Boost your motivation with this simple trick

I get it, the winter funk sets in right after the Christmas holiday, and while we are fully accepting of becoming a total couch potato between then and New Years, sometimes it takes much longer than a kiss at midnight to turn us into the refreshed go-getter we wish we were in January. And that’s okay! If you haven’t checked it out yet, go read my post on how winter can keep us in a bit of a slump (not to mention effects of the worldwide pandemic…). It’s natural to slow down when nature does, but when enough is enough, read on to jump-start your motivation. 

It’s completely natural to subconsciously shape your physical environment to match your inner state, and vice versa. Dust, grime, and clutter can act like a vicious circle - when we’re unmotivated to clean, the buildup of mess looks like unfinished work to our subconscious, limiting our capacity to focus on a single task and leaving us feeling overwhelmed before we even begin. (McMains and Kastner, 2011)

If you’re in a funk, take inventory of where you’ve accumulated funk in your home.

I’m not trying to push any one level of cleanliness here - this should be based on your own internal standards and emotional cues. Pay attention to the thorns that have become your daily experience. If you’re in the midst of balancing all the cans in your overflowing recycling bin, or if you peep the layer of dust on your bedroom dresser every time you walk by, those things need to be at the top of your list. Ask yourself, ‘what feels undone in my space?’

Interrupt the cycle and take out the trash, put items in their rightful place, wash your sheets and dirty laundry, and give your bathroom a good scrub. Do it all with the intention of starting fresh. By clearing away the physical manifestation of our emotional state, we literally create space to feel, think, and start something new. 

How we treat our physical space is a direct representation of how we treat ourselves, so consider how you feel in your home as a link to greater self-awareness. When we need some help but don’t know how to give it to ourselves in, say, an emotional way, we can kick something loose by extending that care to our lived-in spaces. It’s a feedback loop, baby!

Now, feel that sense of accomplishment from your newly refreshed home and breathe in that clean slate!