Whether you’re stuck in your career, personal growth journey, entrepreneurial journey, or anywhere else in between, what you’re feeling is normal. 

Now that we’re on the same page and embracing how we feel, you want help getting unstuck, right? If you’re looking for a push outside the messy middle back into your flow state, I’ve got your back.

Here are my tried-and-true tips to get unstuck.

Take some time off.

Are you burnt out? Maybe you’re feeling tired mentally or physically or both. But look, even if you’re not burnt out and feel rested, getting unstuck will require some extra energy and effort. So I always recommend taking some time off to rejuvenate before diving headfirst into the work.

In some cases, some time off and rest may be just what you need, and you might not even need to do extra work to move out of the messy middle. Either way, it never hurts to rest and enjoy some time off, away, or alone time.

This won’t look the same for everyone. You might need time off from work, or a nap, or a two-week-long vacation. Determine what will help you feel most revitalized at this very moment and try to do it. 

Find ways to incorporate “newness” back into your work.

Perhaps it’s because I’m growth-oriented or because I enjoy changing things up when life feels stagnant, but I’m a firm believer in constantly incorporating “newness” in all aspects of your work.

Have you ever started a new job and lived the first couple of weeks on cloud nine? Or perhaps, quit your corporate job and dove headfirst into freelancing or entrepreneurship?

When we are doing and trying new things, it’s inherently more interesting to us. Maybe you’re feeling stuck because you’ve become comfortable and miss the adrenaline rush associated with doing something new for the first time. Find ways to incorporate that back into your routine.

Maybe you learn a new skill or completely alter your daily routine, so it feels fresh to you. Choose change over comfort.

Spend time with someone in your outer circle for a fresh perspective.

When we’re knee-deep in our bubble, it can be easy to lose sight of our end goal and purpose. And if making an impact is essential to you, it can be challenging to take a step back and determine whether you are making an impact or if your vision is having tangible effects on others.

We are incredibly hard on ourselves sometimes, and one of my favorite ways to combat this is to have conversations with those close enough to offer feedback and input, but not so close that they won’t be truthful or honest with you. Think of individuals sitting in your outer circle and spend some time chatting through your visions and plans with them.

Ask for constructive feedback and identify areas of opportunity for growth. Sometimes a different perspective allows us to understand our own better.

Identify the activities that energize you and ignite your spark.

Listen up! This is an important one. It can be easy to fall into the trap of believing that you should love every aspect of the journey––every task, every ounce of work, every step along the way. And the truth is, it’s impossible to love every aspect of whatever journey you’re on. And it’s okay if you don’t love every activity.

The point, though, is to identify the work that energizes you. If you’re an entrepreneur, perhaps you feel energized by networking, but not by design work.

If you’re on a career path, maybe administrative tasks are bogging you down, but other specialized elements of your job you can’t get enough. And if you’re on a personal growth journey, perhaps meditation doesn’t resonate with you, but journaling does.

Whatever the case may be, identify those components that leave you feeling energized and motivated, and find ways to incorporate more of them into your schedule. 

Delegate or eliminate where you can.

After you’ve identified the activities that energize you and have an idea of what you don’t enjoy, you should delegate or eliminate as many of those energy drainers as you can. You might feel stuck because you’re spending too much time on activities that drain you and not enough on ones that energize and inspire you.

This balance might be 50/50, or 80/20, or any combination, depending on where you feel stuck. The idea is to strike a balance that works for you and gets you out of the stuck zone. Delegation and elimination are your friends!

Please don’t beat yourself up for not being able to do it all or not feeling interested in every task, activity, or step that comes your way. You will likely feel more motivated when you can focus on what you most enjoy.

Most importantly, give yourself time. You won’t be stuck forever, and if you’re unable to get unstuck, there’s always another journey out there waiting for you.

We thought it’d be fun to help you get your life back on track with a 5-day spring cleaning challenge. Not your typical cleaning routine, but rather some of those tasks that you’ve maybe been putting off or have forgotten about entirely. I’m a big believer in the power our environment has on our productivity and mindset, and I hope this challenge allows you to leap into the new season with a clear space, mind, and heart.

Okay, let’s do it! Here’s a look at where we’ll be focusing our efforts each day:

• Day 1: All things bedroom
• Day 2: Bathroom 
• Day 3: Kitchen
• Day 4: All things living room 
• Day 5: Do the deep cleaning 

Day 1: All things bedroom 

First up is all bedrooms and related spaces (that includes your closet). Your place of rest is sacred and essential in helping you achieve your goals. Here’s what’s on your checklist today:

• Clean out your closet. Donate or sell clothes you haven’t worn in months. Reduce your wardrobe, and organize the clothes that remain by refolding, hanging, or color-coding them accordingly.
• Go through your jewelry. Just like clothing, if you’re anything like me, my jewelry collection builds up quickly. Donate or sell pieces you no longer wear. 
• Organize your dresser drawers if you have any. Yes, you know, that big pile of underwear you throw in the drawer. Consider using Marie Kondo’s folding method for other drawer items.
• Flip the mattress! Taking care of your bed is key to a good night’s rest and to extending the life of your mattress.
• Wash your sheets, pillowcases, rugs, and other comfort items. Consider washing not only the sheets you have on your bed but an extra set to keep on hand so you can change your sheets regularly. 
• Dust all surfaces. That includes dressers, nightstands, lamps, shelves, and any other surfaces you might have in your bedroom. Don’t forget to dust picture frames and other wall art, too, while you’re at it.
• Do your dirty laundry. Empty your hamper and do your laundry in between cleaning. 

Day 2: Bathroom

Next up, we’ll work on all bathrooms. Make your bathroom shine by completing the following:

• Declutter the countertop and put items away in their appropriate spaces. I’m known for leaving out my makeup and hair products all over the counter (oops, sorry!) 
• Go through your skincare and get rid of expired products. If you’ve been carting around the same skincare products for longer than you can remember, they might not be effective anymore. 
• Cleanout underneath your sink and any drawers as well. The key here is to organize any items you do need to store. Snag a few draw organizer sets, if required.
• Wash your towels, rugs, and shower curtain. If you use a shower curtain and shower liner, replace your old shower liner with a new one. 
• Wipe down all surfaces, including your bathtub if you have one, mirrors, and faucets. Don’t skimp out here. Clean every nook and cranny you don’t usually hit during your regular cleaning sessions. 
• Restock and refill supplies. Make sure you have toilet paper stocked, along with any other essentials such as female hygiene products. 
• Clean your toilet—one of my least favorite yet somehow most fulfilling responsibilities. Scrub the heck out of that toilet and clean it well!

Day 3: Kitchen

Today we’re tackling the kitchen. Check it out:

• Clean out the fridge, freezer, and pantry. Say goodbye to all expired food items! Can’t find the expiration date? If you don’t remember when you purchased the item, it might be time to throw it out.
• Take out the trash, and then sanitize and wipe down the trash can. Check for excess moldy waste that didn’t make it into a bag and is rotting at the bottom of the bin.
• Clean the inside of the microwave. If you own a microwave, there’s a high probability that splattered residue is coating the inside of it. Wipe it down. 
• Clean the oven and the stovetop. Remember the dinner you cooked a few weeks ago that boiled over? It’s time to free the stovetop from any food that left the pans and ended up on the stovetop.
• Wipe down all appliances. That includes your fridge, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, air fryer, you know–the whole gamut.
• Clean out and reorganize the items in your cabinets. Stack your pans instead of shoving them into the drawer. Organize your Tupperware lids so they’re easier to locate. Purchase a spice rack.
• Do your dirty dishes. Whether you’re a dishwasher gal or not, leave the kitchen sink empty and take care of all of your dirty dishes.

Day 4: All things living room

Onto the living room, one of my favorite rooms in our home. If this is your favorite space, too, give it some extra love today.

• Declutter wherever you can. Have blankets you no longer want? Donate them. Have outdated magazines? Recycle them or share them with someone who will enjoy them. Clean out your bookshelf if you’ve got one.
• Dust all surfaces. Like your bedroom, get out the duster and dust your tv stand, shelves, coffee tables, or other furniture in this room.
• Wash all rugs, blankets, and pillows. Isn’t it easy to forget to wash these blankets even though we use them often? Today’s the day.
• Wipe down items you may generally forget. Sanitize your remote control, game controllers, coasters, and any other items lying around that you use regularly. 

Day 5: Do the deep cleaning

Now that you’ve decluttered, organized, and wiped things down, spend the last day of the challenge getting into the nitty-gritty deep cleaning.

• Wipe down any remaining surfaces that you may have missed. Soap and water will do the trick.
• Vacuum all rooms in the house. Return to the rooms you’ve cleaned with a vacuum, and don’t forget the edges of the room!
• Mop hardwood floor areas. I prefer a Swiffer, but an old-fashioned mop will do the trick too. If needed, consider sweeping before mopping.
• Wipe down all baseboards. Clean the baseboards around your home with a wet rag and additional cleaning supplies if needed.
• Dust any ceiling fans and light fixtures throughout your home. Say goodbye to the dust bunnies!
• Disinfect all doorknobs, light switches, drawer handles, and other points of contact. Don’t forget to sanitize the doorknobs that provide entry into your home. 
• Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Keep your home safe!
• Clean any windows, inside and outside, if you prefer. Get ready for those outdoor spring views by cleaning your windows. Hire an exterior window cleaner if needed.

That’s a wrap! Take a deep breath in, and a long exhale out. You completed the 5-day spring cleaning challenge and are ready for whatever greatness lies ahead this season. Get out there and bloom!

Maybe you’re a small business owner who needs more time to level up and organize your business processes, or perhaps you’re a corporate gal trying to squeeze more hours in your day to get your chores done at home in the evenings.

Regardless of your current situation and why you need a few more hours in the day, there are undoubtedly ways you can streamline your everyday activities to carve in those much-desired extra minutes.

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of where to streamline your day, it’s essential to keep in mind that this process will require some time and commitment. You’ll need to familiarize yourself with an in-depth understanding of how you’re currently spending your time each day.

And with these tips in mind, you’ll need to commit to identifying opportunities to streamline your activities and being flexible with your schedule until you get into a rhythm.

Prepare your in-depth to-do list or schedule the night before

If organization skills are your forte and you love to plan, you might already plan how your months, weeks, or even days will look. While planning out your month, week, and days in advance is helpful, I recommend this practice because often our plans change, or a new task comes up that we need to squeeze into our schedule.

Rather than trying to scramble when a new to-do comes up, save yourself the headspace, stress, and hassle by formulating an in-depth plan for your day the night before. This way, you can wake up and get started without spending your early morning hours getting organized for the day ahead. 

The good news is, by preparing your in-depth to-do list the night beforehand, not much should change while you’re asleep. And you’ll eliminate the wasted time spent trying to figure out how you’re going to squeeze more unexpected tasks into your already jam-packed to-do list. 

Ditch phone time upon waking

Raise your hand if you use your cell phone as an alarm clock. Now raise your hand if you silence or turn off your alarm, and unlock your phone right away to check emails, scroll social, or see what news you missed in the world while you were asleep. I’m raising my hand, and I imagine you might be too. 

Before you know it, watching a few Instagram stories has turned into thirty-minutes of time spent awake that you could have been doing something more productive. Though it takes control and discipline, ditching all phone time upon waking, and better yet, also before you go to sleep, is a great way to find more time in your day.

Consider swapping your beloved iPhone alarm clock for a real, old-fashioned alarm clock, or better yet, a wake-up light. Set yourself up to not even have the opportunity to grab your phone first thing in the morning and get a jump start on your day without technology, whatever that looks like for you. 

Batch similar activities

If you’ve been a part of the Life Goals community for some time, you know we’re big fans of batching similar activities around here. The truth is, batching your activities truly helps you get more done in less time.

Some of our favorite ways to batch daily tasks include responding to emails in designated blocks rather than throughout the day, scheduling time for social media to eliminate it as a constant distraction, and implementing wind-down time before bed. 

You can also batch the types of activities you’re doing to reduce the number of times your brain has to switch between tasks. For example, if you have a list of errands you need to run this week, and most or all of them are in the same area, try scheduling a block of time to focus on completing all of your errands rather than spreading them throughout the week. 

Reduce your standards where possible

Reducing standards is one of my favorite ways to save time and redistribute it elsewhere. My mom raised me to be the type of girl who insists on cleaning the kitchen after cooking dinner almost every night. And I’m not talking about a simple dirty dish pickup. I mean no dirty dishes left in the sink, counters wiped down, coffee pot cleaned and emptied, floors swept, the whole gamut. 

And while I love going to sleep with a squeaky clean kitchen as much as the next girl, I realized how agitated I would get when I “didn’t have enough time” to do a different task because I “had” to clean the kitchen.

I realized that my standards were set pretty high and that perhaps if I lowered them just a bit, I would find more time for my other to-dos in the evenings. And guess what? It worked! 

Please don’t be mistaken; I don’t want you to reduce all of your standards and stop doing activities you need to do for your well-being and success. But consider if there are areas in your life where you’re holding the bar higher than it needs to be, and figure out how to cut back in a meaningful way.

Some areas worth exploring include your household chores, the length of your workouts, and how many times you reread an email to ensure that it’s damn near perfect. 

Use your commute and waiting time

Maybe you have time in your day, but you aren’t utilizing it properly. Don’t worry; it happens to the best of us. If you commute to work or have an appointment that may require some time spent in the waiting room pre or post-appointment, use that time!

But don’t use it to mindlessly scroll social (unless this is your pre-scheduled social scroll block for the day, then go ahead). Use it to mark off tasks that you can complete using your phone (make a call) or pen and paper if you’re riding public transit (create that outline you need to get done), for that matter. 

What I found in times that I had longer commutes on public transit is that I’d complain about how much time was being wasted rather than use it to my advantage. And maybe you don’t have tasks you can do while you’re sitting waiting for your stop, and that’s okay too. Instead, use the commute time as a learning hour and listen to a podcast or read a book.

Still a win-win for you!

Understand your natural productivity cycles and capitalize on them if possible

Maybe you’re an early bird, or perhaps, you’re a night owl. Regardless of which side of the spectrum you fall on, there are certain times of the day at which we feel more productive than others.

And if you are in a position where you have control over your day’s structure, consider capitalizing on your best working hours. There is no easier way to waste time than to try and force yourself to do tasks that require a lot of energy and concentration when you aren’t at your peak. 

If you aren’t sure about your natural productivity cycles yet or want to test whether you know your peak hours, here are some strategies for determining peak times. 

Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll be adding any hours to our days soon, so we have to work with what we’ve got! Streamline your day and make it work for you!

I am a chronic overthinker. By nature, I thrive in a world characterized by preparation, well-thought-out plans, and backup plans. I struggle to dive headfirst into anything in my life without overthinking the best and worst-case situation in different scenarios. Do you know the feeling?

As dreamers, doers, and go-getters, thinking through our grand plans isn’t necessarily a bad idea. But failing to proceed with your plans as a result of overthinking will only hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Analysis paralysis comes at a cost. It’s important to be able to recognize and address overthinking when possible. 

Here are the eight best tips and tricks that have helped me address moments of overthinking in my life. 

Acknowledge your thoughts.

If you want to develop strategies to stop overthinking, you have to be willing and able to acknowledge your thoughts. Familiarize yourself with your thoughts so much so that you can quickly identify when you’re falling into a cycle of overthinking. When you do catch yourself overthinking a decision, start by asking yourself the following: 

• Am I feeling stressed or anxious? 
• Are these thoughts preventing me from being able to focus? 
• What am I really afraid of? 
• When did these thoughts start?

Growing your self-awareness and being able to recognize overthinking in its tracks is key. 

Reframe your mindset.

I don’t know about you, but I never catch myself overthinking about a scenario positively. More often than not, we’re worried about all of the things that might go wrong. Rarely, if ever, do we catch ourselves thinking about all of the possibilities that might work out and go right.

When you catch yourself overthinking, reframe your mindset. Set the worst-case scenarios aside and consider what your specific situation would be like if it worked out exactly as you want it to. Manifest those positive vibes! 

Erase the idea of perfectionism. 

I’ve learned over time that one of the main reasons I struggle with overthinking is because I hold myself to high standards. I want the execution of my idea to be perfect, so I find myself stuck overanalyzing until I feel like I can execute my idea perfectly. Can you guess what happens next? 

I never give myself the grace to START, because it’s impossible to reach a perfect vision. Listen up and write this one down –perfectionism does not exist, not even by our standards. Erase the idea of perfectionism and stop waiting until you feel ready to jump all in. Just jump! 

Make fear your friend.

Fear is closely tied to overthinking, and one of the best ways to combat overthinking is to make fear your friend.

If you’re afraid to dive in, afraid you’re making the wrong choice, afraid you will be judged, it’s safe to say that fear is ultimately what’s holding you back. If you make fear your friend, your thoughts will become less frightening. 

Try meditation. 

Meditation will help you focus on the present moment, rather than caught up in the mistakes of the past, or fears of the future. Schedule time to meditate as part of your daily routine.

The key to a successful meditation practice is to give yourself space and time to truly quiet your mind and silence your thoughts. You can also use meditation techniques when you’re feeling overwhelmed to calm your mind and body in the immediate moment. 

Start a gratitude practice. 

Similar to reframing your mindset, grounding yourself in gratitude has proven to better the lives of those who are consistent in their practice. Start a gratitude journal and commit to reflecting on what you’re thankful for every day as part of your daily routine. Gratitude is good for you. 

Set a worry time limit. 

Sometimes the thoughts and concerns that come up during a period of overthinking are valid and shouldn’t be brushed off. I’ve had very reasonable concerns come up during overthinking that require my attention. If this happens to you, I recommend setting a worry time limit in which you give yourself uninterrupted time to hear your thoughts and worries out.

Once your time limit is up, do your best to shed those worries and move on. Just be sure to be reasonable with the time limits you set. For example, giving yourself three hours to worry and overthink may do much more harm than good.

Giving yourself ten minutes might not be anywhere near enough. Find a time limit that works for you and allows you to feel better at the end of the time limit. 

Enjoy some time outside to reset. 

You’ve likely heard this one time and time again, but it works! Head outside and take time to reset. Rather than just sitting outside, I always recommend choosing an outdoor activity that will require your focus and attention.

Moderate hikes may require you to focus on where you’re stepping, which can help quiet and distract your mind. I enjoy fishing because it requires concentration and quiet, both of which allow me to enjoy the present moment. 

Always remember that you are in control of your thoughts! You can put an end to overthinking any time you want to.

Picture this. You slept through your alarm. When you wake up, you realize you overslept and immediately start to panic. Your day isn’t off to a great start. You head into the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee. You take your coffee back to your desk and sit down. Your planner cover reads, “You got this!” You open up your bright-colored notebooks and bust out your favorite pens. You’re surrounded by inspirational words of wisdom that light your heart on fire! You settle in and get to work, and thanks to your workspace, the rest of the day goes better than the way your morning started. At the end of the day, you put away all of your motivational stationery items and look forward to using them again tomorrow. 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a firm believer in the idea that our environment has a large effect on our energy, routines, productivity, and our ability to accomplish our goals. In my life, I’ve felt the impact of creating spaces conducive to positive thoughts play out both personally and professionally. 

I’ve also been mildly obsessed with stationery and office supplies ever since I was a kid. Notebooks, pens, pencils, prints, sticky notes – you name it.

I love surrounding myself with motivational and inspirational quotes and accessories. Perhaps my love for these products stems, in part, from a belief in the Law of Attraction. Or maybe it’s because most motivational and inspirational products are undeniably visually appealing.

Either way, if you’re into harnessing the power of surrounding yourself with good vibes or love an Insta-worthy desk setup, you’re in luck! Here are 10 brands to shop for a motivating and positive workspace. 

Talking Out Of Turn (Toot)

Talking Out Of Turn sells stationery, gifts, and everyday lifestyle items. If you’re looking for colorful, bright, and motivating designs, this is the brand for you. Talking Out Of Turn strives to boost productivity and brighten workspaces with inspiration. A company full of artists, dreamers, and doers, the Toot team aims to fill the world with sass and cheer through their products. 

Website: talkingoutofturn.com

Instagram: @talkingoutofturn

ban.do 

You’ve probably heard of or come across products from ban.do before. Year after year, ban.do consistently curates and creates products that evoke feelings of joy and inspiration. ban.do is also committed to raising awareness of mental health issues. If you’re looking for clothing, desk supplies, wellness items, or accessories–look no further. 

Website: bando.com

Instagram: @shopbando

Compliments ‘N Coffee 

Struggling to maintain a positive mindset and love drinking coffee? Snag yourself a mug from Compliments ‘N Coffee! These coffee mugs were designed to help combat negative self-talk through encouraging affirmations that sit along the inside of the coffee mug rim. 

Website: complimentsncoffee.com

Instagram: @complimentsncoffee

The Happee Shop

The Happee Shop is packed full of products promoting productivity designed by @laurajaneillustrations. Previously an Etsy store, this shop offers prints, stickers, stationery, planners, and more! Be sure to follow @laurajaneillustrations to add positive, inspiring artwork to your Instagram feed too.

Website: shop.hellohappee.com

Instagram: @shophappee

Taylor Elliott Designs 

Colorful and bright with motivation sprinkled on top is how I would describe Taylor Elliott Designs. With a degree in Graphic Design, products from Taylor Elliott Designs are sure to meet the eye-catching mark and liven up your workspace. 

Website: taylorelliottdesigns.com

Instagram: @taylorelliottdesigns

Aya Paper Co.

Aya Paper Co. is a sustainable stationery brand with minimalistic vibes and neutral tones. Women-owned, eco-friendly, and sustainable, this brand is sure to steal the hearts of those looking to add stationery products rooted in a good cause to their workspace. 

Website: ayapaper.co

Instagram: @ayapaper.co

The Anastasia Co. 

The Anastasia Co. offers home and lifestyle goods to help buyers live more intentionally. Rooted in faith, owner of The Anastasia Co., Jillian artfully uses her graphic design and photography skills alongside her previous marketing business to create visually appealing and undeniably purposeful goods. Wall art, journals, and mugs are a few must-haves for your workspace. 

Website: shop.theanastasiaco.com

Instagram: @theanastasiaco

Rifle Paper Co. 

If you’re looking for motivation to add to your workspace without the inspirational quotes and phrases, check out Rifle Paper Co. With floral designs filled in with bold colors, stationery products from Rifle Paper Co. will leave your workspace looking classy, beautiful, and timeless. 

Website: riflepaperco.com

Instagram: @riflepaperco

1canoe2

1canoe2 is a brand defined by its cheerful products that are brought to life based upon a deep appreciation of nature and life’s natural beauty. Gifts and stationery from 1canoe2 can sometimes be found at familiar large retailers like Anthropologie. If you’re seeking joy and love an illustrative vibe, check out this brand. 

Website: 1canoe2.com

Instagram: @1canoe2

Papier

Papier is a stationery brand that emphasizes connections with one another in meaningful ways. Papier believes in adding personal touches to all of life’s moments, no matter how big or small. Papier’s designs are timeless and elegant. Snag a notebook with your name on it for your desk! 

Website: papier.com/us

Instagram: @papier

To this day, I can’t resist purchasing a paper planner or two to help me stay organized and on top of all of my goals. I’ll be the first to admit that I have a planner obsession. But sometimes I discover that a planner I’ve purchased isn’t the right size for me, doesn’t fit my needs, or isn’t quite what I envisioned. When this happens, I do what every planner lover does and purchase another planner. But rather than let the unused planners collect dust on my bookshelf, I’ve come up with quite a few ways to repurpose the unused pages over the years. 

Here are ten non-traditional ways to use your planner.

1. Create a gratitude journal

I love using an unused planner as a gratitude journal. To set up my repurposed gratitude journal, I write down five small moments or things that I’m grateful for each day. 

The best part about using a planner is that your gratitude lists will be dated, which gives you an easy way to look back on specific days and memories. At the end of the year, your previously unused planner will be overflowing with gratitude and good memories.

2. Make a scrapbook

Keep special memories alive with a scrapbook. Printed photographs, pretty stickers, and colored paper don’t have to be a thing of the past. With easy-to-use, portable printers like Prynt, it’s easy to transform your unused planner into a fully designed and decorated scrapbook to keep for the long haul. 

3. Track your workouts

If you’re diving headfirst into a new workout routine, tracking your workouts is a great way to take advantage of the blank pages in an unused planner. Some of the items you can keep track of include: type of workout, length of workout, total calories burned, and how you felt before and after the workout. 

Use your workout log to identify which workouts make you feel your best or help you achieve your health goals. 

4. Start a “Finished it!” list

If you’re the type of person who loves checking items off your to-do list, consider turning your planner into a “Finished it!” or “Did it!” list. Separating the action items you’ve finished away from your to-do list can lead to feelings of accomplishment beyond crossing them off your to-do list. Using this strategy will also help you keep your to-do list organized and maintainable.

5. Track your moods

Mood tracking provides a variety of benefits, most notably, the awareness of one’s emotions and mental health. You can use a planner to track your moods by recording the activities you completed throughout the day alongside how each activity made you feel, or how your mood improved or worsened. 

6. Plan your meals for the weeks ahead

I dread meal planning! Meal planning is an activity that I find to be overwhelming and time-consuming. To reduce feelings of overwhelm and dread, I’ve dedicated an unused planner strictly to meal planning. I track ingredients needed for recipes, the recipes themselves, and which day I plan to cook which meal. I also recommend tracking which meals you liked and didn’t like.

By using a planner to meal plan, you’ll also have a running list of meals to refer back to, which will save you time down the road. 

7. Create a daily affirmations or mantras diary

Daily affirmations and mantras are a simple way to help you maintain a positive mindset. These phrases often provide motivation and encouragement and can be particularly valuable when it comes to sticking to and achieving one’s goals. 

Though you can purchase daily affirmation books, creating your own can be equally as rewarding and inspiring. I recommend creating a list of affirmations and mantras in advance and add one per day to your unused your planner first thing in the morning to set the tone for the day.

8. Track and manage your finances and expenses

Managing expenses can be daunting! Using an extra planner to help keep track of your expenses, budgets, financial goals, bills, and savings can help you better understand how and where you’re spending your money all in one place. 

9. Express your creative side with one doodle or hand-lettered piece per day

If you’re an artist or aspiring creative, this one is for you! Over the last couple of years, I’ve developed an interest in hand-lettering and have taken advantage of unused planners to practice my technique. 

If you’re into drawing, painting, sketching, or any other kind of free creative expression, consider using an unused planner for doodling, testing color palettes, or sketching objects in your immediate sight to level up your skills. 

10. Plan your social media content

Whether you own a business, have a side hustle, or only use social media for personal use, paper planners always come in handy when thinking about social media content. Especially if you’re posting on multiple channels, consider using a planner to help you keep track of what you want to post when and how you’re going to deliver that message.

Many apps provide social media planning tools, but sometimes taking a step away from technology altogether can allow you to think more clearly about the vision of your content and how it all works together. 

You don’t have to let unused planners go to waste! Next time you purchase a planner and find that it’s not working for you, take advantage of those empty pages and try one of these non-traditional use cases. 

As goal-getters and big dreamers, it’s only natural to feel unmotivated and experience a funk from time-to-time. Whether you’re burnt out, in need of a big change, feeling tired, or are unmotivated for other reasons, we all experience these phases now and again. 

When I’m searching for motivation and need a quick reset, I reach for a self-help or inspirational book. Here are seven books to read to help you get your motivation back.

Hello, Fears by Michelle Poler 

Hello, Fears is a self-help book written by the founder of the Hello Fears movement, keynote speaker, brand strategist, and fear facer, Michelle Poler. The book is a collection of personal experiences, practical advice, and tools readers need to tap into their full potential and crush their comfort zones. Loaded with humor, confidence, and bravery, Michelle strives to inspire her readers to face their deepest fears and live life unapologetically, on their terms. 

If you’re anything like me, you’re no stranger to fear holding you back from achieving your dreams (Enneagram 6 here). I lean on this book when I’m feeling unmotivated as a reminder that I can overcome my fears and don’t have to be held back by my fears or stuck in my comfort zone unless I choose to be. 

Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley

Own Your Everyday is a Christian-based, self-help book written by national bestselling author, podcaster, keynote speaker, and educator, Jordan Lee Dooley. Rooted in living a purpose-driven life, Jordan offers readers lessons from her own experiences, practical tools, and inspirational words for finding one’s true purpose. 

If you’re struggling to feel motivated because you’re striving to fulfill others’ expectations and are worried about what they might think, or aren’t sure what your purpose is, this book is for you. This book will help you overcome those obstacles and find the motivation to keep pushing forward even if you’re uncertain about your path.

Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani 

Brave, Not Perfect is a self-help book written by multi-award-winning Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code and New York Times bestselling author, Reshma Saujani. Reshma is passionate about helping young girls and women live bolder lives and empowers readers to seek and rewire their brains to choose bravery over perfection. She advocates for embracing failure and living life imperfectly, without fear of being reprimanded for being imperfect. This book offers an understanding of why women struggle with perfection beginning at a young age, Reshma’s experiences overcoming perfection, and tips for living braver.

If you’re feeling unmotivated because you’re struggling with perfection, or feel like you aren’t ready yet, add this book to your list. 

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing is a self-help book by New York Times bestselling author Daniel H. Pink. Backed by research in psychology and biology, this book is known for unlocking the scientific secrets of perfect timing, and how to utilize time to flourish in all areas of one’s life. 

The cutting-edge research presented in this book can be motivating enough in and of itself. But the reason you should consider reading this book when you’re feeling unmotivated is that you may need to shift how and when you’re using your time to better capitalize on feelings of motivation and drive. 

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life is a self-help book by New York Times bestselling author and success coach, Jen Sincero. This book is an easy read packed full of humor, inspiration, and life-changing advice with a big motivational boost. 

This was one of the first self-help books I ever read, and simply stating that it helped me change my life for the better is an understatement. I read this book during a time when I was needing to get out of a job that was sucking the life out of me. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life gave me the strength and courage I needed to make the change. I never hesitate to refer back to this book. Consider Jen Sincero to be the motivational BFF that sits on your shoulder and cheers you on when you need it most. 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a self-help book by Stephen R. Covey. Stephen Covey has inspired change through this book for over 30 years. A well-known classic, this book offers valuable insight and tactical advice for building life-changing habits. 

Every time I revisit this book, I learn something new. No matter how times you’ve read it, or read it in the future, nuggets of wisdom continue to seep through the pages and offer new knowledge to the reader. If you’re feeling unmotivated and need a new starting place, pick this book up, grab a notebook and pen, and soak in as much wisdom as you can from Stephen Covey. 

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is a self-help book by Dale Carnegie. Although it was published over 70 years ago, this book is packed full of timeless advice on releasing and eliminating worries and fears. Carnegie presents real-world examples and solutions for overcoming worries, making it applicable to all readers. 

When I’m feeling unmotivated, I’ve found that most of the time, it’s due to underlying fears such as feeling worried, uncertain, unhappy, or unfulfilled. What I love most about this book is that it not only offers advice for conquering worries, it offers ways to build resilience and challenges readers to focus on the present moment.

But what happens when you’ve worked hard to create a routine that worked for you, only to experience a lifestyle change that throws your routine off its tracks? 

Feelings of frustration, anger, and disappointment often follow disrupted routines in my life. It sucks to work hard at something, to feel as if you’re on track to achieve your goals and dreams, only to get thrown off course and interrupted. 

Here’s the deal though, life comes with unexpected changes all the time. You can still achieve all of your goals and dreams! Unforeseen lifestyle changes don’t have to consume you or hold you back. 

It’s possible to keep moving forward as long as you know how to adapt and build a new routine. Try these tips for building a new routine in the face of an unexpected change without losing momentum on the progress of your goals. 

Decide what matters

When deciding how to build your new routine, take some time to consider what matters most to you. Understand the reasons why your routine needs to change and what factors will impact the changes you need to make. Define your intentions and the outcomes you hope to achieve first. 

Ask yourself: 

• Why do I need to create a new routine? 
• What am I hoping to get out of this new routine? 
• How do I want my routine to make me feel? 
• What worked well for me previously? 
• What changes should I consider to make my new routine more effective than my previous one?
• What tasks or activities am I trying to support by implementing a new routine?

For example, when my morning routine changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I redefined what I wanted my mornings to look like and how to best use my time within my new environment. Without having to wake up and get ready for and commute to work each morning, I wanted to make sure I crafted a routine that allowed me to sustain the energized, positive attitude I started my mornings with previously. I wanted to implement activities that supported good energy to help me stay focused and productive throughout the day. 

Choose small, measurable actions to incorporate into your routine

Progress can be hard to track if it can’t be measured in some way. One way to increase the success of your new routine is to identify and incorporate small, measurable actions. 

A few of my favorite morning routine activities are: 

• Making the bed 
• Opening the blinds and windows to let the sunlight in 
• Reading 20 pages of a book while drinking a cup of coffee 
• Completing one Yoga with Adriene video on YouTube

Not only do these activities create a tidy environment and clear headspace for me to prepare for the day ahead, but they are also easy to measure. Measurability helps me understand if I’m on track or not.

Find an accountability partner

Finding an accountability partner can help set you up for success, particularly if you are extrinsically motivated. 

Let’s say you’re looking to implement a brand new fitness routine into your day-to-day plans. You want to work out every evening at the same time, but you often talk yourself out of your pre-planned work out for various reasons. 

Find a friend, spouse, partner, or coworker that might be interested in committing to your new fitness routine to do it with you. Work through the details and hold each other accountable. If you set a meeting time, hold each other accountable for showing up on time. If you set a specific goal (e.g. 20 pushups every day), check-in with each other, and ask for progress updates.

Keep in mind that you can hold a partner accountable virtually or electronically too! Being an accountability partner can occur in a variety of ways, so don’t feel limited to in-person strategies.

Write down your new routine, or follow a Google Calendar

It’s useful to think through your new routine in your head, but writing it down, or mapping it out can help you stay on schedule and feel more committed. 

While I’m a fan of my paper planner and writing tasks down, I also favor using my Google Calendar for plans and lean on it for time blocking purposes. Once you’ve determined what your new routine is going to be, get those thoughts out of your head and onto paper or in your electronic calendar. 

Get in the habit of planning your weeks ahead of time 

Adjusting to a new routine will require a transition period. You can make the transition easier on yourself by getting in the habit of planning your weeks ahead of time. Planning your weeks out ahead of time prevents feelings of overwhelm and trains your brain to know what to expect. Consistency is key! 

For example, perhaps you have the same GYST day every week. (If you don’t have a GYST day, you need one!) You know what to expect each week on your GYST day and know exactly how and where it fits into your routine. 

Check-in with yourself and review your routine

As you start to build and try out your new routine, check-in with yourself regularly to determine if it’s working for you. If there are parts of your new routine that don’t feel right, think of ways that you can change your new routine to increase its value. Don’t be afraid to change something that isn’t working rather than feel forced to make it work.