How to Motivate Yourself When You're Dragging

We all know what it feels like to be dragging.  You hit the snooze button a few more times in the morning.  Your movements are a little slower than on a peppy day.  Small things annoy you.  The fact that small things annoy you, annoys you.

It's good to look at the heart of what's causing your drag.

Is your job in a rut? Sometimes Friday rolls around and we just would rather it be Saturday.  Even great jobs touch us once in a while in this way.  You just want to close the door and do your own thing.  I've found that one of the best ways to counter this aspect of drag is variety. Go for small things- take a different route to work, arrive a few minutes earlier, leave a few minutes earlier, be kind to yourself.  Most of the time, a job change is not necessary but a job adjustment might be just what the doctor ordered.  Avoid the office political scene and look forward to the other aspects of your life.  Hobbies, family, fun things that you'll be doing in the next 3-4 days.

Are you physically not what you want to be? For years, I would eat too much for dinner and then feel grumpy for 2-3 hours afterwards.  I would feel bloated and tired, not realizing that something as small as meal portions could affect my emotional outlook.  Today, I try to leave room for dessert- that way my portions are smaller and the reward after dinner is sweet. (literally)  Be honest with your weight, your appearance and your habits. Then, change them.  Yes, it is that simple.

Is your geographical location a problem? An easy way to stay on your game during the day is to get away from where you're working and ... work somewhere else.  A conference room, a cafeteria, a coffee shop, a library.  If you have a boss that's sharp enough to realize that one space yields less productivity as the day goes on, you're in luck.  If not, just make the decision that you'll be working in different places during the day.  This is one reason why realtors have such an advantage over many other workers- they are always on the move and can plug in to many different regional offices.

Are you spiritually off course? Why not take stock in where you're at with God?  Has it been a while since you've prayed or gone to church?  Is there some baggage that you need to get off of your chest?  A good look in the mirror often reveals what lies underneath the surface.  Taking the time to inventory your spiritual trajectory is really important and can affect how you feel about nearly every other aspect of life.