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10 Ways To Snap Out Of Apathy

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Apathy is described as the absence of emotion. It’s like white noise or dead air. You feel as bland as a piece of flavorless tofu. Not happy. Not sad. Not angry. And definitely not passionate.

You may have heard people say that they knew they were no longer in love when they stopped getting angry. The relationship had lost its spark, love had vanished, and it wasn’t worth the effort to get angry anymore.

10 Ways to Change If You’re an Apathetic Person

1. Start with perspective

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Apathy is a temporary state of being. It doesn’t define you. You aren’t lazy, passionless, stupid, boring, unmotivated, or any other label you give yourself while you feel apathetic.

Apathy doesn’t define who you are, just how you feel right now. You won’t feel this way forever.

2. Define the cause

man sitting at table no motivationman sitting at table no motivation

If possible, try to identify the trigger or cause of your apathy. Was there a specific event that made you feel this way?

Do you feel hopeless about something significant in your life? Is there a pattern of negative thinking that is bringing you down?

Reflect deeply on why you are experiencing apathy and see if there is a clear cause. It may not be obvious, but understanding it can be helpful.

3. Change the things you can

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If you have identified a cause or trigger for your apathy, consider what actions you can take to address it. Are there changes you can make or steps you can take to eliminate or reduce the cause?

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Make a list of these actions and start brainstorming practical ways to implement them. Taking control of even small aspects of the cause or trigger can give you a sense of empowerment, which can help break the cycle of apathy.

4. Create small disturbances

Regardless of whether you know the cause of your apathy, start introducing small disruptions into your daily life and routine. Mix things up a bit. Change the order of your morning routine.

Arrive at work earlier. Strike up a conversation with someone new. Break out of your usual routine. While familiarity can be comforting, it can also contribute to feelings of apathy and monotony.

5. Create a mood

woman dancing, how to be happy againwoman dancing, how to be happy again

Put yourself in environments and around people who energize you as much as possible. Is there a specific room in your home that brings you positive energy? Spend time in that space.

Does music uplift your mood? Play more music. Are there individuals who bring out the best in you, make you laugh, and lift your spirits? Make an effort to spend time with them.

Consciously place yourself in settings that do not feed your apathy.

6. List past joys

woman writing, career change at 50woman writing, career change at 50

Sit down and reflect on past experiences that filled you with excitement and enthusiasm. List events and situations from both your personal and professional life.

Next to each experience, identify the specific aspects that contributed to those positive feelings. For instance, if it was a work project, you might note that it made you feel valued, involved creativity, and fostered collaboration.

Identify the emotions and values that these experiences instilled in you.

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7. Find the low-hanging fruit

man at desk working on Mac find a job you loveman at desk working on Mac find a job you love

Take a closer look at your current life to identify areas where you might be overlooking opportunities that could rekindle those same positive emotions and values. These opportunities could be present in your work, lifestyle, or relationships.

Determine if there are areas where you could invest more time and attention to revive feelings of engagement and motivation, or at the very least reduce feelings of apathy.

8. Pick one thing

young woman painting hobbies for women in their 20syoung woman painting hobbies for women in their 20s

If you have been considering different ideas and interests but are unsure which one to pursue or dedicate time to (hence your apathy), align them with the emotions and values you identified in point #6.

Which of these interests has the potential to evoke the same level of engagement and enthusiasm you experienced in the past?

If you’re still uncertain, that’s okay. It’s rare to be completely certain about anything. Just choose one to focus on for the time being.

9. Break it down

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