Monday Motivation, it’s on! We see you, we feel it, we understand how challenging things are right now. If you’re a podcast person, listen to our Monday Matters content on our Spotify Grit Daily podcast channel. Or read on to get our Monday Motivation quick tips.
Studies show that your morning mood affects your productivity all day. Grit Daily is here to get your work week off to a good start. Pump your fists – it’s time for Monday Motivation!
A bad situation
Using the term, “a bad situation, to describe a global pandemic that has crippled our healthcare infrastructure and teams, caused unthinkable harm to hundreds of thousands of people and sent the markets and personal finances into a freefall is probably the understatement of the century. But, the point of today’s Monday motivation column is exactly that – how to make the most of a bad situation. All around the internet, we are seeing countless acts of kindness, humanity and inspiration.
Each post is a reminder of the importance of finding glimpses of joy, however fleeting, whenever possible. Worrying isn’t going to stop the bad stuff from happening – it just takes away our energy and robs us of those moments that we do have to find something to be grateful for, something to cherish or something to hold onto. Monday motivation is all about finding joy, trying to stay physically and mentally healthy, and how to keep going on that marathon – not sprint – called life. It ain’t easy!
Monday motivation tips to make the most of it
Everyone is experiencing challenges right now that vary from financial hardship to isolation from communities to stress. The latter is affecting everyone from healthcare workers and supply chain personnel on the front lines, to ordinary people trying to get through daily life with the “extras” of managing kids and spouses at home, remote work or whatever other issues they have. Not everyone has the means to escape to a bigger space, a remote cabin in the woods or even the luxury of strolling outside to bask in the warmth and glow of the sun.
So, what can you do? Monday motivation suggests these three tips:
#1 – create a wall of gratitude
Each morning, make your first task of the day writing down what you’re grateful for today on a sticky note or scrap of paper or journal. Maybe you’re not into creating a wall of sticky notes, that’s fine. Put each note in a jar or basket or bowl. That way, whenever you’re feeling low, you can look at the list you’ve generated and it will prompt your mind and body to respond favorably and give you a little boost.
#2 – plan something special each day
Recognizing that options are limited, you’re going to have to get really creative here. Dig in; deep. Perhaps you play a board game with those in your household or you do a virtual coffee or lunch meet-up. Whatever it is, plan to do the activity at a certain time tomorrow. That way, you have something to look forward to and to plan your day around. That event will also serve as the break you need from the daily monotony of self-isolation.
Monday motivation reminds you to STAY AT HOME!
My sister and brother-in-law planned one week of “special” daily activities that ranged from tapping trees to make maple syrup to snowshoeing to puzzle contests (set a timer, see who can fit the most pieces in a minute). Granted, not everyone can retreat to a remote cabin in the wilderness, but the same principles apply. Plan for the event-of-the-day, share the plan with your kids to get them excited about and looking forward to something special each day.
#3 – start doing your “maybe-one-day” items
Most of us have a mental list, or maybe even a physical list that gets longer each year, of a bunch of “maybe-one-day” items. Things like, pick up my old guitar and get back to playing or organizing thousands of digital photos into albums and backing them up. Maybe it’s reorganizing your junk drawer or clearing out your attic or unpacking those boxes that have moved with you the last few times but never been opened. Admittedly, some of these things are less than glamorous but many of us now have the time to get to them. And tons of generous people online are offering #createwithme programs on everything from how to paint to how to craft with kids. It’s out there – you just need to look.
Monday motivation is here with you, to support you and help you get through this global crisis. Nobody saw this coming and nobody knows where we go from here. But, if we stay focused on being united against the shared enemy – this evil coronavirus – and we remember to be kind and help each other, we’ll get through it.
Image provided by the author.
