How should I cope if everything in life feels unmotivating and meaningless? 

Hello, 

Thank you for your question! 

Feeling that everything in life is meaningless and heavy, and experiencing a lack of motivation, is something we all encounter at times—some more often than others. It is completely normal and part of being human. Feelings such as low mood, sadness, and grief are there to help us pause, reflect on why things have turned out the way they did, and seek support from those around us. At their core, these experiences are neither strange nor wrong—in fact, they are healthy and important. We need these emotions to gain perspective and, over time, find new ways to cope with what feels difficult. In that sense, low mood can fundamentally help us, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. 

The problem arises when feelings of meaninglessness, low mood, and lack of motivation persist over a longer period, and we begin to avoid things, become passive, and get stuck in excessive rumination. Life then gradually shrinks, and eventually we may feel trapped. 

A first step in such a situation is—just as you are doing by asking this question—to recognize that it has become a problem. This means noticing that something isn’t working, that a change is needed, even if you don’t yet know how that change should happen. Reaching this insight is often both the most important and the most difficult step. 

When you feel low, tired, unmotivated, and everything seems meaningless, it often becomes especially hard to move forward. The positive feelings and thoughts that usually motivate us to act are not as strong. In such cases, it can help to work “from the outside in,” meaning acting the way you used to when you felt more motivated. Getting started can feel very heavy, though. It can be compared to pushing a large stone up a mountain. The first steps uphill rarely bring any immediate reward. In the moment, it often feels much easier to do nothing and instead go downhill. You may therefore need to do things even when they don’t feel enjoyable or stimulating at all. Over time, however, you may begin to notice small changes—perhaps a sense of relief after getting outside, or a moment of calm after completing something important. As you continue pushing uphill, the steps become somewhat easier. You begin to sense meaning again in what you are doing. Eventually, when you reach the top, the stone almost rolls on its own. From there, it’s downhill, and life can begin to feel more alive again. It is only when you start acting that your feelings can begin to change. 

A common misconception is to wait for motivation, desire, or the “right feeling” to appear before starting to do something. But if you remain in the valley hoping for change, you won’t get anywhere. You need to start moving—despite how heavy it feels. 

In this process, a first step can be to seek help and support. This might mean reaching out to close friends or family to talk about how you are feeling and receive support. A next step could be to contact a psychologist or counselor. If you begin to have thoughts that life is not worth living or that you cannot go on, it is important to seek help immediately, for example through a primary care provider or emergency services. 

Take care of yourself, and I hope you begin to take your first steps toward feeling better. 

Student Health Counselor