Coffee Information

There is More to Motivation Than Meets the Coffee


The stress of unemployment can really take a toll on ones confidence and state of mind. For some individuals, it could lead to depression, for others - a mere lack of motivation and feeling of hopelessness. Employment is one of the main structures that helps individuals in our society to feel positive, develop financial independence, as well as establish hope for the future.

Even for those with jobs, motivation is a hard state to attain and maintain. Businesses are losing thousands of hours' worth of productivity each year - with staff being distracted from their jobs by everything from 'cyber-surfing to taking 5 coffee breaks a day (which by the way may leave you broke considering the raise in recent coffee prices).

In a recent survey conducted by silicon.com, results found that "While cyber-loafing was identified by 23 per cent of respondents as the main obstacle to a productive workforce, 'low staff morale and lack of motivation' was identified by 32 per cent of respondents."

So, besides the short-term benefits of early morning coffee consumption, what are some alternatives to getting motivated for work?

Stimulate your mind and your mouth

It has been proven time and time again that having breakfast in the morning gives you a nutritional boost both physically and mentally. But what about emotionally - can breakfast alone be enough to get you motivated for your day? Getting your day off on the right start doesn't mean walking into your office on a full stomach. It means walking in on a full stomach and a full set of ideas.

Participating in mental activities like doing a crossword puzzle or meditating can really sharpen your mind within a short period of time. If neither exercises appeal to you, then pick up the newspaper or read a book that is relevant to your line of work. By doing so, you may be able to get fresh new ideas for your business, or learn more about new industry trends.

You've got mail! Get your daily dose of wisdom

My favorite time of the day is when I get inspirational quotes in my inbox. You can subscribe to a few inspirational newsletters by browsing the Web. My personal favorite is the John Baines Forum (www.ihpny.org). The minute I finish reading them, I instantly feel a powerful connection between my mind and spirit - the 2 most essential ingredients for outer productivity and inner happiness.

Get outside the (office) box

Ever heard of the phrase "Being so close to the forest that you can't see the trees"? Well, a lot of times people experience this in their work environments - and rightfully so! Your environment determines your level of productivity and it is not always easy to see the trees (ideas) when you are always in the forest (office). Some times the best remedy is getting outside the box - I mean, office. If you have a meeting in your office with a client, see if you can rearrange it to your favorite neighborhood café instead. Not only does this provide a more relaxed setting for both individuals, but also allows you to connect more on a human level.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with your time and energy, turn off you computer, take a walk outside, and breathe deeply. If this doesn't help, see if there are any seminars or roundtables you can attend that week on time management and fatigue.

Start your week with a weekly report

Whether you have a job or not, the most important thing to do before your "work week" starts is writing down all the goals you have for that week. Make sure to put a specific timeline on completing your goals. That way, you will be accountable to yourself if you miss your deadline. Set aside punishments and rewards to keep yourself in check.

I personally like to print my weekly report and tape it to my desk so it is always in front of me. Always have a highlighter right next to you so that when you finish, you mark off what you have completed. If you are computer savvy, you may use programs like ACT or Outlook.

In sum, true motivation lies within your heart. If you cannot find it there, it may be because you lack the resources, techniques, and appropriate environment that is conducive to your personal productivity. If these resources are aligned properly, not only will you be able to reach your highest levels of motivation, you may be able to reduce your monthly spending habits at your local Starbucks!

Dali Singh is the Managing Director for Blueliner Marketing (www.bluelinermarketing.com), a full-service marketing and communications firm. Dali is also a member of the Institute for Hermetic Philosophy, a spiritual school that provides tools to assist people in developing themselves on a personal and practical level. Visit www.ihpny.org or sign up for weekly inspirational quotes at http://www.ihpny.org/template.asp?page=mailing.


MORE RESOURCES:

The Associated Press

Amsterdam moves to close a fifth of 'coffee shops'
The Associated Press - Nov 21, 2008
More than a quarter of the country's coffee shops are in Amsterdam, where they are a major tourist attraction. Amsterdam spokeswoman Iris Reshef said the ...
Dutch "coffee shop" debate: will closing only shift drug traffic? AFP
Topic: Amsterdam closing 20% of coffee shops (Read 34 times) The Daily Kenoshan
Some Dutch cannabis "coffee shops" to go up in smoke Reuters India
United Press International - Radio Netherlands
all 220 news articles


Los Angeles Times

Obama happy as a 9-to-5 temp
Los Angeles Times, CA - 7 hours ago
On Friday, he made time to leave the office briefly to pick up a corned beef sandwich and some cherry pie from Manny's Coffee Shop & Deli, a favorite spot ...
Video: Raw Video: Obama Grabs Lunch at Chicago Landmark AssociatedPress
At Manny's Deli in Chicago, President-elect Barack Obama is served ... Chicago Tribune
Obama grabs lunch at local deli, greets patrons The Associated Press
ABC News - CNET News
all 150 news articles


WHDH-TV

Dog hits controls, drives van into coffee house
The Associated Press - Nov 20, 2008
JAMES, NY (AP) — A dog left inside a running van put the vehicle in drive, causing it to crash into a Long Island coffee house. Suffolk County police said ...
Dog rolls van through St. James coffee shop window Newsday
Dog Crashes Van Into Coffee House NPR
Dog Drives Van into Coffee Shop KTLA
AOL News Newsbloggers - myfoxny.com
all 115 news articles


Research and Markets: Snapshots US Ground Coffee 2008 Gives An ...
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - 23 hours ago
Snapdata's Snapshots US Ground Coffee 2008 provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. ...


Coffee Names Randy Swanson to Senate GOP Communications Post
OK.gov, Ok - 22 hours ago
Oklahoma State Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, announced Friday that Randy Swanson of Yukon will join Coffee's Senate ...
Oklahoma GOP senators name spokesman NewsOK.com
News Minute: Here is the latest Oklahoma news from The Associated ... KFOR
all 14 news articles


River Maiden Coffee making a return to downtown Vancouver core
The Columbian, WA - 17 hours ago
River Maiden owner Melissa Layman expects to open a branch of River Maiden Coffee at 701 Main St. in downtown Vancouver by February or March. ...
Merchants hail Main Street changes The Columbian
all 2 news articles


Boston Globe

Dunkin' Donuts opens first shop in mainland China
BusinessWeek - 19 hours ago
based seller of coffee and baked goods said in a news release Friday it opened the shop in Shanghai on Thursday. The shop is on Fuzhou Road, ...
In 2d crack at China market, Dunkin' Donuts alters recipe Boston Globe
Dunkin' Donuts Opens First Shop in Mainland China SYS-CON Brasil
Dunkin' Donuts hopes to find success in China QSR Web
Boston Globe
all 22 news articles


MTV.com

Britney Spears Attracts A Coffee Crowd
Just Jared, NY - Nov 21, 2008
Britney Spears is surrounded by fans and photographers as she goes out to get some coffee at Starbucks in Encino, Calif. on Thursday. ...
Britney Spears Misses the Excitement The Gossip Girls
all 741 news articles


Research and Markets: Vietnam Food and Drink Report Q4 2008 ...
MarketWatch - 23 hours ago
Meanwhile, Vietnam is looking to invest in its soluble coffee industry. Over the next two years, over US$80mn will be invested in the construction of three ...


Examiner.com

Fresh coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde
Examiner.com - 4 hours ago
It's an outside dining experience; the menu consisting of mostly coffee-like drinks, milk and juice, and the world famous beignets. ...

Coffee - Google News

home | site map
© 2008