Monday, 2/7/24: Talking about what’s on my radar

Happy Monday!

It’s a new week, which means it’s time for your next Monday motivation newsletter.

Read on below for some steps to a happier Monday and some positive thoughts to get your week started.

Three Steps to a Happier Monday

Each newsletter starts with three prompts to inspire gratitude and simple intention setting. Take a moment and jot down answers to these three questions. To give an example, I share my answers below.  

Step 1: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend? 

Step 2: What is one thing I can be excited about today?

Step 3: What is my intention for this week? 

GRATITUDE: I’m thankful for SUNNY weather, a fun catch-up phone call with friends Sunday and time to relax.

TODAY: I’m most excited to run outside this morning. Yay that it is warm enough! 

INTENTION: My intention this week is to make a ‘functional four’ to-do list each day (an idea from 4% Fix!). 

Okay, your turn! And if you want to share your three steps, I am all ears. 🙂

On My Monday Radar

New year, new newsletter format! For the past 4.5 years (!), I’ve followed a pattern of featuring an essay about a wide-ranging number of topics (Monthly goals! Big topics! Small topics!), followed by a roundup of fun links to get your Monday morning started on a positive note. I love writing both, but often wish I had more time to dedicate to each one.

So, starting this year, I’m switching things up and featuring an essay one week and a roundup of links the next. Last week I featured an essay and this week is the roundup of links. Despite this change, the rest of the newsletter (sending it every Monday at 6 AM EST, Three Things to a Happier Monday and Picture of the Week) will stay the same! Hope you enjoy!

• I finished the Book of Lost Names this weekend and wow, it’s one that will stay with me for a while. It is a World War II historical fiction novel about a young Jewish woman (Eva Traude) with a talent for forgery who helps hundreds of Jewish children flee France for Switzerland. This book has two timeline 2005 (Eva in the present – living in Winter Park, FL, where I went to high school!) and the 1940’s (Eva in the past). Highly recommend.
• Adam Grant and Jennifer Gardner in conversation?! Yes please. Not only did I love the snippet of the conversation featured on Instagram, but now I want to listen to the full podcast episode.
• The Rifle Paper Co. x Target collab went live yesterday! I love Rifle Paper and love limited-edition Target collabs, I’m very excited about this. Here’s what caught my eye: the decorative storage boxes, candles and candlestick holders (so cute!) and these pillar candles.    
• From the Wall Street Journal: The Hottest New Bedtime for 20-Somethings Is 9 p.m. I feel SEEN.
• This thriller is on my radar. I’ve seen a couple of people post about how it’s unputdownable and twisty, so saving for the next time I need something to shake me out of a reading slump.
• I was ridiculously excited to pull out my heart mug last week to mark the start of February. It’s the little things!

Picture of the Week

That’s all for today! I hope you found something in today’s newsletter that sparked motivation, made you smile or inspired a positive Monday thought. Don’t underestimate the power of starting small… a fulfilling week starts with just one fulfilling day. You’ve got this!

Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan