He’d get up at 5:30 am to exercise, have a light breakfast and do some research on his business.
For the first month and a half, he stuck to his new routine. It felt empowering; Michael was motivated to get out of bed to get a jump start on his day.
What he didn’t expect, however, was that he’d run out of steam. As the weeks went on, Michael felt worn out by the grind.
And little by little, his motivation slowly drained away. Instead of bolting out of bed, he went back to hitting the snooze button to get “five more minutes.”
But it stretched out to an hour, and just like that, he went back to his old ways.
Michael didn’t know what was happening to him.
Why was he so pumped when he started out – only to be so demotivated shortly after?
So, he looked into the topic of motivation to understand what was going on.
Michael realized that motivation is a finite resource.
It was up to him to find ways to sustain that drive and keep going. After that, Michael got back on the old horse and gave it another shot.
Michael managed to find a way to deal with the ebb and flow of motivation he felt throughout the week.
Whenever he was running on empty, he knew how to fill his tank again.
Motivation can be elusive for a lot of people. As much as we’d like to have that feeling on tap, it just seems to dry up every now and then.
Motivation can make a massive impact on your life. Without it, it’s way harder to accomplish your goals and make your dreams happen.
A study from a network of universities in Spain shows that the neurochemical dopamine plays a crucial role in motivation. Dopamine used to be only associated with positive emotions, but as it turns out, it also affects your desire to get things done.
What happens is that this hormone fires in the brain while anticipating a desired outcome. This, in turn, can motivate a person to make that outcome happen.
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In another study, scientists found that rats were more likely to go through obstacles to get to some food if they had higher levels of dopamine.
This shows that the feeling of motivation is something that comes from inside us. However, there are also external factors to consider.
And if you can put these together, you’ll create a healthy cycle. With that, let’s a look at how you can inject more motivation into your life:
#1: Jumpstart Your Dopamine Production
Physical activity is one way you can directly influence your brain chemistry and set the stage for feeling motivated.
Exercise is a great way to trigger the release of feel-good hormones. Aside from dopamine, there’s also serotonin, adrenaline, and endorphins that can put you in a state of post-workout bliss.
Don’t underestimate the link between your overall health and mental well-being. These have a direct effect on your level of motivation, so make the time for cardio and other related activities.
But you don’t need to have an elaborate workout routine or splurge on fancy equipment and a gym membership. You can sweat it out on a budget by going on YouTube and making a playlist of basic exercises.
Talking walks are also incredibly beneficial, too. And best of all, you can spend as little as 15-30 minutes a day doing this.
As you keep up this routine, you’ll feel better about yourself and feel motivated to do more. Suddenly, you’ll find the time for longer workouts and start doing other exercises as well.
Try doing it with other activities like watching TV or listening to an inspiring podcast. Also, you can do it during your work breaks to stay energized throughout the day.
Starting with baby steps makes it less overwhelming to get into this habit. Ease yourself into it, and you’re more likely to build traction and stick to it.
#2: Get Inspired
Another way to light that fire inside you is by looking to other people who have the level of success you want. Study their process and the steps they took to get where they are today.
Chances are they have a book, video blog, podcast or some other medium where they teach other people to follow in their footsteps.
Reading about their accomplishments and learning their story is an external source of motivation you can internalize.
Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) uncovered a phenomenon where you can create what they call “intrinsic rewards” by observing other people.
When you see someone enjoying what they do, that feeling is almost contagious.
So in a way, these people can actually pass their motivation onto YOU.
#3: Get In The Driver’s Seat
Studies also show that the more you feel in control of a task or project, the more motivated you’ll be to see it through.
On the contrary, feeling forced to do something drains your energy to get it done.
Most people don’t realize they act like their own boss and crack the whip on themselves.
Not only is this approach demoralizing, but it’s also incredibly demotivating.
Instead, try this little exercise:
Imagine negotiating with yourself, like a worker would with his or her boss. Discuss the things you need to get done today or this week and figure out what you’d get out of it.
In this dialogue, start off by telling yourself, “Ok, so you need to come up with five business ideas today and choose the best one. Also, you need to do cardio for 15 minutes, either in the morning or afternoon.”
Then you’d say, “Ok, but if I do that, I get to watch an hour of Netflix or catch up on my book… whichever I feel like doing later.”
After you’ve gone back and forth and worked out the terms, you can shake on it and get to work.
By giving yourself options to choose from, you’ll feel more empowered – which, of course, boosts your motivation in the process.
Further research from the APA shows that you have a higher chance of getting work done (by up to 90 percent, in fact) by breaking down your big goals into smaller, specific tasks.
By quantifying your goals with a specific metric (e.g., do 30 pushups and 10 burpees in 30 minutes), it feels more concrete and doable.
Once you have these mini-goals in place, you can start tackling them one by one.
Write your big goals, then make a list of related tasks under each one. Do this a day in advance (like the night before) so you can hit the ground running first thing in the morning.
Then, as you chip away significant chunks from your overall goal, the more motivated you’ll feel.
Every time you accomplish one of these smaller, specific goals, you’ll be rewarded with a small dose of dopamine.
This will give you the push you need to keep going until you’ve cleared all of your tasks.
#5: Visualize Your Future
While it’s crucial to get motivation from accomplishing your goals, it’s also helpful to give yourself a dopamine boost before getting started.
As such, you’ll find that it’s hugely beneficial to develop the habit of creating a vivid picture of your desired outcome.
Spend about 5-10 minutes every day visualizing yourself enjoying your dream life as if it’s happening now.
Like we discussed earlier, rats are more motivated to overcome those obstacles, just by anticipating the reward for doing it.
In the same way, thinking about the results of your hard work will release neurochemicals that will get you pumped for the task ahead.
Think about what it would FEEL like to finally get your big goals done. Imagine the people in your life congratulating you and complimenting you on your efforts.
When you know exactly what’s waiting for you on the other side, you’ll suddenly lose all the excuses that were holding you back.
#6: Positivity In, Negativity Out
Your beliefs also have a great deal to do with being motivated. Perception is a dominant force, and it can dictate the very course of your life.
Aside from visualizing the outcome, giving yourself the right beliefs is also an effective way to design your reality.
Affirmations are an excellent way to do this. These are statements you can repeat to yourself so you can rewire your belief system.
A lot of people operate on destructive beliefs because of bad experiences from the past.
As a result, they go around carrying labels like “loser,” “hopeless case” and “damaged.”
Going through life with this kind of baggage won’t just destroy your motivation…
… but undermine everything you do every step of the way.
That’s why you need to rewrite that story in your head by using powerful statements.
Here’s how to get started:
Think about the qualities you have that will help you accomplish your goals. Also, think about the things you’re grateful for.
Use these thoughts as the basis of your affirmations. These will remind you that you have what it takes to break past your limitations.
As with visualizing, pretend that it’s happening at the PRESENT moment – and not at some point in the future.
That way, you’ll feel empowered from knowing that you’re living that great truth here and NOW.
Here are some examples of affirmations you can use:
– Every day, I am getting stronger, smarter and healthier.
– I am a strong person who can deal with every obstacle and challenge that I encounter.
– My life is filled with infinite opportunities to succeed, and I make the most of them every day.
– I am surrounded by people who love and support me, and they want me to succeed.
Feel free to use affirmations or create your own. The more detailed, the better.
It’s more effective when you say these affirmations (either out loud or in your mind) right after doing your visualization exercises. You can do them right before going to bed or make it part of your morning ritual.
All of these habits have helped me plug the leaks in my “motivation tank.” If I’m feeling a bit jaded, fatigued or burnt out, I make sure I’m doing each of these steps enough so I don’t run on empty.
On top of staying motivated, however, there’s one more habit that got me out of my own funk.
You see, like Michael, there was a time where I couldn’t overcome that inertia I felt. I was successful and fulfilled on the outside, but people around me didn’t know I felt burned out and desperate.
I started to feel like an impostor… until I accidentally came across a life-changing secret.
By making a small but powerful change in my mindset, I suddenly found the power to become the most authentic version of myself.
And more importantly, I could attract every opportunity without working 80 hours a week.
Just like that, all sorts of blessings flowed into my life effortlessly.
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With all that goes on in today’s frenetic modern world, all the responsibilities and challenges related to parenting and other pressures,
We have to take time to reflect and take better care of ourselves.
“To be a good parent, you need to take care of yourself so that you can have the physical and emotional energy to take care of your family.” – Michelle Obama
Many times, we get bombarded with our work duties, other obligations, and community activities also.
We should not wait until we have reached a breaking point to purposefully begin to take better care of ourselves.
“Women have to take the time to focus on our mental health – take time for self, for the spiritual without feeling guilty or selfish. The world will see you the way you, see you, and treat you the way you treat yourself.” – Beyonce.
If you don’t catch yourself in time, frustration, anger, anxiety, and even depression can creep in and reap you of all your joy and happiness.
There are so many self-care activities available to improve our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
They include spiritual activities like praying, mental activities like practicing mindfulness, and physical activities like healthy eating, and frequent exercising.
These 17 ways to take better care of yourself can help you know how to let go and BREATHE.
What is Self-Care?
Self care is about extending the same kindness, love and grace you willingly and sacrificially show to others to yourself without feeling guilty about it.
Check this scenario out;
It’s 11:00 pm. You silently close your child’s bedroom door, grateful he finally lost the battle against sleep.
As your eyes dart from one stack of dirty dishes to another stack of unfinished projects, you feel bone-tired.
Your mind is a thick molasses. Waves of weariness wash over your heart.
You don’t even know where to start processing today’s argument with your children or spouse, the social media argument about complicated world events, and your argument with yourself about what tasks are most important.
Tears slip out of your eyes as waves of guilt and failure wash over you.
If you have struggled to know how to take care of yourself as a mom, you are not alone.
During the COVID – 19 era, when churches, therapist offices, and support networks are closed, you could have tried to figure out how to take care of yourself emotionally.
Trying to care for yourself should be a natural and God-given instinct.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:29-30 said, “Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. For we are members of His body.”
God understands that humans naturally nourish, treasure, care for, and feed their bodies. He knows we automatically comfort, warm, and tenderly watch over our bodies.
But with children, marriage obligations, and work clamoring for our attention, we need more than our natural tendency to care for ourselves.
“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Jack Kornfield
It’s not us. Sometimes we are always on the go, being a “superwoman.”
As humans, we are created with limits. Immense relief comes from humbly recognizing that you are not God.
Experiencing God will help you get a better understanding of His sovereignty as He reveals Himself to you.
Hannah Anderson, in her book, Humble Roots, says that we are often tempted to a “pride that desires to live beyond natural human limitations… We buy the lie that we could be omnipotent, always virile, never tiring, never needing rest. We buy the lie that we could be omnipresent, always available, never distant, never missing out.”
Often, we think we can be perfect fun moms, involved in every activity, and providing our children and families with every opportunity.
We act like super moms, sometimes inflicting the notion that nothing will get done if we don’t do it.
And when we do, we become exhausted and drained.
Remembering our limitations—and humbly accepting them as an expression of our faith and dependence on God—is an important step towards wholesome self-care.
We don’t take care of ourselves because we’re selfish, proud, or egotistical. We take care of ourselves because we humbly admit that we’re not all-powerful—we’re not God.
With this in mind, I hope you can examine yourself and your environment and decide to start to take better care of yourself!
In Genesis 1:28, God called humans to steward the earth and all of creation.
Have you ever thought about your body as being a part of all creation?
Hannah Anderson points out, “You may have never thought of steadying your body as part of the call to steward the earth, but it’s not that much of a stretch. We are, after all, made from the earth, a mixture of minerals and elements that have only been made alive by the quickening Spirit of God.”
Along with your responsibility to take care of your children, your job, your ministry, you have a responsibility to take care of your body.
God desires for us to be healthy and strong and to take care of our bodies, mind, and spirit. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.” – 2 Corinthians 6:19.
Fuel your body with healthy eating habits and supplements that are vital in sustaining your immune system and general well being.
Eat healthy home-cooked meals instead of ‘fast’ food.
Don’t unnecessarily tax your body. Give it the rest, nutritious food, and exercise it needs.
Don’t forget to drink significant amounts of water to stay hydrated. Water is very good for the skin, it helps digestion and boosts your immune system.
#3. Find Joy In Simple Things
God has created many beautiful experiences for us to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17 says that God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
In his book, Pure Pleasure, Gary Thomas encourages believers to find pleasure in food, family, fellowship, and more.
He says that when we search for legitimate, healthy sources of pleasure, we will be less likely to fall into temptation and illicit pleasures.
Even when we go through very difficult times, we should look for the simple joys that are all around us: the sun on our faces, the smile of a child, or the gentle song of a flowing stream.
Looking for joy in simple pleasures is an important way to take better care of yourself.
You can look at old pictures, listen to your favorite songs, volunteer your time at a charity you like, get a massage, indulge in a bubble bath, join a women’s weekly prayer group or enjoy the benefits of your favorite essential oils and candles.
Work/life boundaries have never been more important than they are today.
In a cultural shift away from remote jobs and towards in-home jobs, work has more potential than ever to invade every minute of our personal lives.
If you work at home, seek to develop a predictable schedule about when you will work and when you will relax.
Communicate to others when you are working and when you are “off.” When you’re relaxing, take it seriously.
Don’t even open your computer or your work email. Keeping your work from invading every minute of your day is critical in self-care.
#5. Process Your Pain
Unresolved pain, grief, or shame tend to sneak out in ways that are devastating to your body, soul, and health.
You may lash out at others or distract yourself with work to try to avoid difficult memories or thoughts.
Learning how to take care of yourself emotionally is critical for self-care.
Address even the seemingly small things that might seem insignificant like losing a twin sibling before birth, infertility, having a miscarriage, having a best friend move away, or betray you.
Acknowledge your grief. Talk to supportive friends and spiritual leaders. It’s been said that a problem shared is a problem halved.
Often communication with people gives you exactly what you need to hear for you to continue your journey in taking better care of yourself in the most positive way.
Read books on healing. Go to a therapist. Addressing your emotional needs is critical for truly relaxing and taking better care of yourself.
#6. Just Say No
“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” -Anna Taylor
In Luke 4:42-44, crowds were begging Jesus to continue healing and helping them. But he said no. He had to move on to other towns and preach there.
He didn’t allow himself to be dissuaded by popular opinions or by the demands of friends or society.
Instead, he simply moved on, “for I was sent for this purpose.” Jesus had a clear sense of purpose and values.
Tim Elmore recommends writing down five of your most important values and using them to help you make decisions in gray areas.
Eliminate parts of your life that don’t fit your values as a part of your self-care regimen.
Just learn how to just say no and don’t feel bad or guilty about it.
#7. Taking Time to Be Quiet
Taking time to be quiet is an important part of any self-care love routine.
Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.”
Psalm 62:5 tells us to wait in silence for God.
Then Psalm 131:2 speaks of the importance of stilling our souls before God.
Many Bible passages encourage us to live a quiet life (1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Peter 3:4, and 1 Thessalonians 4:11).
Make time in your life for silence before the Lord.
Wait on him and try to connect to Him from the heart. Still your heart and acknowledge that it’s not all up to you—it’s up to Him!
This implies telling yourself that you are going to pause and slow down at intermittent times during the day.
Try to relax, go to a quiet place in or outside the house, look around you, close your eyes, and take deep breaths in and out several times.
You’ll notice that you will feel more relaxed before you start off again.
#8. Meditation
Even if you don’t subscribe to the common cultural views of meditation, you can still follow the Biblical command to fill your mind with God’s word.
You don’t have to spend 30 minutes in meditation every time. Two to five minutes—while in the restroom or while feeding the baby—are often sufficient.
Meditate on God’s word and stop the endless soundtrack of frenetic thoughts that try to take your attention. Ponder on the Lord and His love for you for two minutes.
#9. Stretching
Wondering how to take care of yourself as a mom? Consider adding stretching into your life. A simple internet search will lead to easy stretches that you can do any minute of the day.
Watching your kids in the park, you can do a slow nod exercise or a hip flexor stretch.
Before you wind down for the night or while the kids are asleep or at school, you can take a little time, inhale, exhale and stretch.
Watch how much relief you’ll experience.
These are so inconspicuous that no one will even notice you are stretching!
If you work a desk job, try to get up every hour and stretch. Your blood will start to flow and you will notice an increased mental acuity.
#10. Journaling
Commit to journaling regularly as an important way of processing your emotions, understanding your life, releasing your frustration, and taking care of yourself emotionally.
Boundaries for the Soul: How to Turn Your Overwhelming Thoughts and Feelings into Your Greatest Allies By Allison Cook provides some important jumping-off points for journaling about triggering events.
It is very healing to write down your responses to Allison Cook’s probing questions in this book.
Her questions will help you get some distance from overwhelming emotions, talk to them kindly as if they were frightened children, comfort them with the love of Jesus, and re-integrate them into your renewed purpose.
This all-inclusive women’s care package provides simple ways to make you feel better.
Journaling is an important way to process your feelings, encourages self-awareness, and improves your mood.
Some ideas on how to start journaling are to start with positive inner reflections first like what makes you happy, what inspires you, your idea of a good day, eight things you love about yourself and your family, what makes you proud about yourself.
#11. Gratitude Diary
Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thanks.
Is there someone in your life that has shown you that you matter to them?
A gratitude journal helps you to focus your attention on positive things in your life, great or small.
First Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Regardless of the circumstances, you can find at least three things to be thankful for.
Keeping a gratitude diary or journal helps you come back later with gratefulness and remember what God has done, making your day more productive and focused.
#12. Spend Time Outdoors
A park, field, or stream is an excellent place to work on self-care. You might want to spend some time walking by yourself or with a friend.
Almost any of these self-care ideas can be done outside. You can exercise outside, express gratitude outside, or meditate outside.
Listening to music that elicits positive emotions can help you to relax and elevate your spirit, which improves your mood and general well-being.
#15. Smile More
A clerk at the store, a child in your arms, or a neighbor across the street would be happy to receive your smile, which in turn can improve your mood, relieve your stress, and lower blood pressure.
Scientists have found that a smile gives your brain more feel-good hormones than receiving a large sum of money!
Smiling lifts your own spirits and encourages others.
Spreading smiles is free, painless, and rewarding. Make smiling an important part of your self-care love routine.
#16.Sleep
Sleep should be a priority in our self-care journey.
Bill Fish, a certified sleep science coach and co-founder of Tuck stated that “Getting a proper night sleep is essential to our health,” in fact, sleep is now known as the third pillar of wellness along with exercise and nutrition.”
Create a sleep schedule and try your best to stick to it. That way your body knows when to settle to rest and when to rise.
A full night sleep promotes mental wellness and diminishes the negative effects of poor sleeping habits that include fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and negative thoughts.
#17. Digital Detox
Distancing yourself from digital devices like smartphones, computers, tablets, and social media platforms help you to focus on real-life interactions and can make your brain to relax and also improve your sleep and focus.
It is a known fact that many families and relationships don’t have many faces to face social interaction anymore.
Most of the time, everyone is by themselves and on their phone, tablet, playing a game, or on social media.
You could be in the same house and you are talking to your spouse or children from the cell phone.
Develop a digital detox hour, hours, or a day that you’ll focus your mind on yourself to improve your focus and reduce stress.
You can call it or relate to it as a biblical fast. Maybe that could help you keep the phones away and stay off social media for some time to rejuvenate and take better care of yourself.
The journey of taking better care of yourself starts in your mind. You must understand your dependence on God and the limits of your body and spirit.
The journey of taking care of yourself emotionally continues as you process your grief, change your thinking about your own value, and start practical steps like meditation, stretching, and journaling.
“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” -Oprah
How does this journey end? In reality, the journey of self-care never ends. It’s not a one-time deal.
But it does come to a culmination as you begin to have enough energy, passion, and joy to invest in others again.
As you entrust your own needs to God and humbly accept your own limits, you begin looking at others’ needs as more important than your own.
The Bible instructs that you take care of others with the same attentive care that you take care of yourself (Mark 12:31 – The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’).
And, in this way, the purpose of self-care is complete.
Your mind is one of the most fragile yet most powerful things in your body.
It is so important to look after yourselves and learn how to look after your beautiful mind. And body too.
Are you seeing things from a different perspective?
Don’t make excuses for not practicing self-care.
You are so worth it!
Please don’t allow procrastination to rob you of the well deserved wholeness and happiness that you deserve.
“Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.” – Roy T. Bennett
How are you practicing self-care?
What routine have you put in place that is solely for you?
Please drop a line in the comments – it can help someone.
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Sending lots of love and positivity your way………..♥
