Motivation is a funny thing. It can appear in full strength, seemingly out of nowhere. Or, it can be so hard to find that you think it is lost forever. As my husband recently said, this season’s mood can feel like the “lazy days of summer.” Perhaps you’re experiencing the desire to not do, not strive, but instead relax, enjoy, and stop accomplishing. You might want to enjoy BBQ time with friends and family, swimming in water bodies, or exploring new places. All of that is perfectly normal, especially after the year we’ve had. But if you are struggling with getting motivated and want to activate, I have some ideas to share with you. 

There have been several situations I’ve either experienced or observed where the motivation juices were stirred. Maybe one of these will resonate with you. The next time you’re in need, you’ll be able to tap into one of these strategies to help.

3 Helpful Ways to Increase Your Motivation

1. There’s Nothing Like a Deadline

Allison Samuels, Maker - Two Tree Studios

Are you more motivated to complete something if you are under pressure because of a deadline? I’m not advocating waiting until the last minute, but I have seen and experienced how a deadline imposed by the self or others can motivate us to get stuff done. Last week our daughter, Allison, had a gallery show opening at Room 68 in Provincetown with her beautiful “transformed objects.” While she worked on designing and conceptualizing the pieces for a while, the big push to complete them came close to the delivery date. One of the finishes she uses involves burning the wood, which creates a gorgeous black finish. It was as if the fire that brought the pieces into their final stages also lit her motivation to create them.

Motivation Takeaway:  If you’re having trouble activating, set a deadline. It might just be the fire you need to complete your project.

2. The Thrill of the Hunt

Lyle Puente, Chef - Put Some Meat On Your Bones

A few weeks ago was Father’s Day. One of the gifts I gave my husband was a date. An article we read and loved in Westchester Magazine about the best local food trucks inspired the gift. We picked a time to go, chose Steve’s favorite food truck, and ate a delicious lunch. Talk about seeing motivation in action. I watched as he deep dove into the article and created a list of his top four favorites with pros, cons, contact info, and more. He then reached out by email to confirm if they were open and where they were located. We took a walk first and hoped that someone would respond to his inquiry. We decided that even if no one got back to us, we’d chance it and hunt for one of the food trucks. His number one choice, Put Some Meat on Your Bones, owned by chef Lyle Puente, confirmed his location and hours. We were delighted, hungry, and motivated to drive to the truck. Those were the most delicious grilled cheese sandwiches we ever ate! 

Motivation Takeaway:  If your motivation is waning, consider how anticipation about trying something new can work its magic.

“If your motivation is waning, consider how anticipation about trying something new can work its magic.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO™

3. Clear the Decks Before Putting Your Luggage in the Car

Ocean Grove, NJ

I mentioned how summer is a prime vacation season. Especially because of the stay-in-place orders we experienced this past year, people want to travel. While vacations can be relaxing or enervating, they usually bring a much-needed break and change of scenery. But before we can experience those wonderful benefits, we need to prepare. There is planning, researching, reserving, list-making, organizing, doing laundry, holding mail, packing, and wrapping up last-minute projects. We can energize and accomplish even more when we attach it to this travel motivation. 

We have a few mini-vacations this summer, including going to the Catskills, the Cape, and the Jersey Shore. Before I go away, I like the house to be clean and organized. I call this clearing the decks. Pillows are fluffed, rooms get quick-cleaned, trash and recycling go out, desk papers are filed, bills are paid, electronics get unplugged, and the fridge contents are edited. Things get returned to their spots. Loose ends are tied up, which helps me let go physically, emotionally and enjoy the time away. This extra prep makes our place welcome-home-ready. After being away for a few nights or more, there’s nothing better than returning to a calm, relaxing home.

Motivation Takeaway:  If you’re finding it challenging to bring organization and calm to your living space, harness the motivational energy that comes with vacation prep to help you get there.

Are you feeling challenged motivationally? What helps you get motivated? Did one of these strategies resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

Summer is here. It’s the time for school endings, graduations, celebrations, travel, camp, visits with family and friends, BBQs, hot weather, and so much more. Many of us are taking time for a deep exhale and leaning into a much-needed break. Others are using this season to plan, organize, let go, and prepare for next. Perhaps your summer will include a combination of relaxing, working, and preparing. My virtual organizing clients are focused on editing, letting go, and getting organized, one paper, t-shirt, and tote bag at a time.

Last year, we didn’t take a vacation. The pandemic kept us close to home. But this summer with life opening up, we planned some mini-vacations. It feels fantastic to get away and return to work refreshed. On a recent trip to the Catskills, the place we stayed had wall quotes throughout the property. There was one by Ralph Waldo Emerson that stood out. It made me think about time, the seasons, and the seeds we sow. Emerson said, “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” 

“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our lives are limited by the time we have. Where and how we spend that time dramatically influences our lives. Consider the power of the single acorn. It can manifest “a thousand forests.” Its singularity of purpose yields an incredible result.

You can be that acorn. What if this summer, you focus your energy and time on one or even two areas of your life? What would you choose? What could you accomplish if you minimize distractions? Summer is here. What will your season yield? What seeds will you sow? There is no right or wrong response. You are the decider.

We can quickly feel overwhelmed with everything that needs our attention. Give yourself the gift of reducing your focus. What would that look and feel like? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

Have you noticed how many of our conversations these days are centered on change? My clients talk about making organizational changes in their lives to feel less stressed, cluttered, and overwhelmed. Friends and family talk about making personal and professional changes to discover new places, learn new things, or embrace a significant life transition. Even in yoga class, teachers and students have change-like thoughts on their minds.

Change is one of the topics I love writing and conversing about most. What I also have noticed is that while we might want change to happen, we are often less clear about how to begin. Also, we might wish to change, but we aren’t necessarily ready or willing to do what’s needed for that change to occur. So with these thoughts in mind, I propose three ideas to help you while you’re navigating that unclear phase. They revolve around the word wander.

3 New Ideas to Inspire Change

“Wander” mug

This time of year with colder, winter days, I’m a huge hot tea drinker. Even as I write this post, I’m in good company with my big cup of tea. There are several mugs that I prefer.  One of my favorites has the word “Wander” on the front. As I sip my tea, I’m reminded that while plans and direction are an essential part of my life, I also need time to wander and explore. While the opportunity for discovery is available at any moment, it’s primarily in these open, white-space times that I can be relaxed enough to be mindful of and notice what I might otherwise miss. So if you are not sure what change you want to make, give yourself some wander time and see what transpires from there.

“Not all who wander are lost.”

On one of my suitcases, I have a luggage tag with this phrase. When I travel, I like to know the details and timing for things. At least, I prefer to know the basics like the dates of travel, flight times, ground transportation arrangements, sleeping accommodations, and the basic structure for the time away. However, I don’t like to over plan. Trips can vary in nature if they are for business or leisure. And even though those types of travel have a different feel to them, I like to keep the “wander” concept in mind. Particularly when I travel, my antenna is sharper than usual. Being out of my typical environment, I’m more apt to notice new patterns, connect ideas, and open my thoughts to other possibilities. Consider how this phrase of “Not all who wander are lost,” can encourage you to infuse the unknown and exploration into your days at home or while traveling. Change ideas and clarity can be inspired from the most unexpected places.

“Lost, but making good time.”

One of the things my husband and I like to joke about is the phrase, “Lost, but making good time.” It comes up in many ways. For example, when we are driving somewhere new and get lost (yes, that still happens even when using Google maps,) one of us will say, “Lost, but making good time.” Instead of feeling irritated that we’re lost, saying these words makes us laugh. It takes away the stress and angst. When we first moved to the Hudson Valley, we frequently drove around to wander the area. We’d try getting lost on purpose. Again, one of us would say the phrase. We joyfully leaned into the idea of intentionally being lost. That’s what I offer to you. The change we seek isn’t always visible. We can’t force clarity. If you embrace the “lost” time, at some point, you will find your way to where you want to go. And sometimes we have to take the time to remain lost a little while longer before we can arrive.

What has inspired change for you? Do any of these ideas resonate? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to add a comment and join the conversation!

One of my great joys is writing. In addition to being a professional organizer, you might know me as a blogger, author or letter writer. For over 40 years I’ve also been a journal writer. Since I was 11 years old, I’ve filled many volumes with thoughts, feelings, observations, drawings and paintings. Journaling has helped me to clarify ideas, capture moments in time, and offer me perspective.

Aside from writing, another joy is revisiting my journals. Particularly when I’m traveling, I enjoy not only writing, but also going back to read about the past. Why go back? It helps me gain perspective, notice growth, identify themes, and discover areas for learning.

Just this past week, while taking a vacation with my husband to the lovely Delaware beach, I did some reading. I’d like to share one concept that I rediscovered. I wrote this as a way to help myself during a particularly full and challenging time. I offer it to you in the hopes that you’ll be able to access it when you need it.

When you're feeling overwhelmed and challenged, instead of saying,

“It’s so hard.”

Shift your perspective by asking,

“What can I learn?”

“What help do I need?”

How do you help yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed? What has helped you shift your perspective? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.