Happy Monday!
And Merry (Almost) Christmas! It’s also another new week, which means it’s time for your next Monday motivation newsletter. Read on below for some steps to a happier Monday, a short story and a roundup of 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: From my weekend, I am thankful that I was with my family in Orlando, I saw the Nutcracker for the first time in years and I reconnected with friends from high school on Friday and Saturday.
TODAY: I am most excited to spend the day and night with two of my best friends from college for our annual Christmas get-together!
INTENTION: My intention for this week is to be fully present as I embrace the holiday season. So excited Christmas is finally here and want to soak it all up!
Okay, your turn! And if you want to share your three steps, I am all ears. 🙂
Lesson of the Week: 20 in 2020
Inspired by the best-selling writer Gretchen Rubin, I decided to make a list of 20 things I want to do in 2020. After hearing about someone who had 35 things to do before a 35th birthday, Gretchen, author of The Happiness Project, adopted the idea and added a New Year’s twist.
I loved the idea! And I had so much fun brainstorming 20 things I want to accomplish in the next year. The items on my list range from habits to adopt (like a quarterly cleanout of my apartment) to aspirations (find a cause I’m passionate about and donate time or money) to silly, LITTLE things that I’ve been meaning to do forever (why haven’t I subscribed to a magazine since I’ve moved to Chicago? I used to look forward to getting them in the mail and loved reading them).
As mentioned in a previous newsletter, my approach with anything pertaining to goal setting is to break big things down into smaller, more digestible items. Everything I put on my 2020 list is simple and something I can realistically complete in the next year. The list is also filled with things that will either bring me joy or help me take a step (doesn’t matter how small) toward that ideal version of myself. And because I’ve assigned a deadline, I’m much more likely to complete instead of keeping these things on my perpetual “someday” list.
I wanted to share my list and this idea with you today in case it sparks inspiration for you to create your own 20 in 2020 list. I know I really enjoyed this exercise and hope you do too. Excited to see how many items we can complete in 2020!
My 20 in 2020 List:
- Subscribe to a magazine
- Participate in a running group
- Purchase a set of personalized stationery
- Plan a reunion with college friends for a UF football game
- Alternate a glass of water in between drinks when out
- Use the 1 Second Everyday app to record more memories
- Start using a meat thermometer
- Host something at my apartment (brunch, dinner, happy hour, etc.)
- Participate in a fantasy football league
- Do a quarterly cleanout/decluttering of my apartment
- Read 15 books
- Take a trip with my mom
- Find a dermatologist
- Replace my iPad case to have a working keyboard
- Road trip to Notre Dame for a sporting event
- Run a 5k race
- Donate either time or money to a cause I am passionate about
- Get new bedding
- Master ONE recipe and declare it my “go-to dish”
- Write 52 Monday morning newsletters!
On My Monday Radar – Holiday Edition!
Changing up this section today. Since we are right in the middle of gift-giving season, I wanted to provide five ideas of gifts that ship FAST in case you are looking for a last-minute present.
- Rifle Paper Airpod Case: This present would be perfect for the person who loves their airpods. I loved the design and how the product is on-sale and available in some Anthropologie stores.
- Blue Light Glasses: These stylish glasses (which ship fast with Amazon Prime) would make a unique gift! If you think about how much we all look at screens throughout the day, I can’t think of anything more practical.
- Yeti Mug with Handle: I received my first Yeti Mug as a gift earlier this year and have been using it nonstop ever since. Especially now when my coffee instantly goes cold in a regular cup upon walking outside in Chicago. My only wish is that I had one with a handle!
- Subscription to a Streaming Service and Show Recommendation: Have a show you recently watched and loved? What about getting someone a three-month subscription to Amazon Prime to watch the newest season of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or Apple TV Plus for The Morning Show?
- A Book Gift Exchange: I still get together with my group of high school friends to do a Secret Santa gift exchange every year. This year we decided to assign a theme and all get each other books. Limiting to books made the shopping infinitely easier and I loved getting a book and a recommendation all in one.
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
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