Motivation.

I’m not sure quite why, but I had motivation this morning. When my 6.8 lb dog started jumping all over the bed, and trying to nudge my face off of my pillow, I actually got out of bed, and took her for a nearly 2 mile walk. Afterward, I checked my email, narrowing down my unread messages to less than 20 (from nearly 100), and now here I am, writing.

If you’ve ever met me, chances are, you don’t think that motivation is something that I struggle with. At work, I tackle projects with zeal and mark tasks off my to-do list with zest. Work is easier than the rest of life though. I’m motivated by judgment, just like in school. Each review is like getting grades – and I want to be at the top of my class. That judgment, paired with the fear of disappointing those around me, drives me to work harder and longer than some of my counterparts.

Now, on Saturday afternoon or Wednesday night, what motivates me? What gets me to the gym, to the keyboard – anywhere that’s off of the couch?

i don’t know.

For the next week, I’m going to do my best to keep track of what does get me off the couch (and what doesn’t…). I’m motivated to keep track of this by my accountability to you. I’ll read about motivation, and test some of the theories. Maybe in the end it will turn out to be like The Happiness Project for those of us who need a little extra “go”.

Even in my dress, I wanted to be a little eccentric (wearing multiple rings or bracelets), or at least fashionable. Instead, I find myself wearing boring, traditional wear – jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt. On a “wild” day, I might wear a fitted jacket over the tee.

When I looked through the book The Right-Brain Business Plan, I finally realized why I was never really being the person I thought I wanted to be. Everything that they recommended was the way I wanted to think about a business plan! The stuff that they said was “boring” and “hard” for a right-brainer to do was exactly what I naturally gravitated toward. I need to use my right brain more.

Under careful consideration, you would expect me to use my right brain quite a bit. After all, I’m in marketing – a “creative” profession. But in online marketing, there’s a lot of left brain work. It’s as much about the analytical metrics as it is about creative offerings. The most creative I am is in writing headlines and marketing copy – and even that’s becoming mundane.

I’m challenging myself to do something more creative every day for the next 21 days (since it takes 21 days to make a habit). Here are a few suggestions that I’ve found online:

• Draw, doodle, paint – do more art. It doesn’t have to be “good”  art, but pick up a writing instrument and do something other than write a complete sentence on a ruler straight line.
• Dance – which, will of course, include listening to more music. (I wonder if Zumba classes count as dancing?)
• Write a short story or poem.

I may never be a right-brainer, but I’m hoping to find a better balance.

Or, with a little time on your hands, you can use a collection of plastic bags to make a stronger, re-usable plastic bag tote. I’m not sure I’m up for this project yet, but its interesting to consider.

Plastic Bag Tote