Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Rest, Relaxation, and Celebration

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Achievement, Contemplation, family, Friends, Goals, Monday, motivation, Rest, Strive, Thankful

This week the United States celebrates Thanksgiving. As we approach the holiday season, it is a good time to talk about taking a break. You’ve worked hard all year. You’ve put your efforts into personal goals and are beginning to look at what you would like to pursue in the new year.

Take that time. Enjoy your family. Recharge the batteries. Have fun.

The year is almost gone. You still have time to knock out the rest of your goals, but if you didn’t make it, don’t sweat it. Goals are voluntary. We set them and strive to achieve them, but things change. One of the revelations I had a few years ago was the need to drop a goal if I felt like I was pulling my own teeth to work toward it. It didn’t mean that the goal was a bad one; it merely meant it wasn’t the right goal at the time.

I’ll be posting this week, even though my sister is here, but will be less active in this and many of my online accounts, because it’s time to enjoy the family and friends that come over to hang out. Take advantage of this time. It’s once a year, and it is a great time to contemplate what you want to do next year, and how you did this year.

With that, I’ll wish everyone a terrific Thanksgiving, if you celebrate the holiday. I can’t wait!! The food will be awesome!

Have a great Monday, folks.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Motivating Video

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Attack, Drive forward, Eric Thomas, Expect Setbacks, failure, Get at it, Monday, motivation

Here you go, folks!

Have a great Monday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Filling in a Gap

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Book, decisions, Gaps, intrinsic, Meaning, motivation, Writing

Have you ever completed a project and then, not know what to fill that gap in your schedule with? That’s me right now. School kept me busy, but now that school’s over with, I have to figure out what to replace the hours I put into that with something else. I know working on my books will take up some of the time, but what to do with the rest?

Well, I decided to get back out in the world. I’ve created two days in my schedule where I will do my work in one of our terrific coffee shops and another day in my local library. Getting out will do me good, and I am never one to turn down a terrific cup of coffee.

What has this got to do with motivation? Well, motivation is about getting up and doing something. For me, the type of motivation for school was a mix of both intrinsic motivation (I wanted another degree) and extrinsic motivation (deadlines for assignments). Now, it’s all on me. That is the change. There is no one telling me what to do. It’s all me.

So, here we go!

If you have a unexpected gap in your schedule like me, think about what you want to do, have time to do, and fill in the gap. Anybody can take that extra time and binge watch Netflix, play endless hours of video games, or just do nothing, but if you’re like me, you like having things to do that has meaning. I enjoy the creativity in writing, and have always wanted to write a book. So, I’m back at it again. I’ve got a lot of ideas, and I’m looking forward to getting to work.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Reflection

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4th Quarter, Categories, Fall, Mental, Monday, motivation, Physical, Planning, reflection, Social, Spiritual

Here we are again, folks! Another Monday and another week.

This week I’d like to talk about reflection. This time of year I do a lot of reflection. Where did I start? Where am I now? Where do I want to go?

How did you do this year with your goals? Did you hit most of them? Did you miss any? Did you find that one or more of your goals just weren’t something you really wanted to commit to?

Each year is a time for learning. We learn what we want. We learn what we do not want. We learn our likes and dislikes. As we change, so do our preferences. So keep this in mind when you set out to tackle next year.

When I set goals I start with categories. My categories are physical, mental, social, and spiritual. I got these categories from a book I read each year, called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Steven Covey. These help me achieve balance so I do not focus too much on one thing and neglect something else.

The physical area is where exercise, diet, sleep, and all the rest reside. The mental is where learning, writing, and thinking come into play. The social is how, who, and when I connect with other people. Finally, the spiritual is how I approach my religious path.

You can choose any categories you wish, but these work really well for me.

So as I reflect, this is how my year’s been.

Physically, my exercise habit suffered tremendously over the last few years. I tried to keep up with it during lockdowns, but to no avail. I have never been one to really do a serious workout routine at home. If I purchased any exercise equipment, it would be a waste of time and money. I would not use it. For me it is the physical act of going to the gym that makes all the difference. So, this year’s focus will be back on getting to the gym consistently.

Mentally, I did pretty good. I am on track to read my 60 books this year. I also hit my goal of individual learning, about mid-year. Nothing to tweak here, other than what things I want to learn in the new year. Now that my wife’s Master’s degree is completed, I’ll get back to working on my books. I have a lot of ideas, but this year the focus will be on my book idea I started a few years ago. The goal is to complete a first draft by the end of next year.

Socially, I am challenged, because I help out to frail parents who both have compromised immune systems. We have all been vaccinated, but I still feel uncomfortable getting out in large crowds. So, my social life outside the house will involve meeting people as I run errands, the gym, and of course online with Facebook and this blog. I have made some good friends this year with my blog. Here’s to more in the new year. I am also socializing a lot with people I game with. My brother and other gaming friends are awesome to play with. Call of duty, Far Cry 6, and a new game I found, Mafia City are all a blast!

Spirituality is one of my strengths. I do a lot of work in this area, and will continue to do so in the new year.

As we approach the end of the year, I’ll continue to reflect and contemplate on what I want to do in the new year. Hopefully, by giving you the example above, you’ll see how you too can figure out what you want, where you’ve been, and where you want to go in 2022. I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Motivation is Coupled to Your Mood

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anxiety, depression, Exercise, Fall, Holidays, Monday, Mood, motivation, Sister, Sun Lights, Winter

This time of year it gets dark and stays dark. We have a lot of dark, rainy days in the fall, or dark snowy days. It’s just that time of year for Michiganders. Many people in my neck of the woods suffer from an ailment (I do not know the name), where the dark impacts their moods. My sister is one of them.

She and I are the exact opposite when it comes to this time of year. It is my favorite time. For her it is absolute torment. One solution she came up with was getting herself a light that she sits in for about an hour before doing anything else. It was the trick.

Do you have any fall challenges? Do the darker months impact you? You may want to look into a light like my sister did. Perhaps you have other challenges with the fall and winter months. Maybe you do not like to be cooped up. Learn some winter sports like cross-country skiing, hiking, or even just walking. There are a lot of things to do if you look for them.

Motivation and mood are tied to one another. It is hard to be motivated if you are pissed off or depressed. Find the root cause of these things; get some help if you need it. It is really hard to be motivated if you don’t feel well, or are suffering from depression.

Another thing you may look into is exercise. Exercise for me is like going to a psychologist. I just feel so good when I go to the gym, get in some exercise, and sweat a little. It is something about the body moving, the endorphins that are released when we exert ourselves, and the boost to the self esteem that comes when you do something that is hard to do.

Well, that’s it for today, folks. Enjoy the changing colors of the leaves, the snow that will come soon, if it is not here already where you live, and the great food and family time that accompanies this time of year. It’s great to be alive, isn’t it?

Have a great Monday, folks.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Flexibility

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Contingency planning, Flexibility, motivation, Planning, Plans, Projects, reality

I read a lot of blogs. I do not comment on all of them, but I read quite a bit. One common thread I have read about, particularly with people who are dealing with tragedy, addiction, or other challenges, is their ability to be flexible and adjust to whatever comes. This is this week’s theme–flexibility.

How many times do you get blindsided by something in one or more of your projects? All the time, right? Someone drops the ball on this particular task, some order you placed for supplies is late, one of your key team members gets sick. The list goes on and on.

We had a saying in the Army. “No plan survives reality.” This is a quote that rings of truth every time I look back at any project I participated in. Nothing survives reality. So, it is important to plan. What we should take into account are risks to our plan that we need to account for and plan for. The Army called these contingency plans. When this thing happens, we will do this. When this thing happens we will do this. See?

So, when you are tackling all your projects this week, take a look at past projects and where the problems arose. You’ll likely see a pattern. Once you know the patterns of problems that tend to arise when you begin a project, you’ll be better prepared to handle them. Flexibility comes into play when something happens you did NOT plan for.

Flexibility allows you to sidestep a problem or deal with it, without it breaking you in half. There’s a story I read (author unknown) that discusses trees and how the ones that survive are the most flexible. They bend with the wind. The more rigid a tree is, the more likely it is to get snapped in half when the winds come. So take this metaphor and apply it to your life. The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to survive the storms of life.

Well, that’s it for today, folks.

Have a great Monday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Motivation: Inside and Outside

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changing circumstances, delegation, Extrinsic Motivation, Intrinsic Motivation, Monday, motivation, outsourcing

I do not know if I have ever written about these two types of motivation, but I was prompted to write about them again by my muse, so here goes. The two types of motivation are labeled intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is the internal drive to get something done. Extrinsic motivation is an outside influence to achieve something.

When we are intrinsically motivated, we are motivated by ourselves. Blogging is a good example. We blog for some internal reason, be it highlighting a hobby we have, telling our story, or sharing the news we find interesting in today’s paper. Others highlight their businesses, like their books, their travel businesses, or any number of professions. This is an example of intrinsic motivation. Now, some who blog do out of necessity. They need people to know about their businesses, so these folks may be motivated extrinsically. The business motivates them, not themselves.

I like to think about these two types of motivation because they are a great measuring stick for what we do. I also do not think the things we do fall into one or either camp entirely. In other words, I think every task we complete has both types of motivations intertwined within them. We feel an inward pressure to do something, but also an external one.

Let’s look at your profession. There are certain internal drivers that get you to work every day. Perhaps it is the people you work with or the type of work you do. If you truly enjoy your work and your colleagues, this is intrinsic. Yet, there are also external factors that impact our need to go to work. We have financial responsibilities, a need to support ourselves, and an employer who expects certain things from us. I hope this illustrates my point–we are driven by both forms of motivation simultaneously, not one or the other.

One thing I will say, however, is that the more intrinsically you are motivated, the easier a task is. You are doing something because YOU want to. Not because someone else is making you do it. When a task becomes overly extrinsic, you may have to take a look at what you are doing. I mean, who wants to be driven by someone else to do something? Perhaps it is your job. Maybe it’s time for a change. If it is a chore that you find distasteful, there’s always delegation. Can one of your kids do the job now? Can this be outsourced to an outside vendor or person who does this for a living. We have our next door neighbor’s boy do our lawn, rake our leaves, and snow blow our driveway. He likes the money we pay him, and we like not having to do the work anymore (It’s so nice to see someone else snow blowing your driveway when it is in the sub-zero range of temperatures.)

Today, take stock of what you do every day. If you have to be nagged or even nag yourself to get something done, is there someone else that can do that particular task? Something to consider.

I hope all of you have a terrific Monday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Augmenting Your Tasks with Music

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Achievement, Getting Things Done, Heavy, Monday, motivation, Music, Setting Goals, Trance

There are a bunch of songs that I listen to over and over again and produce the same results–goosebumps. If you are ever down in the dumps or unmotivated to do what you need to do, listen to some music you know will pump you up. I find different kinds of music have different effects and I use them in different scenarios.

When I am reading and writing, I listen to instrumental, environmental, and electronic (focus-type) stuff. If something has any type of singing, words, etc., I cannot concentrate on anything. When I want to motivate myself, there are songs from Eminem, DeadMaus, Armin VanBuuren, and many others in the rap and techno genres. When I’m in the gym, it is heavy stuff like Arch Enemy, Slipknot, Disturbed, AC/DC, Metallica, Kataklysm, and the like. Anything heavy, with hard-charging lyrics, fast-paced guitar licks, and lots of double base stuff. The trance genre is also terrific if I’m going to do a bout of low-impact cardio, like treadmill, stepping, or rowing.

Music is my go to, when I need a boost. Obviously, coffee is another huge contender on Monday mornings to get myself moving, but music is by far the biggest influencer on my moods and augments what I am doing at the time.

I hope all of you are having a terrific Monday and will have a terrific week.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – I’m back…

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Brother, Evaluating, family, Fun, Good times, Laughter, Monday, motivation, Planning, Scheduling, Sister

I’m back, after a great week with my brother and his girlfriend, We all had a great time, and we all got to celebrate my Mother’s 78th birthday. My sister came down, so all of the siblings were here, along with the gal.

How do you get back on track, after a long vacation? For me, it’s my to-do app, set up with recurring tasks. All my daily to-dos are recurring, so my to-do list literally tells me what I need to do. It’s great!

While my brother was here, I was surprised with an early birthday gift (My birthday is in October). The birthday gift was a 2TB storage drive for my Xbox. After installing it, which took about a minute, I now have 1.7TB of storage remaining. What a treat! I’ve also started playing Call of Duty, Mobile. It is Call of Duty’s way of allowing folks to play their game, who cannot afford an XBOX. I have to say it is quite a good game. I play it on my iPad, and use an Apple-specific controller. It’s great fun. I’ve also decided, since I enjoy so many games, that I’ll stick with Call of Duty Mon-Friday, and then play some new games on the weekend.

Today, I’m knocking out the cobwebs and getting back on track. I recently received an inner prompting to take stock of my life, look at what I am doing every day, and make some adjustments. I get this prompting from time-to-time, and it is a great way to evaluate, consolidate, and reorganize. A friend of mine recently retired and asked for some advice. I told her, find a hobby, list out the things she has always wanted to do, but never had time, and put together a list of daily things she could do to start getting all these things moving. She asked, “Why?” I replied, “Because, binge watching Netflix will get old real quick.”

The point I’m making here is that when you have a lot of time, it is easy to waste it. Retirement does not mean you quit life. It means you enjoy it more fully. If you have recently retired, take a look at your life. What works? What doesn’t work? Then, make a list of all the things you want to focus on for the rest of your life. It could be writing a book, going back to school, learning a musical instrument, taking up drawing, creating a reading list, or even join a book club. The possibilities are endless, and you’ll have fun deciding what you want to do with yourself.

For me, my focus is on learning, reading, writing, spirituality, staying in shape, and gaming. Gaming is my hobby, so I don’t do any gaming, until I’ve knocked out my daily tasks. Life is not without some form of self-discipline. My exercise habits waned during the pandemic, so this is something I will be revisiting for sure. The older I get, the more quickly I get out of shape. Whew!

I’m also doing something different this year. My religious path, follows a different calendar than a traditional one. Our New Year starts on the 23rd of October each year. So, November will now be my January. So, plan on my yearly goals, aspirations, and plans in October instead of December. I’ll get this out to all of you, after I’ve done some thinking, planning, and scheduling.

Well, that’s it for now. We had a great time with family over the last week. It was so much fun, having family meals, playing board games, talking about our memories, and just laughing and laughing. Here’s to family.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – It’s All in the Preparation

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Do Nothing Day, Hobby, iPad, Monday, motivation, Netflix, Saturday, Sunday

I’ve addressed this before in my Motivation Monday writings, but wanted to bring this up again. Sundays are labeled my “do nothing day”. On Sunday, I literally do what I want, without a schedule and where I purposely do not do anything listed on my to-do list. I wanted one day to truly be “lazy”, feel no pressure, and just enjoy the day, regardless of what I end up doing, guilt-free.

What does my “do nothing day” look like? Typically, it involves sleeping in. And when I say sleep in, I mean it. I normally do not get out of bed until 11 am or 12 pm. Sometimes I’ll get up briefly for my iPad, and get right back into that warm bed and watch some Netflix. It really depends on my mood, and what I feel like.

I don’t remember where I got this idea from, but it has worked miracles for me. When I get up Monday, I’m raring to go. I would also like to note that my preparation for Monday occurs on Friday and Saturday, where I take a look at my upcoming week and figure out what I am going to be doing. This alleviates any pressure on me to do anything on my “do nothing day.”

So get your calendar straight, look at the things you have on your schedules, and get your clothes prepped. Then when you hit Monday, you are hitting it running. I hope some of you take up a “do nothing day”. It may not be as “hard-core” as mine, because you have certain responsibilities you can’t avoid (pets, children, etc.), but it is a really worthwhile venture.

Your “do nothing day” doesn’t have to be on Sunday, either. You can set it for a day that is easier. Perhaps, Saturday?

Well, that’s all I got for Monday. Have a great week, folks!

Until next time…

Dave