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 .

In The News:


Morning Coffee: CSU player sticks foot in mouth
ESPN - 59 minutes ago
But before I can do that, I thought I'd bring you some Morning Coffee for the opening Saturday of the season. • Colorado State senior running back Gartrell ...

Hartford Courant

Business Heating Up For Online Turkish Coffee Entrepreneur
Hartford Courant, United States - 11 hours ago
Now he runs www.turkishcoffeeworld.com, a retailer of everything needed to make and serve Turkish coffee. (GINA FERAZZI / LOS ANGELES TIMES / July 24, ...

Patrons encourage community to send coffee, cookies to troops
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 11 hours ago
By Tiffany Carney Mark Royston personalizes a bag after purchasing a pound of coffee at Elva's Coffee Stop to be sent to troops in Iraq. ...

Daily Mail

Coffee Republic goes cold as customers cut back on luxury lattes
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 16 hours ago
By Rupert Neate As Coffee Republic finance director James Muirhead, unveiled the chain's 12th consecutive year of losses despite a quadrupling of outlets, ...
Credit crunch forces customers to skip their daily cup of coffee Daily Mail
all 5 news articles

The Enterprise Ledger

Coffee County preps for Gustav on anniversary of Katrina
The Enterprise Ledger, AL - 2 hours ago
By Kelly Tabor Personnel from the Red Cross and the Coffee County Emergency Management Agency are keeping a wary eye on Tropical Storm Gustav, ...

Victrola Coffee buys Galaxie Espresso on Beacon Hill
Seattle Times, United States - 14 hours ago
Victrola Coffee Roasters will open on Beacon Hill next week in the Galaxie Espresso space. Galaxie's owners want to spend more time with. ...

Consumer reports

Thousands Of Coffee Makers Recalled
KPSP, CA - Aug 28, 2008
By Todd Piro Some coffee makers are overheating, and that has the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) pretty steamed. Today's recall affects about ...
Watch for These Recalled Items KHON2
Careful with that coffee maker - 145000 recalled Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Coffee Makers and Car Chargers Recalled WHAG
Tampa Bay's 10 - Central Florida News 13|all 111 news articles

Scottsdale K-9 unit supervisor kills police dog
Arizona Republic, AZ - 7 hours ago
Sgt. Chris Coffee shot Striker, a 6-year-old Czech shepherd, about 3 am while they were searching a home near 104th Way and Dynamite Boulevard, police said. ...

Drink coffee to boost alertness
Times of India, India - Aug 28, 2008
"Whether you are hooked on caffeine or not, if you need a boost, coffee improves your mental alertness and can have a calming affect on your heart rate," ...

Coffee prices slip on stronger dollar
MSN Money - 17 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) - Coffee prices fell Friday as the dollar was mostly higher against other major currencies. Coffee for December delivery slipped 2.05 cents to ...
Sugar prices drop as dollar advances Forbes
all 5 news articles
coffee - Google News


Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Buy Only Fresh Gourmet Coffee Beans if You are Looking to Brew Flavorful Gourmet Coffee

Most coffee beans are grown in sub-tropical climates all over... Read More

History of the Coffee and Espresso Machine

A large percentage of the population loves to drink both... Read More

Caffeine - I Bet You Didnt Know This! Health and Nutrition!

What exactly is caffeine? It is a colorless, somewhat bitter... Read More

Tea at Sea

Marylyn Monroe famed amongst other things for her love of... Read More

Which Coffees are Highest in Antioxidants?

As researchers learn more about antioxidants with health and disease,... Read More

The History Of Coffee

Coffee - THE Drink of ChoiceDid you know coffee is... Read More

History of Arabian Coffee

Arabian coffee is the quintessential coffee of the world. Arabia... Read More

Does Your Morning Coffee Cause You Pain or Discomfort?

Does your morning coffee cause you pain? Are you frustrated... Read More

Coffee Is A Historic Beverage, And It Makes For A Great Gift

Ahhhhh, coffee... a fantastic dark beverage that wakes us up... Read More

Coffee Makers

If you are a gourmet coffee drinker, you may want... Read More

11 Effects of Caffeine on The Body

Caffeine is big business. There are new coffee shops popping... Read More

3 Simple Tips For Making Perfect Coffee

Want to brew the perfect cup of coffee?Here are 3... Read More

Coffee, Caffeine & Fitness

One look at a line at the local Starbucks in... Read More

Coffee For Your Health

Many of us rely on coffee to get us going... Read More

Coffee and Health

From the year dot, my mother taught all her children... Read More

How to Make Restaurant Quality Coffee At Home

Have you ever wondered how restaurants get their coffee to... Read More

How Is Kona Coffee Different?

Like much of Hawaii, Kona offers ideal climate conditions for... Read More

10 Timeless Tips to a Perfect Cup of Coffee

Few quests in human history have so captivated men and... Read More

Gourmet Coffee Habit Costing Consumers as Much as $1,500 Yearly

Gourmet coffee consumers rarely consider the cost of their daily... Read More

Coffee Commodities and Starbucks

If we look at commodity trading from a purely conceptual... Read More

Coffee and Asthma?

Here are some facts about the relationship between coffee and... Read More

Choosing A Coffee Maker - Tips On Finding The Right Features

Choosing a good coffee maker is not a decision to... Read More

The Best Cup of Drip Coffee Possible

With a "good" cup of coffee costing almost as much... Read More

Try the Tradition of Turkish Coffee and Taste the Difference

The Europeans got their first taste of Turkish Coffee, and... Read More

What Makes Hawaiian Coffee So Special?

Coffee was first introduced to the Islands by Chief Boki,... Read More