Overwhelmed & under-motivated.

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you look at everything on your plate, feel the weight of it all … and then do nothing? You’re not alone. Lately, I’ve been hearing a new theme bubbling up in our community: handlers who feel both overwhelmed and under-motivated.

At first glance, those two feelings sound like opposites. But together, they create a powerful paradox that can leave us stuck.

The paradox trap

Here’s what’s happening.

• Overwhelm floods our brains with too many choices, too many to-dos, and too many expectations. When everything feels urgent, it’s hard to see what actually matters.
• Under-motivation kicks in when our mental and emotional energy tanks are running on empty. Even simple tasks feel like heavy lifts.

When overwhelm collides with under-motivation, it’s like spinning your wheels in the mud. Lots of effort, no progress. And the more we stall, the worse we feel.

Why we feel this so deeply

Dog sports add extra layers to the paradox. We’re not just juggling life and work — we’re also balancing:

• Training plans for multiple dogs.
• Competition weekends that can blur into one long “Groundhog Day.”
• Big goals and title pressures that make the fun stuff feel like obligations.
• The weight of comparison, watching other teams look like they have it all together.

And here’s the kicker: our dogs pick up on our energy. If we’re stressed and unmotivated, they feel it in training sessions, which only adds to the spiral.

Breaking the cycle

So how do we dig out when the paradox sets in? The key isn’t to wait for motivation to magically reappear. The key is to break the cycle with tiny, intentional actions.

1. Clear the mental clutter

Get everything out of your head and onto paper. Seeing the list in black and white helps separate the “musts” from the “maybe laters.”

2. Shrink the action

Instead of “fix our weaves,” try “do three fun reps today.” Momentum builds from the smallest steps.

3. Reconnect to purpose

Pause and remember why you’re in this sport. Titles are nice, but the real joy is training, learning, and being with your dog.

4. Add joy back in

Play a silly game, teach a trick, or just go for a sniffy walk. Refilling your emotional tank often brings back the spark.

A bigger reframe

Here’s the mindset shift: motivation doesn’t come first. Action does. Taking even the smallest step breaks the paradox. Over time, those steps rebuild momentum, and momentum reignites motivation.

If you’ve been feeling both overwhelmed and under-motivated, you’re not broken and you’re not alone. It’s just a signal that it’s time to reset. So this week, pick one tiny, joyful action with your dog. Not because it’s on your to-do list, but because it reminds you why you love this sport. Momentum starts there.