Motivation. Where is it when we need it? Where does it come from? You’ve probably experienced times when you felt highly motivated. On the other hand, you’ve likely gone through periods of low motivation.

There is a motivation spectrum, and it’s helpful to recognize that:

• Motivation isn’t guaranteed.

• Motivation needs to be cultivated.

• Motivation goes through cycles.

• Motivation thrives on clarity.

• Motivation isn’t always instant.

• Motivation responds to progress.

• Motivation can be intrinsic, extrinsic, or a mix of both.

• Motivation strengthens with purpose.

• Motivation is restored by pauses.

• Motivation can be reactivated.

• Motivation flourishes with satisfaction.

• Motivation grows through resilience.

Based on my personal experiences and working with my virtual organizing clients, I have identified five factors that most often disrupt motivation. They are:

• Feeling overwhelmed.

• Lacking clarity.

• Being exhausted.

• Having unrealistic expectations.

• Not having support.

When you face a motivational challenge, use this list of quotes and ideas to help identify what you need at that moment.

7 Powerful Motivation Quotes to Feel Inspired When You Need It Most

1. Motivation needs to be cultivated.

You may experience a burst of energy, providing the motivation to get started. However, that’s not enough. Developing consistent habits encourages progress and increases motivation.

As Jim Ryan says, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”

2. Motivation thrives on clarity.

One of the most common motivational challenges is not being clear about the driver behind your actions. Without defining your ‘why,’ it becomes difficult to build and maintain motivation.

Cindy Sullivan says, “Not tuning in to the why behind our actions can translate to a lack of motivation to get the work done.”

3. Motivation responds to progress.

Don’t underestimate the power that making progress has on increasing your motivation. Redefine what progress means. It can include taking small steps, getting support, and acknowledging your wins.

Greg McKeown says, “Research has shown that all forms of human motivation, the most effective one is progress.”

4. Motivation strengthens with purpose.

Striving to reach a goal can be either motivating or de-motivating. If the goal is unreachable, you’ll probably feel less motivated. If your goal is right-sized, doable, purposeful, yet challenging, it will strengthen your motivation.

Ari Tuckman, PsyD, says, “Goals that feel impossible are de-motivating. Much better is a goal that may feel like a stretch, but is still possible – and actually worth the effort.”

“Motivation responds to progress.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

5. Motivation can be reactivated.

Exhaustion and overwhelm can derail motivation. The good news is that pausing and stepping away from your task to reenergize can reignite your motivation. Struggle no more. Is it time to take a quick break?

Anne Lamott says, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

6. Motivation flourishes with satisfaction.

Have you considered how satisfaction influences motivation? There is joy and gratification in reaching your goals. This pursuit, along with the positive results you experience, nourishes your motivation.

Cassie Holmes, Ph.D., says, “Being a goal-driven species, we aren’t motivated merely by pleasure itself; we also gain pleasurable satisfaction from our accomplishments.”

7. Motivation grows through resilience.

No journey or pursuit happens without challenges. There will be hiccups and obstacles along the way. Keep pushing forward despite setbacks. Your motivation will grow stronger because of your resilience.

Japanese proverb says, “Fall seven times. Stand up eight.”

Why Does Motivation Matter?

Motivation comes in many strengths, from low to high and everything in between. When your motivation is fully in gear, it can feel like you’re in a state of flow. Obstacles are non-existent or easily solved. However, when motivation is low, it feels more like you’re walking through molasses. Even taking a small step can feel impossible.

It’s helpful to understand and develop motivation strategies. What inspires you most when your motivation is low? Which idea or quote resonates most with you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you need support with motivation, activation, or organization? I’d love to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s talk. You can:

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Email me at linda@ohsorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Organizing and sustaining motivation is possible, especially with support.

The decisions you make relate to different points in time: the past, present, and future. Although you may not always view your choices this way, considering these time parameters can help reduce decision fatigue and create clarity surrounding decision-making.

Making thoughtful decisions can be challenging. Some common decision-making obstacles include:

• Having too many choices

• Lacking clarity

• Feeling rushed

• Asking unhelpful questions

• Deciding when you’re exhausted

• Being afraid to make the wrong choice

Any of these challenges can cause overwhelm, procrastination, or paralysis. However, when you ask questions based on time, it can cut through the noise, clarify your options, and motivate action.

---

---

1. Question to Let Go of the Past

“What’s weighing down your backpack that needs to be released?”

— James Clear

In a recent edition of James Clear’s 3-2-1 newsletter, he explained how “unfinished tasks” carried in your “invisible backpack” weigh you down. Many of these tasks are ones you will think you “should do,” but will probably never get around to.

Clear suggests two strategies. To “lighten the load: finish the task or let it go.” Applying a past timeframe to your decision about completing or releasing a task can help.

Consider these questions:

• How long have you been worrying about and carrying these tasks with you?

• Are past goals or commitments holding you back?

• Which ones are no longer relevant, important, or necessary?
  
  
  
  

2. Question to Improve the Present

“What small change could you make to your surroundings that would steer you toward good habits and away from distractions?”

— James Clear

In another 3-2-1 newsletter, Clear encourages making tiny tweaks to your environment to support building better habits and reducing distractions. Only you know which habits you want to strengthen and which distractions are getting in your way.

Using the present timeframe idea to make proactive choices can be effective here. To do this, think about a current habit you want to build or improve. For example, let’s say you often run late to appointments. This is a source of stress for you and the people in your life. You want to be more punctual, yet find it challenging to get out of the house on time. Let’s say chronic lateness is caused by disorganization at home or your tendency to hyperfocus, which interrupts your sense of time.

Making a slight change in your environment to mitigate distractions and support a better habit could include things like:

• Gather everything you need the night before

• Wake up earlier to prepare

• Use labeled timers to help with transitions and activation

3. Question to Imagine the Future

“What will my future-self thank me for doing now?”

— Stephanie Sarkis, PhD

In Ari Tuckman’s book The ADHD Productivity Manual, he shares one of his favorite questions posed by Stephanie Sarkis, PhD. She asks, “What will my future-self thank me for doing now?”

Let’s apply the future timeframe lens to this inquiry. While the question asks you to do something in the present, it’s in service of your future self.

Think about a goal you want to achieve. Maybe it’s organizing your legal and end-of-life papers, downsizing, or eating healthier. None of these will be realized in the future without taking action now.

Embrace the future construct. Visualize what ‘done’ will look and feel like. This will motivate you now to take action and accomplish the future results you desire.

How to Make More Thoughtful Choices?

Making wise decisions begins with asking good questions. Including a time perspective can clarify your choices. Do you consider the past, present, and future when making decisions? How does using a time construct affect you?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you need support with organizing, letting go, or managing your time? I’d love to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s talk. You can:

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Email me at linda@ohsorganized.com or

• Call 914-271-5673

Organizing your time and space is possible, especially with support.

Enjoy the latest release (v50) of the “What’s Interesting?” series, which features my most recent finds that inform, inspire, and relate to organizing and life balance. These unique time management discoveries reflect this month’s blog theme.

You are an engaged, vibrant, and generous group. I am deeply grateful for your ongoing presence, positive energy, and contributions to this community. I look forward to your participation and additional contributions to the collection I’ve sourced.

What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? – 5 Best Time Management Discoveries

1. Interesting Read – Productivity Time

Do you or someone you know have ADHD and struggle with productivity, consistency, and punctuality? If so, you’ll love the latest book by psychologist, author, presenter, and thought-leader, Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA.

He draws on his 40,000 hours of client work to share strategies and insights on how people with ADHD can get things done.

In The ADHD Productivity Manual, Ari explores thirty-six areas that affect productivity for individuals with ADHD. Topics include:

• How ADHD makes it harder to see time

• Essentials for making the most of your brain

• Clarifying your goals

• Minimizing distractions

• Letting go of perfection

• Navigating feelings of overwhelm

Ari says, “The obvious goal of this book is to help you get more done. The less obvious, but more important goal is that I want you to feel good about yourself.” He goes on to say that “ADHD is a disorder of converting intentions into actions. This book is all about action.”

2. Interesting Article – Timeboxing

Have you ever tried timeboxing? In Rebecca Muller’s Thrive Global article, “Try This Now: ‘Timebox’ Your Tasks at Work,” she makes the case for using this visualization exercise to help you prioritize and focus on which tasks to tackle first and which can wait. This approach can be especially beneficial when you feel overwhelmed and stressed by a lengthy to-do list.

Here is one method to timebox:

• Grab a sheet of paper

• Draw a column of boxes

• Put each task in a box based on its priority level

You will quickly visualize which items require immediate attention and which are non-urgent. Muller quotes Marc Zao-Sanders in a Harvard Business Review piece. Zao-Sanders says about timeboxing, “It’s visual, intuitive, and obvious.”

In what ways could timeboxing be an effective strategy for you?

3. Interesting Product – Grounding Time

Busy schedules, excessive stress, and uncertainty can leave you feeling emotionally depleted and anxious. Does your day involve pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion? If so, it’s vital to restore your well-being by taking time to ground and calm yourself.

There are various ways to accomplish this, such as meditating, taking nature walks, journaling, talking with a loved one, slowly sipping a beverage, or gazing out the window.

Another idea is to use a time reminder for grounding. I found this adorable stress reliever made by Mindsight. The six-inch-tall Breathing Buddha helps you practice mindful breathing in short sprints. It features a simple visual soft light for guidance, pre-set breathing cycles, is rechargeable, and is portable.

What helps you feel relaxed and grounded?

“It’s vital to restore your well-being by taking time to ground and calm yourself.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

4. Interesting Resource – Laugh Break Time

While life isn’t all puppies and rainbows, there’s something life-affirming about taking time for silly, joy-inducing moments. One way to do that is through laughter.

When was the last time you had a good laugh? I’m talking about full-body, uncontrollable, contagious laughter. Maybe you saw a comedian, heard a great joke, or watched a funny movie. Something tickled your giggle motor, and the laughter began.

By the way, if you haven’t seen the movie “Bad Shabbos,” I highly recommend it. I laughed so hard that my face hurt.

On a recent trip with my wonderful husband, Steve, we stopped at the Whispering Oaks Vineyard in Sunbury, PA. I gazed at the lush green landscape and sipped a delicious frozen wine slushy, which has become my new favorite drink. Then we shared this playful moment.

Steve started laughing, and I couldn’t help but join in. It makes me laugh every time I watch the video, and it reminds me of how essential laughter breaks are in life. While I recognize how personal humor can be, I hope this short clip brings a little lightness to your day.

What makes you laugh?

5. Interesting Thought – Progress Time

It’s easy to get discouraged when you are making changes or striving for a larger goal. The secret to moving forward and boosting motivation hinges on redefining progress.

Break large projects into smaller, manageable, and accomplishable parts. Celebrate the progress you are making with each action, even if that means simply acknowledging it. Keep going until you achieve the results you want.

A puzzle consists of many pieces. Each piece serves a role in creating the complete picture. Completion occurs by finding and placing one puzzle piece at a time. Likewise, achieving your goals happens through small actions that support progress.

What will you make progress on today?

Making the Most of Your Time

Each person receives the gift of 24 hours a day. It’s up to you to decide how you want to use your days, what you will prioritize, and what you will put on hold or release.

How can you manage your time better? What is one thing you could change that would make a significant and positive difference? Which of these discoveries resonates most with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts and invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you want support to get unstuck, become organized, and utilize your time more effectively? I’m here to help. Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – local feel with global reach.

Please email me at linda@ohsorganized.com, call 914-271-5673, or schedule a Discovery Call. Change is possible, especially with support.

Is it just me, or are you also wondering, “How is it mid-year already?" As each day and week pass, the feeling that time is flying by only grows stronger. It’s no surprise. Time keeps moving on. However, the continual ticking of the clock makes me consider how intentionally I’m using my time. I like to think I’m being purposeful and conscious with my time, yet there’s always room for improvement.

Recently, I discovered some powerful questions in Jenny Blake’s book, Free Time – Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business. Jenny’s book was recommended to me by my friend, the fabulous author, podcast host, lyricist, and project coach, Kara Cutruzulla. Thank you, Kara.

The questions that Jenny poses are excellent clarifiers. I found them helpful, and I thought you would, too. While her book focuses on business, her questions can easily be applied to your personal life. I adapted several of them to make them more relevant for you.

To determine whether Jenny’s questions will be helpful for you, consider these first:

• Are you struggling to focus your time?

• Are you trying to be more intentional about how you spend your time?

• Are you sensing that time is passing quickly and you’re not focused on what matters?

• Are you feeling frustrated and stuck?

• Are you hoping to achieve something soon or within a year?

If you resonated with any of the questions above, the following four questions from Jenny could offer you clarity, direction, and hope.

Four Effective Questions to Help You Better Focus Your Time

1. “What would give you the biggest boost and sense of accomplishment this week?”

The secret sauce of this question is how it helps you focus on the immediate time frame—this week. This approach can be especially beneficial when your mind is so preoccupied with future thinking that it distracts you from the here and now.

Take a moment in a quiet space. Close your eyes if it helps. Ask Jenny’s question, “What would give you the biggest boost and sense of accomplishment this week?”

Break it down further if that’s useful:

• What will provide you with the most significant lift in mood this week?

• What can help create a sense of accomplishment this week?

• What is the best place to focus your time, effort, and energy to achieve those results?

2. “What are your three biggest [time-related] frustrations at the moment?”

You might consistently be late, have trouble meeting deadlines, struggle with your work-life balance, or face other time-related challenges. Maybe you’re experiencing low energy or a lack of motivation. All of these experiences are normal. However, without clarity about what is frustrating you, it’s easy to remain in a static and irritated position.

Identifying your frustrations and what’s keeping you stuck is essential. From that proactive perspective, you can develop a plan of action.

What are your three biggest frustrations related to time right now?

“Time is a valuable resource, and it’s not unlimited. ”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

3. “What would you be thrilled to achieve in [your life] in the year ahead?”

Living in the present is important. Equally essential is thinking about the future. This forward perspective will help you be more mindful of your time and the small steps you’re taking now toward a future goal.

To put yourself in a positive mindset, ask the question, “What would you be thrilled to achieve in [your life] in the year ahead?”

To increase excitement and minimize overwhelm, identify just one goal. You might have many ideas, but focus on one pursuit instead.

Tick tock. Time keeps moving forward. What is the most thrilling thing you’d like to achieve in a year?

4. “If I could solve your biggest challenge around [organization or time management], what would it be?”

Setting goals and being intentional with your time is rewarding. Seeking help with your goals and challenges can be beneficial. I have found it helpful many times to receive support for the goals I am working on. Although it may seem easier in some ways to go it alone, finding the right kind of support can make a tremendous difference.

What are your biggest challenges with organization or time management? How can I best support you on your journey?

The Value of Focusing Your Time with Intention

Time is a valuable resource, and it’s not unlimited. Just as spring flowers have their blooming season, you also have a limited number of days remaining. How do you want to shape your days and spend your time? What does living more intentionally mean for you? What will help you focus on what’s most important? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

How Can I Help?

Do you need support with organizing, editing, or managing your time? I’d love to help! Virtual organizing is an extraordinary path forward – Local feel with a global reach.

Let’s talk. You can:

• Schedule a Discovery Call

• Email me at linda@ohsorganized.com or

• Call directly 914-271-5673

Using your time intentionally is possible, especially with support.