One Of Those Monday Mornings….

By FutureNestEgg | September 7, 2009

Monday morning here – Kids have been dropped off in their respective schools and I am sitting here with my second cup of coffee. Last few weeks have been quite productive for me – work wise. For the past three to four days though something has ticked me off the wrong way – not sure what it is – but I just know that I am not in the same state of mind that I was three days ago.

This happens to me from time to time – actually I am pretty sure that it happens to most of us – We are all sometimes in ‘ticked off’ mood – this is what is called ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’. But anyways, it is Monday morning here and Monday is going to set my mood for the rest of the week – So I am NOT going to let it tick me off. Honestly, I don’t know what this ‘it’ is – something has ticked me off and I just can’t lay my finger on it.

I have been working on my own and from home for a long time now – I love what I do and every morning I can’t wait to get digging into my work – But there are days when I still can’t wait to get to work but the positive momentum is lacking. The reason though is usually not very obvious (sometimes it is but most of the times not so obvious).

But over the years I have kind of learned how to get myself back into action – Sometimes I know I need a break and on these occasions I just let myself switch off from work and take a break – These are not the times I am talking in this post – In this post I am talking about the times, when you don’t need a break, want to continue with work but your confidence kind of has a taken a hit and you are bit unsure where you want to go – the momentum is lacking.

You can’t always pinpoint the exact reasons for this negative emotions but all that you know that something (or a series of somethings) caused it and now you are dealing with the consequences.

Lately though, I am refusing to allow anything to come between me and work (except of course my family) – I have a clear vision of where I want my business to be in three years and in five years. I have to take my business there – no matter what. There are things along this business journey that will definitely try to waver me – It is at times like this that I have to be more focussed than ever. And on days like this my focus needs to be brought back in line.

There are two things I want to share with you today – two things which have been really working for me – especially on days like this:

1. Does This Take Me Closer To My Goal Or Away From It: Any thought, any distraction that occurs to my mind, I ask myself this question – ‘Does This Take Me Closer To My Goal Or Away From It’ – If it does not then I don’t give it a second thought – Not giving a second thought, does not always work but keep asking this question again and again and by tenth or thirteenth time, it will do the trick.

2. Put The Blinkers On: Distractions are everywhere. Lately I am trying to only consume information that will help me in my business – For example, no reading news during working hours, no browsing web unless there is a purpose, no wasting time by subscribing to unnecessary newsletters etc…Keep it simple and keep it focussed…

These two things helped me today as well – Was not a great day to begin with but asking myself the first question, served as a wake up call – And I also quickly implemented the second point – closed my email, logged out of facebook and twitter and I have put up a motivational podcast in the background and I am into my Monday morning routines.

Working from your home and on your own is never easy – but don’t let external things distract you too much from your goals – easily said than done – I know that because it is a constant struggle for me too – But I have figured out a couple of things which will pull me out of the slump (most of the times) and I am sure that you have your own motivators – And when you are in a slump, put those motivators to full use.

External distractions come and go but if you don’t put the present moment to full use, all that you will be left with is regret.

Best,