Monday, 7/8/24: Talking about what’s on my radar this morning

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 free time, seeing friends Saturday and a very exciting FaceTime call from another friend Friday!

TODAY: Today, I’m most excited to get my nails done after work. 

INTENTION: My intention this week is to walk outside daily.

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

On My Monday Radar

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!

• If you’re feeling sad about the holiday being over, try this: make a quick list of some favorite or happy memories from the past couple days & a few things you are looking forward to this week. And if nothing immediately comes to mind of things to look forward to this week, pick a few small delights to add into your plans! I did this exercise last night when post-holiday week sadness was setting in, and it made me feel better :). 
• On the topic of having things to look forward to every day: A Nora Ephron-Approved Happiness Hack (loved this!)
• What Is Summer Telling You? A fun prompt to consider.  
• I really liked the recipes I made this 4th of July. It was just Matt and me and our cooking was confined to an apartment kitchen, but I made Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken, Ina Garten’s Summer Corn Salad, coleslaw and Fruit Pizza for dessert… yum !
• My new(ish) obsession: Oofos Recovery Sandals. Last Christmas, I gifted a pair to my mom to help with lower back pain and she has raved about them. I recently got a pair to wear around my apartment when I’m working, cooking, cleaning and WOW! They aren’t the most fashion-forward pair of shoes, but they really do relieve pressure from joints, which I especially appreciate since I start to feel my lower back as my running mileage ramps up in the summer. 
• You’re Vacationing All Wrong. Here’s How to Have a Truly Restful Break. Noted!

Picture of the Week