Tips for Keeping the Flame Alive

Do you ever think, “I still have a full workday ahead of me?” It's a bad feeling, and the worst part is that even though you may be aware that you are not the only person experiencing it, it can still make you feel very alone.

You have to get up, go to work, and be productive even though you are distracted, unmotivated, and would prefer to stay in bed.

Six ideas to brighten your day if you're feeling down and want to get rid of it

1. Plan your lunch and eat a healthy breakfast

Eat a nutritious breakfast as the first thing you can do to increase your motivation on Friday. The adage "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is something we've all heard, but it turns out it doesn't just apply to the meal our parents instructed us to eat before going to school. According to studies, eating breakfast can enhance one's mood, visual motor skills, memory, and memorization.

However, studies have shown that the advantages of the micronutrients in breakfast diminish over time, and the body needs to refuel just as a car's fuel tank runs out after a long drive. So, if you don't feel like being active that day, planning to eat breakfast and lunch can help you get the extra energy you need to get through the day.

Skipping meals can cause low blood sugar, which can make you feel weak and exhausted. If you already struggle with feeling unmotivated, skipping meals will make you feel even more lethargic and unable to complete any tasks.

2. Set the most urgent things first

Anyone who is already feeling unmotivated doesn't want to waste any more time or precious energy trying to figure out what to do.

Any given week, regardless of who you are, there is a good chance that you will still have at least one or two tasks that were supposed to be finished earlier in the week by Thursday. Here's a quick tip to help you determine what needs to be done right away.

Just consider these three problems

• Are there any unfinished projects that still need to be completed?
• Which of these projects is most prior?
• Which of the postponed projects will be completed or make significant progress with the least amount of time?

This should make it simple for you to choose at least one task that you can devote some time to diligently completing while feeling accomplished.

3. Start with the simple tasks

Taking on the simple tasks is another way to motivate Thursday. There is nothing wrong with starting with the simple tasks. It might be very late, and you'll need a lot of energy to complete urgent tasks. Therefore, finish the simple, obvious tasks first, such as sending emails, filing, entering data, organizing documents, making follow-up calls, and editing or reviewing written work. They are all simple, straightforward tasks.

You feel a sense of accomplishment after finishing these simpler tasks, and you can use that feeling to motivate you to take on some of the more difficult tasks or finish all of the simpler ones. You can focus on the more challenging projects the following week.

4. Take two breaks, at the very least

Take at least two breaks throughout the working day. Life is stressful enough without having to work when you don't feel like it; let's not add to it by making ourselves sit in front of the computer for extended periods of time without taking breaks. Lunch is for the lazy, and working 80 hours a week is what you should be doing, are already things of the past.

In fact, researchers have found significant benefits for "taking short breaks in the workday," and studies have confirmed that breaks can reduce or prevent stress, and help maintain performance for much of the day and reduce the need for a long recovery at the end of the day. Taking breaks during the workday may not have the same obvious effects as taking a vacation, but research has found significant benefits for it.

Set an alarm for three to twenty minute breaks and one lunch break before you sit down at your desk for the day. You are not doing anyone any favors by forcing yourself to be miserable in front of the computer; instead, consider taking those breaks as an essential act of self-care.

5. Play some upbeat music

Listening to upbeat music is another way to increase your motivation on Thursday. It is no secret that sound vibrations can affect our mood, and music is medicine. Ancient societies were aware of this and adhered to it through rituals like chanting and the practical application of resonating bowls, bells, and other acoustic instruments. Chants are used in healing techniques like meditation and yoga to increase energy and promote healing, and some cultures incorporate bells into numerous spiritual healing rituals. Bells are used in the modern world for energetic healing.

Most people can recall at least one instance in their lives when music or sound significantly influenced how they felt. Studies demonstrate that music has a direct impact on the listener and that doing work while listening to music can improve mood and quality of work.

Playing your favorite album while you work on tasks could be a solution if you're lacking motivation. Explore other genres if you don't like classical or traditional jazz and find that you can't function while listening to music with words.

6. Give yourself a reason to anticipate

Yoga practitioners claim to be fully present in the moment, but doing so can be challenging at times, and your mood won't improve by paying close attention to the present. Your secret weapon in those situations may be to use the force of positive expectation. This is so that you're motivated to complete tasks that you might not necessarily want to do by the knowledge that something positive is on the horizon.

Everyone enjoys receiving praise, especially when performing an action they don't particularly want to. The best way to ensure that you are rewarded for all of the hard work you put in throughout the day is to give yourself something to look forward to.

It's okay if the reward is small; it could be something as simple as eating ice cream, taking a walk, hanging out with friends, using the phone, or putting yourself to ease for a while.

When you're feeling down on Thursday, try these things, think of something you can look forward to, no matter how small, and watch how it affects your mood.