March: Motivation
Posted March 4, 2024
Have you ever wondered why by the time you reach March, you’re just feeling a little burnt out?. This season is a time when you plant a lot of seeds professionally but don’t yet see them blossom. If you are in HR, Finance, or Operations, you are likely setting programming budgets and laying out the groundwork to hit the goals for the year. If you are in sales, you are likely building a new pipeline for the year. Regardless, the most challenging time for anything is the start. It’s the time with the most effort and the least reward. Without those hits of dopamine we get from little wins, and moments of progress, we can get into a funk, leaving us feeling lost and uninspired feelings that could have an unwanted impact on the overall success of Q1 goals.
And on top of that, after months of gloomy winter, SAD levels can peak. At YoJo, we want to counter the seasonal slump we may be in and get ready for the brighter, longer days and excitement to come. This month, the medicine that we need is motivation!
This is one of the most challenging themes because getting motivated during a time with less momentum can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. This month, we will support you through classes, podcasts, and meditations to avoid some of the unnecessary difficulty associated with revving back up and getting motivated.
Here’s a preview of some of our motivation hacks:
Make it personal. We are all motivated in different ways depending on our personalities, personal history, learning styles or even the mood we are having that day. For instance, some folks need people around to keep them accountable. Some of us thrive with a one-on-one coach. Where others thrive with tough love, and some find external support to be suffocating and find success in self-motivation. Our relationship to motivation is as unique and nuanced as we are as individuals.
Make it easy. Our brains are wired to seek reward and eliminate pain. No need to reinvent the wheel or force a habit to stick. Working with the natural impulses that you already have by creating rewards and reinforcement in your good habits is the key. You may struggle to incorporate more exercise into your morning. Reward yourself with your favorite coffee shop drink after you hit up the gym or go for that walk. After a few weeks, the reward probably won’t even be needed. Still, initially, your brain needs to create positive associations, and dopamine hits to turn any desired behavior into a habit.
Make it sustainable. Start small when you begin incorporating new habits. Take on less than you think you can handle at first, and piece by piece, add more in. For instance, if you’re a new runner training for a marathon, starting with 5 minutes a day and adding a new minute per day can be a life changer. START SMALLER THAN YOU THINK! The more you don’t feel like you are pushing a boulder up a hill, the less resistance you will have. Getting started is half the battle, so lowering resistance is important.