This week, I finally started reading The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss, on the recommendation of several friends. One passage in particular struck me:
“The opposite of love is indifference, and the opposite of happiness is . . . boredom. . . . When people suggest you follow your ‘passion’ or your ‘bliss,’ I propose that they are, in fact, referring to the same singular concept: excitement.”
How many times have you woken up and dreaded getting out of your warm, cozy bed on those dark winter mornings? Just the thought of the daily grind ahead can be enough to make us hit snooze way more times than is necessary. I’ve noticed a common theme emerge on days when I suffer from the dreaded snooze-addiction: lack of enthusiasm about my day. So how do you overcome this?
- Have something to look forward to first thing in the morning. For me, it’s Costa Rican coffee with cinnamon (which I’m drinking as I write this. Mmmm). Then start your work day with something you love to do. It could be as simple as reading an interesting article or chatting with a mentor.
- Once you’ve got your momentum going, tackle the most important thing you have to do that day while you’re fresh.
- Decide on a ritual to ease your mind of stress and anxiety in the evenings. For me, this is meditation. Again, going to bed feeling overwhelmed will only make it more difficult to find motivation the next morning. And get enough sleep. I can’t stress this enough.
Freelancing to Freedom 
Still haven’t got around to reading that post!
I like planning things the night before, gives me a sense of direction when I sleepwalk out of bed in the morning.
By: Neeraj Sachdeva on October 11, 2011
at 12:52 pm
Thanks for reading, Neeraj. I also like planning out my day and week ahead of time to say on track.
By: faultlessfinish on October 11, 2011
at 3:05 pm
I’m reading Ray Bradbury’s book, “Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Genius Within You” right now, and he recommends writing with Zest, Gusto and Curiosity. “Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a landmine. The landmine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces together. Now, it’s your turn. Jump!”
Although it’s brief, this is not a book to be reading at night before you turn off the light. It gets the juices flowing and the ideas circulating through your brain, making sleep impossible. Would be best read just ask you’re jumping out of that bed and to keep beside you for continuing inspiration, so you continue to feel like “just getting there” all day long.
Great blog post, Rach!
By: islandeditions on October 11, 2011
at 1:03 pm
I love mornings! Like you, a good cup of coffee is very motivating, as are emails from my favourite blogs and news sites. I like you’re advice about tackling the most important part of your day while you’re fresh – I’m going to try this today!
By: carrie m on October 11, 2011
at 1:07 pm
Thanks Carrie and Susan! I may have to borrow that book when you’re done, Sue. Let me know how your day goes, Carrie 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on October 11, 2011
at 3:07 pm
I have the 4 hour work week on my book shelf and read it years ago, i come across so many references to it, think I need to dust it off and give it another read! And big huge YES! to you and Carrie, I cannot imagine starting my morning without my beloved latte, it takes around ten minutes to make which is time I savour, I’m kind of on autopilot but by the time I’m sipping that first hot frothy sip I’m starting to come around! And so true on the difficulty of prying ourselves out of bed being an excellent gauge for our excitement level about the day ahead. Great post!
By: Adrienne Furrie on October 11, 2011
at 3:03 pm
Thanks, Adrienne! Yes, I highly recommend the book – lots of fantastic advice for freelancers.
By: faultlessfinish on October 11, 2011
at 3:08 pm
I get fuzzy fast throughout the day so your suggestion to tackle the most difficult thing first is a great one. I need to do that much more often. Thank you for sharing this with us. I need all the encouragement I can get right now. I am always amazed when yoga instructors remind me to thank myself for getting to the mat, which felt like guilty decadence.
By: Rose on October 11, 2011
at 4:13 pm
Thanks, Rose! I’m the same way – I find it so much easier to stay on task in the morning. We need to forgive ourselves for “getting fuzzy” – we all have different points during the day when we peak. Isn’t yoga amazing…
By: faultlessfinish on October 11, 2011
at 7:30 pm
Great post! Very helpful way to approach the day. Many days I wake up with challenging tasks ahead and plow through almost reluctantly despite generally liking my job. Yoga has helped me with some back problems, general fitness and a grounded healthy lifestyle. One of the websites I like is http://www.doyogawithme.com, loads of great stuff.
Tige
By: poisehelps on November 23, 2011
at 5:25 am
Thanks for the site recommendation – it’s fantastic! I always love hearing from other yogis about how the practice has changed their life in some way. Thanks for reading 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on November 23, 2011
at 3:33 pm