Motivation

Back To Reality: How To Get On Track After Too Much YOLO

Author By Ashley Laderer, Contributor
Posted:
man underwater

Letting the concept of “YOLO” go to our heads happens to the best of us. It can drive all of our decisions and we end up partying too hard, drinking too much, going weeks without exercising, falling behind on work, and letting our dishes pile up to the ceiling. Sure, you want to make the most of your life and live it to the fullest, but there’s definitely such a thing as too much YOLO. When we’re living a little too hedonistically, it’s common for us to lose sight of what’s really important to us and get off track. We all need balance.

In today’s society, it’s all too easy to go wild in order to escape. When you finally come back to reality, you might feel somewhat lost. Thankfully, getting off track doesn’t mean that you can’t get back on. Continue reading Back To Reality: How To Get On Track After Too Much YOLO

How to Have a Comparison-Free Summer

Author By Brittney Saline
Posted:
woman on the beach on her phone looking away

Sometimes it feels like my friends are out of my league.

Among them are doctors, social workers, professors and entrepreneurs, all successfully balancing high-level careers, personal lives, and physical health. One of them can work for several months straight without a single day off; meanwhile, sometimes it takes me several hours just to get out of bed.

Does that mean I’m lazy? Less than? Continue reading How to Have a Comparison-Free Summer

What is Extrinsic Motivation and How Does it Help Us?

Author By Jessica DuBois-Maahs, Contributor
Posted:
a wall tells you to "punch today in the face"

If you are driven by the thought of receiving a reward, whether it be praise, money, or public acclaim, you are responding to extrinsic motivation. It occurs when external factors inspire you to take action — and don’t necessarily need to be something tangible. Something abstract, such as the anticipation of receiving praise or the thought of gaining public notoriety, can boost a person’s motivation to accomplish a task.

Continue reading What is Extrinsic Motivation and How Does it Help Us?

Struggle with Time Management? Here’s What It Says About Your Mental Health…

Author By Jamie Wiebe, Contributor
Posted:
A person's arm with a watch

Keeping a laundry list of tasks and to-dos in order can be a headache for anyone, but for some people, the difficulty goes beyond mere annoyance. Starting work each morning can feel like wrangling a bear — and often, that bear is your mind. No, work won’t always be easy (it’s called work for a reason), but it doesn’t need to be the bane of your day-to-day existence.

It’s important to understand what about task management pains you. Is it stressful? Are you overwhelmed? Are you so nitpicky that you get stuck on tasks for days? When task management turns from an annoyance into a daily struggle, step back and examine your mental health. Understanding the blocks your brain puts up during working hours will help you — with the help of a therapist if you choose — create a plan of attack.

Continue reading Struggle with Time Management? Here’s What It Says About Your Mental Health…

Confession: Sometimes I Use Mental Illness as an Excuse for Flakiness

Author By Ashley Laderer, Contributor
Posted:
woman in bed holding head phone on desk

This story is a part of our Mental Health Confessions series, a collection of stories from people who open up about times they felt guilty or conflicted about their mental health issue.

I’m pretty tolerant of most types of people, but I absolutely hate flakes. I have cut off friendships because I can’t deal with others’ flakiness, especially when it comes down to repeated incidents of bailing on plans at the last minute.

However, some might say I’m a hypocrite. Why? My mental illness, at times, causes me to become the very type of person I hate.

Friendship is a two-way street. We expect our friends to put in the same amount of time and emotional labor into maintaining a relationship as we do ourselves. Of course, we know this isn’t always the case, and I’ll be the first to admit it: with some of my friends, I feel like I am giving less than I’m getting. I’ve flaked on even the best of my best friends, and I fear one day they’ll decide to cut me loose because of it. Continue reading Confession: Sometimes I Use Mental Illness as an Excuse for Flakiness

6 Helpful Tips On How to Unleash Your Motivation

Author By Melissa Wildt, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
6 Helpful Tips On How to Unleash Your Motivation

“I just have way too much motivation. I don’t know what to do with it all!” said no one ever.
Do you ever find yourself procrastinating and you’re not sure why? It’s absolutely true that the longer we put off doing something, the more stress it can cause us in the long run. Most of us know how this can feel, but not how using strategic motivation can help end this cycle of frustration. Continue reading 6 Helpful Tips On How to Unleash Your Motivation

7 Tips: How To Chase Your Dream Responsibly

Author By Clymene Baugher
Posted:
7 TIPS: HOW TO CHASE YOUR DREAM RESPONSIBLY

It’s no secret that pursuing a dream can be a significant challenge.
It takes fierce courage and often requires extreme sacrifice; discouragement and competition are often pre-requisites for success. Sometimes, it means making the choice to follow a path not supported nor accepted by family and friends, and can even mean repeatedly putting yourself in situations that are less than conducive to good emotional, physical, and mental health. The ramifications of such renunciation, as you can imagine, may lead to significant effects on a person’s wellbeing. Continue reading 7 Tips: How To Chase Your Dream Responsibly