Are you stuck in a rut? Feeling unmotivated? Having trouble getting off the couch and getting after your goals?

Maybe it's the winter blahs, or maybe it's just that life has got you a bit down. We all go through periods of feeling uninspired, tired, and just lacking the zest we need to get through it all and achieve.

As a wife, teacher, and author, I've definitely been through ruts where I feel like I can't move off the couch let alone chase those wild, crazy dreams I'm after. However, I've also come across some tips and tricks that quickly turn the attitude around and help me get back on track. Check out my tips for getting inspired quickly, and then tell me in the comments what does the trick for you.

No, I don't mean fly to Fiji (although that would be nice right about now as the Pennsylvania winter winds are whipping about outside). Getting away from it all might mean a weekend without the kids, a night in a hotel, or simply going for a 15-minute walk by yourself. The point is we all need a break from our routines and the noisiness of our lives. Take a few minutes to yourself just to be, just to breathe, and just to think. You'd be amazed how a clear head can get you pumped up to chase after your goals and to figure out what you really want.

Positive attitudes beget positive attitudes.

Surround yourself with people who have an "I can" mentality instead of an "I can't" attitude. Grab a coffee with one of your go-getter friends. Bounce some ideas and frustrations off of your spouse who keeps you grounded. Go online and connect with others in your field (If you're a writer, check out the Sprints and Spirits group run by Audrey Hughey for inspiration).

​Also, be sure that when you're out of your inspiration funk, you can help serve as the inspiration for others.
​ 

Sometimes when we're in a rut, we just need to think a little bit about what sparks joy for us in order to get inspired. Take some time out of your day to list things that make you happy--both things that you do every day and things you would like to do. 

​Writing a concrete list can be a good reminder of what matters most, what priorities you have, and how you can achieve them.

Sometimes when we lack direction in our lives or the motivation to steer the direction of our journey, it is because we are goalless. 

Writing down goals for both the short-term and long-term can help you find some motivation. By setting realistic goals for both the short and long-term, you can also find a sense of direction. When we think about our goals, we can get overwhelmed and not know where to start. Goals help us develop a plan, and a plan helps us achieve and move forward.

What goals matter the most to you? What would you be proud to accomplish this week? This month? This year? 

Recognizing the good things in your life and the things you've already accomplished can help get you back on the right path to finding inspiration. What are three things that you are thankful for today? What are three things that went right?

Don't let yourself fall into a piteous rut. Even the worst day or time in our lives has shining moments. Recognize them, illuminate them, celebrate them. This can help change your attitude to a more optimistic one, which in turn can lead to higher levels of inspiration.

Visualization is a powerful tool to get you inspired but also to help you recognize what matters most to you. 

Ideally, creating a physical vision board can motivate you. Make a collage or use technology to collect images that represent where you hope to be someday. What are your ultimate goals? What legacy do you want to leave behind? What things bring you joy?

Even just visualizing your goals can help get you inspired. Picture your ultimate end result. What will it feel like to accomplish your dreams? Who will be there with you? What rewards will you reap? What emotions will you experience?

Picturing your ultimate end-goal can help you persevere through the tough times. It's sort of like dangling the carrot in front of the proverbial donkey.... it can keep you moving and striving to push forward.

We spend the weeks rushing around from duty to duty, accomplishing tasks at lightening speed and praying for the weekend. Then the weekend comes... and life isn't any easier. Laundry, bills, groceries, playing catch-up on household duties.

Life as a woman in 2018 is beyond hectic. It's exhausting, tiring, and overwhelming. How the hell is anyone supposed to do it all? And, if you do, how are you supposed to find time for your own dreams and passions?

It's a common issue I hear so many women dealing with these days. In our already intense society, so many of us feel pressure to be all things to all people... and we have little room left for resetting and refreshing our lives.

But I've come to learn: We all MUST set the reset button sometimes. We must find time to rejuvenate the soul, our passions, and our psyches. We can't keep go, go, going all the time. We can't be all things all at once.

In March, I got the opportunity to get away for a weekend to Capacon Lodge, a state park lodge in West Virginia. It was a writing retreat, but for me, more than that it was a reset retreat. I got the chance to leave the piles of laundry behind, the overwhelming amount of emails, and the daily drudgery of my busy life. I got to simplify and reset. I got the chance to spend some time sitting in the sunshine, walking in the woods, and just slowing down a bit. There was nowhere I had to be for a couple of days and nothing I had to do.

And you know what?

I felt so much more accomplished by the end of the weekend than any other weekend.

We can't all escape reality on a daily basis. We can't all pick up and go every single weekend, and there will never be enough retreats for us to reset our lives as often as we need. Getting away is a luxury real life doesn't always afford.

However, the retreat reminded me that we still need to find ways to rejuvenate and to refresh our souls. We need to reset our passions and refocus our priorities.

So how do you do that in a busy world? I think you do the best you can. I think you find small, easy ways you can take time for yourself. Whether it's two minutes or two hours, you do your best to put yourself first from time to time. You do your best to say "good enough" and relax when you can.

Most of all, you find the value in hitting reset, in kicking back, and in slowing down.

Here are some simple ways you can hit reset this week. Feel free to add some ideas in the comments below! I'd love to hear how you find ways to refresh during the busy week.

1. Have a cup of tea
2. Meditate for five minutes
3. Listen to your favorite song
4. Read a book for fifteen minues
5. Take ten minutes to do your makeup (confidence is always a win!)
6. Take a walk with a friend to catch up
7. Sit on the deck or porch in the sun for a few moments
8. Paint your nails
9. Write in your journal
10. Indulge in some chocolate and refuse to feel guilty about it
11. Take a long bath
12. Turn off your electronics for an hour a day to escape from social media