Searching for Motivation this Blue Monday?

Searching for motivation? If you are feeling like your get up and go has got up and left, you are not alone!

I am usually the cheerleader of the group. Normally, I am positive and motivated, but I have to admit, I have been struggling the past two weeks. Usually, I find it easy to wake up and get going but lately, I’m finding it difficult. And you know what? That’s okay.

There is A LOT going on right now — most of us are back in lockdown and in many areas, mine included, it’s a stay-at-home order. All of us are in similar states but we all have different challenges: home schooling, caring for or worrying about elderly parents, feeling isolated while living alone, the list goes on. And all of these situations can suck the energy out of any normally motivated individual.

I’m not here to give you a pep talk about learning a new skill or pushing yourself beyond where you’ve never gone. I’m here to share a few tips that I’m trying, that may or may not help you to keep moving forward and get through whatever lockdown you are currently on. I also hope you’ll share your tips with me too!

First and foremost, be kind to yourself. We are all dealing with A LOT. I suggest you figure out what self-care is for you and make time for it! And I’m not talking about carving out an hour to exercise (although that definitely helps me). It can be as simple as five minutes to practice some breathing techniques (we shared this breathing exercise in December) as a start. Finding that time and actually doing it likely means scheduling it into your day so block time in your calendar and protect that time! You know what they say, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so fill ‘er up!

And that leads me to my second recommendation, setting boundaries. If you’re working from home, try and separate your work time, and space (if possible), from your home time and space. Sure, we all need to respond to the odd message now and then but the expectation shouldn’t be that you are on the clock, around the clock.

Another tip is to get organized. This is one of my goals for 2021. I want to get organized in all areas of my life so I started with my inbox. I have a confession — I am one of those people that used to have an inbox number in the thousands – so over my break, I took some time to weed through my inbox and now my goal is to ensure at the end of every week I clear it out as much as possible. Being unorganized makes me feel overwhelmed and maybe some of you can relate. I find if I’m not organized, I can spend a lot of time spiraling about everything that needs to get done. But when I’m organized, I just move from one task to the next without really thinking about the long list below it and I find I get more done that way.

Another thing that really helps is staying connected. I propose reaching out to a friend or colleague and set up a chat to just touch base.. Share how you’re doing and be honest. Sometimes it helps to know that you are not alone in how you’re feeling and maybe the person will have strategies that worked for them that they can share. Sometimes just connecting with a friend and laughing is the best medicine.

Also, don’t underestimate the power of moving. It doesn’t have to be something overly challenging but going for a walk outside can work wonders for your mental health. Even just getting up and stretching throughout the day can have a great impact and help you recharge. And with that, stay hydrated. Water helps everything and it can definitely keep you energized.

Lastly, cut yourself some slack — recognize that getting by right now is a win! You don’t have to make big changes or set big goals to accomplish, just give yourself permission to get by and celebrate that.

Those are a few tips and strategies that I’ve been trying. What are some of your strategies to keep motivated? Everyone is struggling so let’s share what’s working for us! If it can help one other person, well doesn’t that make you feel great?