03/25/2026
Rarely (okay, never) do I wake up with a spring in my step. I’m more of the “sip coffee and stare into oblivion” type. BUT…I know that starting my day with some kind of movement always improves my mood, energy, creativity, and productivity. Even though I know I will feel good once I start moving, it’s still hard to overcome the inertia each morning. I am very skilled at rationalizing why going “later” makes so much more sense. Somewhere on my scrolling adventures, I came across the suggestion to just “do it unmotivated”. Don’t wait for readiness or motivation because it may never come. Bypass that tricky ol’ mind and just do the thing. I’ve adopted this as my mantra these days and it’s proven to be surprisingly effective, so I’m sharing it with you, along with a few other tips that work for me, and might work for you!
1. Commit to 5 minutes and do something you actually enjoy. Do I have a gym membership? Yes. Do I use it? No. Set yourself up for success by doing something you actually enjoy (for me, it’s going for a nature walk) and only commit to a few minutes. If you feel like continuing, awesome. If not, that’s fine too. You did the thing.
2. Pair it with something else that’s enjoyable. Bring your favourite beverage with you and enjoy it mindfully. Find those earbuds in the junk drawer and cue up the audiobook or podcast you’ve been wanting to listen to.
3. Use rewards. Personally, I find coffee very motivating and use it as a reward to enjoy AFTER I go for a walk. Incentives work for everyone – we all need a little boost!
4. Optional but highly recommended – get a dog. They will stare at you until you take them for a walk. It’s highly effective. Once you give in and take them out, their joy is contagious and you will feel better about life.
