Do you ever feel unmotivated? Is today a day where you just didn’t want to get out of bed?

Well, you’re not the only one. In times when we are feeling like this, we need to help each other.

Here are a couple things I do whenever I’m feeling unmotivated and discouraged to do anything:

1. Listen to music

Put on your favorite album while you’re getting ready for work, sing along to music in your car, or if you can, listen to music while at work. Last.fm is a good site that recommends music, videos and concerts based on what you listen to. This calms my stress levels and always puts me in a better mood.

2. Get Inspired

I subscribe to a bunch of design-related blog sites that I view in my Google Reader that really inspire me. Take for example this cleverly designed Endless Ring Calendar at Design Crush.

And I absolutely LOVE this blog by Mrs. Lilien. This Mrs. delights in bestowing her fabulousness and sharing all her magnificent Mrs. finds with friends world wide. Her little rhyming stories are so adorable and always put a smile to my face.

So on a day like today, I will go to these sites and look at great design and read pithy rhymes and just these little things will motivate me to start my day and get things done.

What do you do when you feel discouraged or unmotivated to do anything? Please share in the comments box below!

Do you ever come across something that makes you feel as if the universe is trying to tell you something?

I do. Whether it be a song on the radio or even a sale on the yummy cookies I had been craving, I often think the universe is dropping me little memos of encouragement and advice.

Christine Mason Miller's workspace.

When I stumbled upon Christine Mason Miller’s beautiful artwork and writings I was immediately inspired.

From brilliant quotes to wonderful calligraphy, Christine’s blog and book are always a breath of fresh air after a stressful day.

Christine Mason Miller

So, on this busy, midweek, day be sure to take a second and look for inspiring messages and recharge for a minute.  You deserve it.

Tomorrow the spring semester begins at my university. It seems like the break flew, and I can hardly bear the thought of endless homework at the moment. But I know this feeling well.

It’s one of excitement, anxiety, and happiness of beginning a new schedule. While I can’t say I am particularly thrilled with the idea of getting back into the flow of classes and work, I can say that I am already prepared. I purchased my favorite pens, highlighters, and notepads, so I suppose, I am literally ready to begin- more so than necessarily mentally…

The first few days of anything can be nerve-racking: a new job, a new apartment, a new schedule of any sort for that matter- so a trick I personally use, is a quote of affirmation.

I pick a quote which speaks to me at that point in my life and I write it down on various note cards, and place them in spots which I can check when I feel that I am needing encouragement. (I prefer the front of my planner, my visor in my car and sometimes even in my wallet!)

This was my quote I used last semester:
“Above all, be true to yourself & if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.” -Hardy D. Jackson.

This semester I have chosen:
“There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can’t. What you’ve got to do is turn around and say, ‘watch me’.” -Layne Beachley