Monday, 6/23/25: 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 time with Matt’s cousins, fun playing pickleball on Saturday and seeing my parents yesterday!!  

TODAY: I’m most excited to go for a long walk after work today.

INTENTION: My intention this week is to think about how I can make my weeknights feel more like Friday evenings (more on this below). 

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!:

• Desk upgrades I’m loving: As I get my new home office setup settled, a couple of gadgets have made a big difference. This Dockteck Hub cord collector keeps all my cords tidy and makes connecting everything seamless. And this visual timer helps me focus during work blocks… and is surprisingly satisfying to use.  
• Okay I never do this (recommend a book before finishing it), but I just started One Golden Summerby Carley Fortune, and it’s already delivering on all the summer-y, rom-com goodness I was hoping for. I texted my friend (who’s already read it) that I was heading to the DMV and was HOPING I’d have to wait… just so I could read more. That’s how you know it’s a good book! It would be a perfect long weekend read if you’re looking for something for the 4th of July! (Again, I’m only ~100 pages in, so hopefully I’m still feeling this enthusiastic about the book after I finish it!)  
• Something I want to watch: The Materialist movie. I can’t remember the the last time a movie (besides Wicked) made me want to go to the theater. This one looks fun and compelling. Planning to see it soon!
• A new weeknight dinner we’re loving: Cheesy Potato Taco Bowls. Cozy, flavorful, and comes together quickly – my favorite kind of recipe.
• Skincare switch-up: I recently started using a new-to-me brand called Barefaced. It’s great that their products are pregnancy-safe. I’m starting with a few essentials from their “Core Four” (really loving the toning pads and the tinted sunscreen!) and I’m loving how simple the routine is. 
• “After 5 p.m., It’s Friday.” Especially for summer evenings, I love this mindset – treat weeknights with the same energy and openness we often save for weekends. Challenging myself to think about how I can elevate my weeknights this week, even if it’s just reading on the back porch, starting a new movie with Matt or enjoying an ice cream run. 
• How to Stop ‘Post-Vacation Blues’ From Ruining Your Return. Bookmark this article the next time you are coming home from a trip! I especially love tips 3 & 4. 
• Two playlists I’ve had on repeat: Soft Summer for gentle, breezy background music in the mornings and workdays and Summer Dinner Party for warm, relaxed vibes for evenings outside.

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