How to Push Through When You’re Losing Motivation During Hard Times

It’s Hard to Stay Motivated. It’s Hard

I don’t like those shiny motivational images or quotes.

They seem cheesy to me. I’m being treated as a kid who constantly needs someone else to keep me going.

I get irritated when I catch myself watching motivational videos, thinking, “Why do I need this?

Why am I even searching for motivation in the first place?”

No matter how I approach things, I tend to drift from my chosen path. If it weren’t for a few key people keeping me grounded and focused, I probably would’ve quit long ago.

It took me some time to realize I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

Many people start strong, fired up and motivated, but still struggle to finish what they start.

It’s normal for motivation to fade, especially once the exciting parts are over.

Take building a tech startup, for example. In the beginning, everything feels new.

You design the system, build from scratch, and expand your skills. It’s fun. But once the core tech is stable and you’re working on the small, repetitive stuff?

That’s when motivation hits a wall. You begin to question whether the excitement will ever come back.

The work becomes routine, and progress feels less visible. That’s when it’s easy to doubt yourself or lose sight of why you started.

But it’s also a chance to reframe your mindset and find value in the consistency.

Sometimes, showing up on the hard days matters more than how inspired you feel.

I’ve seen others on Koi Fortune forums mention the same crash.

You go from sprinting to dragging your feet, wondering if you’re even on the right track. That drop-off is real—and a lot more common than people admit.

We tend to lose motivation when we’re not genuinely connected to what we’re doing.

The toughest lesson for me in staying motivated is realizing I must do boring tasks. I see difficult work as a reward now.

I stay motivated by thinking of the features that we get to build next. I get excited.

My top motivational resources are my co-founder’s support and my team’s strong drive. Having two founders is smart.

If one loses motivation, the other can help boost them up.

I’ve been told many times that I’m not communicating enough or that I’m not doing enough in a certain area.

That feedback pushed me to refocus and stay on track.

I constantly try to create difficult tasks that don’t put the business at risk. I’ll look for something that challenges me.

I want to learn new skills and help the company grow its products.

Yet, there has to be a balance. Nothing is perfect, and there will always be surprises ahead.

I also break down tasks into as small pieces as I can.

It’s hard to stay motivated when you don’t have a clear starting point.

So, it helps to break things down. After this, you’ll feel motivated to begin the task.

Once you break it down, the steps become clear and manageable. It’s not difficult tasks that can be broken down; seemingly simple ones can too.

Sometimes the hardest part is getting started, and small steps create momentum.

Over time, progress becomes visible, which alone can reignite your motivation.

And if all else fails, returning to your original “why” can remind you why you started this in the first place.

Progress Isn’t Linear

Another thing I’ve had to accept is that progress isn’t linear. Some days, you make huge strides.

Other days, getting through your to-do list feels like a win. And sometimes, you won’t make any progress at all—and that’s okay too.

I used to beat myself up over “wasted days,” but now I try to see them as part of the process. Burnout happens faster when you expect perfection.

What matters is that you come back to it. One off day doesn’t erase all the work you’ve done.

If you can’t stay motivated, you’re not alone. It’s a problem everybody faces, and it’s hard to understand why.

We all go through periods when we don’t know how to do anything. Hopefully, my experience can help you.

Conclusion

Motivation is not something that energizes you always—it’s about continuing when you don’t.

It’s about learning to continue when you don’t. It’s about structure, encouragement, and gradual movement.

I’ve seen motivation wilt.

Discipline, a supportive group, and a compelling mission can propel you forward in challenging times.

You’re not alone in this. Starting a startup, living a creative dream, or showing up daily can be tough. Many people are in this with you. You are not alone, making it up as you go along.

What you need to continue doing most is showing up, even when it doesn’t feel like it matters.

Progress is not usually going to be glamorous—it’s slow, steady, and often happens behind the scenes. And that kind of progress still counts.