Lost your business mojo? Here are nine ways to get your inspiration back

Do you feel like you’re in a slump? Do you find yourself struggling to focus or making excuses to avoid work?

Running a business is tough, and no one can stay motivated all the time. The important thing is to recognise when you’re struggling and take practical steps to improve the situation.

This blog post shares simple ideas that can boost your energy levels and help you rethink how you run your business.

We’ve also listed some other ways to get help in case the problem is more serious.

1. You’re not alone

It’s important to recognise that every business owner goes through their own struggles. It doesn’t matter how confident they seem at events or what they post on social media.

One of the best ways to deal with a slump is sharing your struggles with another business owner or mentor. They have the context to provide useful advice and have probably experienced something similar.

Being vulnerable is part of building these relationships. Try sharing something you’re struggling with and ask to meet for a coffee – it’s amazing how helpful people can be.

2. Take a day off

The endless cycle of staff questions, marketing tasks and orders can feel like a merry-go-round. And, all too often, business owners don’t take enough time off.

Track your holiday, make sure you’re taking a sensible amount and take a day off when you need to; give yourself the space to recover, so that you can be at your best.

3. Focus on actions, rather than the results

Businesses are impacted by lots of external factors that are out of our control. From the inflation crisis to a bad debt, it’s deflating to be hit by something out of the blue.

If that’s happening to you, try to put the focus back on your actions – the things in your control. Be confident that working to your best ability will create progress.

That might mean taking the time to change your approach to sales or setting out what you want to achieve in the next 100 days.

4. Take a break in nature

Spending time outdoors has been linked with physical and mental health benefits.

WWF’s A Prescription for Nature research found that spending just 20 minutes per day in nature is enough to improve your wellbeing.

If you’re in a slump, try taking a hike, doing some wild swimming or spending time in your local park.

5. Recognise when good is good enough

Business owners tend to be perfectionists. We want everything to meet our high standards and showcase our brand in the best possible light.

The constant pursuit of perfection can diminish the joy of building a company. Try to take a step back and appreciate how far your product or service has come.

6. Revisit your original motivation

There’s a reason you started your business. Perhaps, you turned a passion into a company or wanted to make an impact on the world.

Whatever that driving force is, it’s worth reminding yourself of that passion.

T&S Consulting founder Tarnia Gonzo uses Vroom’s Expectancy Theory to understand motivation:

“In simple terms, it says we’re motivated when we believe our effort will lead to a result that matters.”

Read her article on staying motivated.

7. Transform your workspace

Our environment has a massive impact on our mood.

Spending time improving your workplace is a healthy way to take a break and reset how you think about work.

That could mean having a good clean, adding some plants, changing a window display or getting organised.

Lorraine Lewis Lawton from SpaceSense stresses the importance of being organised:

“It's really important not to have clutter in a workspace.”

8. Remind yourself of what’s going well

It’s easy to get fixated on the things that go wrong, so make sure you recognise your accomplishments too.

That could mean looking at old reviews and awards photos, or reflecting on the progress you’ve made since you launched the business.

Saving screenshots of positive feedback and testimonials is a useful way to build the habit.

Thinking about how you built your business

We’ve outlined tactics that can help you deal with a slump. But what if those negative feelings persist?

Better Happy Business Club coach Mike Jones says business owners should question themselves if the feelings of frustration last for several months:

“When you think about your business three to 12 months out, are you excited about what it means to you or are you feeling stressed and trapped?

“Is my business making me happy? Am I excited by my business? Have I got a clear vision in my mind of where it’s moving me and my lifestyle?”

He adds that if there’s a strategy issue, something wrong with the way you’ve built the business, then the kind of short-term tactics described in this article won’t work.

Making long-term changes

Mike’s approach to helping frustrated business owners is to return to their personal goals.

“Give yourself permission to be sensibly selfish: we like putting other people first, but for it to work, it has to give you what you want. How do you need to structure your business to provide that for you?”

How to get help if the situation is more serious

It’s normal for business owners' energy levels to ebb and flow. If you think it’s more serious than that, there are a number of resources you can use to get more help:

• The NHS has a guide to accessing mental health services

• Mental health charity Mind offers advice on mental health for small workplaces

• The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy has a Therapist Directory and explains how to approach a search

Related resources

• Beating the summer slump with self-actualisation (Enterprise Nation article)

• Tips on how to stay motivated and focused in difficult times (Enterprise Nation article)

• Lunch and Learn: Transform your workspace to be more creative and motivated (Enterprise Nation webinar)

• The pressure no one talks about as a business owner (Enterprise Nation article)

• How to free yourself from the daily grind (Enterprise Nation webinar)