I don’t know about you guys, but man has my motivation plummeted. I, like all of you during the first week of 2021 had my manifestations written down in my new planner. I was ready to take on the new year with concrete intentions. Now, we are in week two of 2021 and I am stuck, I have 0 motivation to strive for a goal. The knowledge was 2021 not being too different from 2020 was in my brain but, a girl can dream.
This past week which is not even over yet has been a struggle. I am still remotely teaching from home and I am talking to myself for 40 minutes. The middle schoolers have not been too chatty and I can’t blame them. I personally don’t want to converse on a computer all day but, I do because it is my job and I have bills to pay. In all realness though, I also do it because I want to be there for my students. I am unfortunately losing the gas in my inspiration tank. I have 20 miles left with no gas station in sight. I am a true Gemini that needs constant stimulation to feel alive and that has been hard to find.
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Alas, I am a problem solver at heart and I want to be motivated again. I want to wake up with some excitement and purpose to achieve my goals. If you have been feeling the same vibe trust me you are not alone. Humans are not meant to stare at a computer screen all day and be stagnant. Our beings are meant to be creative and interactive. That’s what ignites our motivation, human connection.
Now in these times, human interaction is scarce so here are some things I have been doing to spark goal getting while working from home.
- Set your scent! Create a motivating environment to complete your tasks. To set up my day I first light a candle. The scents of candles I enjoy are lavender and gardenia. Both smells provide a spa-like peacefulness. I purchase my candles from Marshall’s and Target for about $10. I buy in bulk because those bad boys are burning all day!
- Set your scene! An organized space can lead to a clear mind. Making your bed is completing a task to set off your productivity. Try to work near windows or outside if you can to embrace the sunlight.
- Set your soundtrack! Our bodies react to auditory and visual stimulants. Play your favorite playlist or podcast to get your focus in gear. I am currently listening to a Lo-Fi Chill playlist on Spotify and it is sending me vibes. Lo-fi is slow hip-hop beats that give off a claiming background noise for anyone who wants to complete work or study. I listen to multiple podcasts throughout my day as well. My current favorite is “Thick and Thin” by Katy Bellote. The theme of her podcast is talking about going through relatable life events and giving her own advice. I highly recommend it.
- Set your style! In the morning I shower to wake myself up and I get dressed. The vibe of my work from home style is cozy-chic if you will. Comfy loungewear or athleisure. I miss getting ready for work but, these options will do. I love wearing comfy slippers to feel like bougie CEO working from home. Do not work in pajamas, your brain associates that wardrobe with relaxation, not motivation. Your brain will not want to complete any tasks if it thinks you’re going to bed soon.
- Set your status! I’m a HUGE advocate for planners! I have a great planner from “DoingWellDaily”. Each morning I create a list of the tasks I need to complete for the day. I know planners aren’t for everyone so, you can use a regular notebook as well. Make a list in order of priority that you must complete today for work, school, or family. I plan for about 10–15 minutes. I also write down 3 things I am grateful for and a quote to inspire me for the day. I write about the little things I a grateful to encourage appreciation of my life where it’s at. Today I wrote, “ I am grateful for quiet mornings, hot coffee, and the sunrise.” The quote that inspired me was “Today I will focus on what I can do.” Set up your intentions to tackle the day! Make a plan and stick to it. Holding yourself accountable can be a major motivation for some people. Another way to set the status of your brain is to read for 10 minutes. I personally enjoy Self-development books to encourage me to get going! The book I am currently reading is “I Didn’t See That Coming” by Rachel Hollis.
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Now again, these 5 habits have helped me increase my motivation when life seems dull. They may not work for everyone or maybe one just works for you. However, even if one speaks to you, try it. See where it takes you and how your mentality and focus react to it. Now, I still have days where I just want to lay in bed and watch Netflix believe me but, these small rituals I have implemented into my daily routine have made an impact.
As Katy Bellote said, “ We are not the writers of our lives but, the editors.” What she means is we can’t always control what life throughs at us but, we can choose how we react to life events. Every day is a choice to keep moving forward and try to get through these trying times. I believe in you though! Grow your mindset and see how far you’ll go!
Do What You Can With All You Have, Wherever You Are. — Theodore Roosevelt
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This post was previously published on Medium.
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Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash