Monday, 4/28/25: 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 sunny weather, a major planning session on Saturday and my long walk outside Sunday.  

TODAY: I’m most excited to get outside after work today… it’s going to be nearly in the 80s!

INTENTION: My intention this week is to appreciate my rituals and routines. 

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

On My Monday Radar

Each Monday, this newsletter rotates between personal reflections & essays and a round-up of links, recommendations, and other positive things on my radar. If you’re looking for some content to ease into your week, take a scroll through the links below. Hope you enjoy!:

• One of my goals for April was to take a break from professional manicures and work on my at-home nail routine. I have to say: I’m very proud of my progress!! I’m loving the Olive & June manicure prep set, and their Poppy tool is a game changer… I can finally paint with my non-dominant hand! So far, I’ve been alternating between an Olive & June light pink polish and this shiny clear color that has the faintest hint of pink. I’m really enjoying the ritual of painting my nails once a week while watching TV or listening to a podcast. It’s nice to have an activity that forces you to slow down and practice patience!

A few other random, non-essential (but fun!) things I’ve been loving lately: 

• Mrs. Meyer’s Hydrangea hand soap. I was surprised by how much I liked this scent! It really does smell like you just finished cutting a fresh bouquet of flowers. Perfect for spring!
• Purely Elizabeth cookie granola. My hyperfixation breakfast right now: plain Greek yogurt + this granola (either the chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin flavor) + berries + peanut butter + chia seeds. I genuinely look forward to it every morning. Delicious!
• Mouth tape for sleeping. This article reminded me that I haven’t talked about my obsession with mouth tape yet! My friend Leah introduced me to the idea last summer, and ever since, it’s been a part of my bedtime routine. Before going to bed, I put on a final application of chapstick and then a piece of mouth tape. When I skip it, I notice I’m more likely to wake up in the middle of the night or feel like I didn’t sleep as deeply. Here’s my favorite one. 
• I can’t wait to wear this dress once it gets warmer! My friend Emily texted me about this dress, and I’m so glad she did! I snagged it while they still had my size available in the navy gingham (though they often seem to restock). It looks like the perfect ‘throw-on’ dress for summer, and I can’t wait to wear it once it warms up.

And a few things from around the internet that caught my eye last week:

• ‘Early Morning Quiet’ blog post. You already know I’m all about this – getting up early for some quiet time and doing something you enjoy, like reading. I love seeing how other people use their early mornings and thinking about how I want to use mine.
• “How lucky I am that some things didn’t work out.” A good reminder and interesting perspective to consider. It’s often hard to remember in the moment, but looking back retrospectively, I agree with the sentiment 100%. I’m taking the idea into the new week and staying open to the opportunities that appear when things don’t go as planned.
• 7 Key Joy Indicators: How to Measure What Really Matters at Work.” KJI’s… a playful twist on KPIs! I loved the reminder that even though – yes, it’s work – how you approach it and the attitude you bring is up to you. Love the ideas included within, including keeping track of your KJIs and setting a ‘joy attention’ at the start of the day or at the beginning of a project.
• Oh, I feel so seen. This was me to Matt – or while sending pictures to my mom – all weekend. 

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