of what matters?
Redefining Motivation: From Force to Flow
What if motivation doesn’t disappear in July, but simply changes form?
Instead of the push, the sprint, the deadline-fuelled fire, maybe this month invites us into a different kind of energy: Reflection. Recalibration. Quiet inspiration.
Summer is nature’s version of a soft pause. Not a full stop, just a shift. Instead of powering through, it invites us to check in. Not just with our to-do list, but with our why.
This is a moment to ask:
What still feels aligned?
What feels dry, or forced?
Where is my energy asking to go next?
Motivation that comes from force rarely lasts. But motivation born of alignment? That’s renewable.
The Relationship Between Impact and Motivation
Often, when we feel unmotivated, it’s not because we’re lazy or undisciplined, it’s because we feel disconnected from impact, in other words, from this thing that drives us from purpose to production. We’ve lost sight of who we’re helping, what we’re shaping, or how our work matters in the bigger picture.
In the quiet of July, we have a chance to realign with our sense of contribution. Not by doing more, but by remembering what’s underneath it all. What drives us isn’t the pace. It’s always the purpose.
Ask yourself:
Where does my work actually land?
Who benefits when I’m rooted in what I care about?
How can I return to that instead of chasing output?
Nervous System Check-In: Energy, Rest, and Realignment
Our bodies are often wiser than our calendars. If you're feeling mentally foggy, emotionally flattened, or just “off,” your nervous system might be waving a gentle flag: Not now. We’re not meant to sprint indefinitely. Motivation dries up when we ignore our natural rhythms.
So, what would it look like to work with your nervous system this month?
A few practices to consider:
Micro-check-ins: Ask yourself mid-day, What do I need right now: focus, movement, connection, or stillness?
Somatic cues: Are you holding your breath? Are your shoulders creeping up? A few deep belly breaths can shift more than you think.
Low-pressure reflection: Try journaling with the prompt: “What wants to emerge through me right now?”
Let nature lead: Step outside for 5 minutes. Let the sun reset you. Notice how your pace changes with the wind, the heat, the light.
Motivation often returns when you stop chasing it and start tending to what’s already within you.
Conclusion: Let July Be What It Is
July doesn’t ask you to sprint. It asks you to soften, to listen, to recalibrate, to remember that motivation is not always fire, it’s sometimes water, sun, or stillness.
And maybe, in this moment, your only task is to stop demanding your energy to perform, and start asking it to speak.
Because when you meet your motivation with curiosity (not control) you just might find that it was never lost. Just waiting to emerge in a different form.
Here’s to letting July be what it is. To trust the slower seasons. And to remember that even in stillness, you’re still becoming.