The Pesach marathon is over. Yet, we still need to keep on going…How?
How do we find the motivation to finally follow through on all those “after Pesach I will…” goals—whether it’s getting back on track with a diet, setting up therapy for a child, or tackling something we’ve been putting off?
There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to motivating yourself. Motivation isn’t about trying harder; it’s about using the right strategies at the right time.
Let’s explore two main concepts, and you can choose the approach that best fits your personality—or even better, mix and match depending on the day.
1. Eat the Frog First
(The “frog” represents the aversive or difficult task.)
Rena Hoberman introduced this term to BCP in this post on 9 Productivity Tips. In simple terms, this means doing your hardest, most important task at the start of your day—before anything else.
How does this boost your motivation?
- Instant momentum: Finishing a tough task early creates a sense of accomplishment that energizes the rest of your day.
- Less mental drag: Getting the hard thing out of the way removes that constant dread in the background and frees up mental space, making everything else feel easier.
For many of us, knowing the hardest thing is already done is incredibly motivating.
2. Small Wins
In the opposite vein, the small wins approach means starting your day with quick, easy tasks to build a sense of progress before diving into bigger responsibilities.
For example, you might:
- Tidy your workspace (or kitchen)
- Make an easy call
These small accomplishments create momentum and help you feel more ready and confident to tackle a larger or more difficult task later on.
3. The Missing Piece: Your “Why”
Often, what really holds us back isn’t laziness or lack of discipline—it’s a foggy sense of purpose. When the goal behind our actions feels unclear, motivation naturally drops.
That’s why having a personal mantra or mission statement can be so powerful. It’s a simple reminder of your why.When your “why” is clear, it becomes a steady source of motivation—especially when things get tough or distractions creep in.
Let’s practice with some everyday examples:
1. Exercise
Instead of thinking, “I have to work out,” reconnect with your why.
- Mantra:
A healthy mother will have more energy for her family. I always feel so much better and energetic afterwards.
This shifts the focus from the task itself to the meaningful outcome behind it.
2. Menu planning
- Input: 10–15 minutes on Motzei Shabbos to plan meals and adjust grocery shopping to Sunday (when possible!)
- Output: Calmer evenings, fewer last-minute decisions, and the comfort of knowing exactly what you’re serving each night
- Mantra:
A few minutes of planning brings calm to my week.
A small investment upfront leads to a much smoother week.
The Takeaways:
- Identify your goal—and the why behind it.
- Create a short, meaningful mantra and keep it in your line of vision: a sticky note, a phone reminder, or even saying it out loud before starting a task.
- Take one small step to jumpstart your goal—place your exercise gear near the door, or keep your menu-planning magnet right on the fridge.
So now’s the perfect time to take that first small step—let’s get the ball rolling, ladies!
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