I’m a 30-year-old woman and I have been feeling uninspired and lonely for the last few months. I used to be an early riser and quite active throughout the day. But now I tend to sleep till late and I feel lazy at work. On my off days, I tend to sleep a lot. I tell myself I will turn a new leaf from the next day but I haven’t been able to get back on track. What do you suggest I do?

 Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health

 It seems like you are going through adjustment stress, transition stress, or maybe even an existential crisis. You’ve been wanting to do things but aren’t being able to actually do them. I would like you to know that it’s completely normal sometimes. You must be going through some struggles which might have influenced passivity. I assume there’s a sense of hope in reality.

The first thing I recommend you do is try figuring out the reason for your loneliness. If you can’t fix the problem yourself, you can try the community behavioral approach that might help to fix your negative thought pattern and help you deal with demotivation and laziness. For disturbed sleep, low motivation, and the loneliness you are currently struggling with, you can try scheduling activities that you enjoy.  Also, it’s necessary to hold on to a sense of achievement to break the cycle of demotivation. You can start by setting short-term goals or by participating in social activities. Try building a sense of purpose and achieve the goal. It can help bring some much-needed positivity in your days.

 You should also work on sleep hygiene and control screen time before bed. Physical exercises like skipping, walking, and jogging also help us stay motivated, albeit subconsciously. Importantly, you should be mindful that this is just a phase and you will eventually make progress. I suggest you try working on both physical and emotional actions without burdening yourself. You can rely on your family and friends for support. Another great thing would be to spend some time in nature. If these measures aren’t helping you, then I would advise you to seek professional help.