As time passes, that sense of demotivation fades
You begin to evolve, rising with a new perspective and readiness to move forward.
Based on my own experience, I’ve observed two main types of inactivity that stem from low spirits:
1. Complete Inaction — When you feel unable to do anything at all.
2. Selective Inaction — When you’re unable to do certain things, though you are capable of doing others.
The first type rarely lasts long. You can’t stay entirely inactive — life doesn’t allow it.
Eventually, necessity forces you to act.
Small actions let you begin to heal. This is why action is often the best antidote to a low phase.
Initially, I created this system to manage my writing-related tasks. Later, I realized this could be useful in life itself.
So, I developed a larger framework — a prioritization model I now use to manage my energy and actions during periods of low motivation.
This is a motivational action plan, based on what I call the 5 Ps of Work.
The idea is simple: break your possible actions into five flexible categories.
These are just helpful guideposts. Use them as you prefer to stay active, regardless of how motivated you feel.
Keep rotating between these types of actions so that your engagement with life never fully pauses.
Assign yourself tasks from these five categories daily. Ignore fluctuating motivation levels and focus on simply staying in motion.
The 5 Ps of Work
1. Prime or Priority Work.
This includes urgent, critical, or time-sensitive tasks. It’s the “next right thing” to do at the moment. It could be something as trivial as buying a small item while you’re already at the market, because skipping it would mean an unnecessary return trip.
Priority is contextual. What’s urgent at one moment may not matter the next day. So, act based on current needs. Doing these tasks avoids the mental burden of carrying forward small, uncompleted actions.
2. Productive or Profitable Work
These are tasks tied to your profession or core responsibilities. This includes your regular work — the things that define your professional identity.
Unless you’re seriously unwell or dealing with an emergency, you should stay consistent with these tasks.
These actions are usually governed by rules, deadlines, and external standards. You probably already have your own system for managing them. Don’t abandon that — just remember they’re one of the pillars that keep life moving.
3. Purposeful or Process Work
This includes actions aimed at achieving long-term or specific goals, like taking out an insurance policy, starting home renovations, or completing paperwork tied to legal or formal procedures.
These are often multi-step tasks that follow rules, timelines, or application processes. Sometimes, they may overlap with your priority work or become profitable under special circumstances — for example, taking advantage of a limited-time offer or completing a step that adds financial value later.
4. Pending Work
Review tasks that have been left incomplete, recent, or even long-forgotten. We all carry these. If you don’t see any pending work, think or search again to find any.
With some memory pressure, you find some.
Once you identify them, sort and list them. Work through the list gradually, depending on your comfort and time availability. Completing pending tasks often brings a surprising amount of relief.
5. Passive or Pastime Work
We often ignore many low-priority tasks. These tasks can be remarkably soothing when completed.
I remember a time when my computer was out for servicing. I had finished my paperwork, but still felt off. So, I picked up a bag of old papers and manuals. I had left it long before to sort them later.
I began sorting through them and found the activity deeply satisfying — it helped me forget the discomfort I was feeling when these were kept pending.
Action brings clarity. Action brings healing.
And most importantly, action brings transformation.
(This post was originally published on my Medium blog and is now shared here for my Blogger readers.)
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