You Don’t Need to Be Motivated—You Just Need a Plan
- Conner Spangler
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
How small steps and intentional structure can help you show up on the hard days
Some of the best advice I’ve ever received: You don’t need to be motivated, you just need to have a plan.
We all have those mornings.
The ones where the sky is gray, your sleep was restless, the dog woke you up in the middle of the night, and you feel... meh.
It’s not quite Monday (full of fresh-start energy), not quite Wednesday (halfway to the weekend). It’s just a regular Tuesday, and you’re not feeling it.
Maybe work is a struggle. Maybe you’re preparing for a tough conversation. Maybe there’s no big reason at all, but the motivation just isn’t there.
What Even Is Motivation?
Motivation means something different to each of us.
To me, it’s an energy—a spark that fuels your day. A sense of purpose, of joy, of drive toward something meaningful.
It’s the anticipation of seeing smiles as people walk through the door at an event I’ve been planning.
It’s the fulfillment of watching a coaching client make a life changing realization.
It’s the fun of working out alongside people I love.
It’s the quiet contentment of knowing my work supports my family.
But what about the days when that spark doesn’t come naturally?
You Don’t Have to Feel Motivated—You Just Need a Plan
So how do you:
Show up at work when you’d rather stay in bed?
Go for the run even when your energy is low?
Have the hard conversation even when you’re unsure how it will go?
Start that project you’ve been avoiding?
You make a plan.
When you’ve built a plan in advance—when you know what steps to take—you don’t have to rely on motivation to carry you. You simply follow your own roadmap. And often, once you get moving, that spark you were missing starts to come back—not because of what you’ve achieved, but because you showed up.
Let’s walk through an example.
A Real-Life Example: Executing Without Motivation
Let’s say I wake up and feel meh. But I know I have to prep for a presentation I’m giving next week. Here's how I might approach it, even on a day when motivation is missing:
Pre-Work: Create an environment that feels good
Make my favorite cup of tea to make my space feel cozy and inviting
Light a candle in my office
Morning: Develop presentation content
30 minutes: Brainstorm ideas
1 hour: Organize brainstorm into key sections
1 hour: Draft a rough outline for slides
Midday: Recharge intentionally
Eat lunch
Walk around the block
Play with the dogs for a quick hit of sunshine and movement
Afternoon: Bring the outline to life
15 minutes: Browse and choose a slide deck template
1 hour: Plug in content
1 hour: Add visuals and final touches
Final 30 minutes: Do a dry run-through and note any edits
Sure, there are still emails, meetings, and distractions in the day—but when I carve out time to focus, I don’t have to decide what to do next. I’ve already decided. I just show up and follow the plan.
Motivation Is Fleeting. Structure Is Consistent.
The truth? Motivation is a feeling. And feelings are fluid.
But structure—structure can support us when emotions waver. It’s consistent. When you create it, it’s always there.
So what might this look like for you?
Maybe it’s starting your day with a grounding morning routine.
Maybe it’s blocking 2–3 hours of focus time in your calendar every week.
Maybe it’s writing out your three most important tasks the night before.
Maybe it’s building in a midweek reset to check in with your goals and energy.
You don’t need to wait for motivation to magically appear.
You just need a plan.
A Few Questions to Reflect On:
How do you define motivation? When do you feel it most naturally?
What kind of structure helps you stay grounded—even on “meh” days?
Where can you give yourself grace when you’re not feeling it?
Where is an area in your life where making a plan might be helpful?
Let your structure carry you until motivation shows up again.
And when it does? Capitalize on it.
You’re capable of showing up—even without the spark.
