Get Inspired Every Monday

It hardly seems possible.

When Sunday evening rolls around, you’re either mourning the end of another all-too-short weekend, or you’re stressed about all the things you have to do in the coming week. Two cups of coffee before your first meeting might help, but the motivation doesn’t last long. A study in England even found that local workers didn’t crack their first smiles until after 11:00 a.m.*

So here are 4 ways to get yourself, not just motivated, but inspired on Monday.

Find a goal to excite you.
Focus on a single goal that you can get excited about. Something that will make a difference, to the company or to you personally. When you get excited about something, it’s easier to feel motivated. Laura Vanderkam, author of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, takes time on Monday to plan out 6 to 8 priorities for the week. Even if your week becomes hectic, by planning your priorities on Monday, you’ll still be ahead of the game.

Seek inspiration from others.
Sit down with the web for a few minutes on Sunday evening. Watch a TED Talk. Read your favorite blogs. Get caught up on your social media sites. Or talk with a loved one. Inspiration comes from unexpected places, often when you’re not even looking for it. And you can’t be inspired unless you interact.

Find inspiration in nature.
For millions of years, humans have turned to nature for inspiration. Being outside can have a positive affect on your attitude. So take your dog for a walk on Sunday evening. And bring a camera along. You might see something that captures your imagination. Or simply relax outdoors and consider the things that really matter to you. You’ll get yourself in the right frame of mind to start the work week.

Accentuate the positive.
It’s all too easy to focus on the negative when facing the daily grind. Refocusing those thoughts, and making them positive, can really make a difference. Now, that doesn’t require walking around wearing rose-colored glasses. It simply means you envision positive outcomes. Motivational entrepreneur Tony Robbins takes time at the beginning of each week to remind himself how thankful he is for what he’s accomplished during his career.

Other tips include using your weekend to reset, taking advantage of commute time, starting the week with an early workout (something Barak Obama and George W. Bush both recommend), building some fun breaks into your day, or simply cleaning up your work area.

Oh, and if all else fails, sing in the shower. There’s no better way to pump yourself up for a Monday meeting than belting out your favorite tune.

* The Telegraph – Monday mornings so depressing you won’t crack a smile until 11.16am