We all experience times where we feel unmotivated and lose inspiration. Things can get mechanical and boring – that’s life. I often have so many things going on that it’s hard to stay on track. One of the reasons I started this blog was to be intentional about incorporating more things that I love doing into my life. I mean, there are only so many products I can think of or sugar scrub scents that I can try before I need new inspiration.

Don’t get me wrong, I love everything that I do. I always want to push things forward and be that visionary in the crazy world of beauty and skincare, but just like anyone else, sometimes I lose my inspiration. Finding inspiration starts with finding calm and really diving into your thoughts. You won’t find it by binging on TV sitcoms or finding things to distract yourself with. Here are a few things I do to cultivate inspiration in my life. I hope that you try them next time you need a burst of creativity or fresh inspiration!

Things I Do Early Morning

Mediation / Yoga: This is a great practice for tuning out the distractions of the outside world, and clearing our minds to make space for inspiration and possibilities.

Journaling: Take ten minutes and jot down some goals, feelings, etc. I actually have waterproof paper I bought from Amazon that I use all the time in the bathtub. Here’s the link: Aqua Notes Waterproof Note Pad (and yes, it actually is waterproof). I even have one in my shower!

Exercise and Stretching: Sometimes I’m super rushed in the mornings and I’m late for conference calls or interviews, so I try to sit up in my bed and do a few stretches before even looking at my phone. I also have a yoga mat outside and I’ll go out there to stretch or do a quick 20 minute yoga/pilates routine. This keeps me feeling way more energized and ready for the day.

Things I Do in the Afternoon/Evening

Read! Reading is my thing. I love to read, and I’m always reading at night. To find inspiration, I get books and magazines on subjects that I like or am interested in writing about. I love Barnes and Noble’s magazine section. Well, the entire store actually! Needless to say, my bookshelves are bursting at the seams. Go to your nearest Barnes & Noble and you will certainly feel inspired.

Glean from the Experts: The only approved TV I watch on Sundays is either Joel Osteen (he is my fave) or Masterclass. I love Masterclass because there are so many subjects you can learn about — everything from business, to politics, to cooking. I highly suggest getting a membership if you find yourself in need of inspiration.

Listen to Podcasts: I choose podcasts about things I’m interested in or subjects I want to learn about. I often listen to skincare podcasts, business podcasts, and anything to do with marketing, of course. I also enjoy being ON podcasts. My favorite guest feature was Behind the Velvet Rope (@BehindVelvetRope on IG). Although not a business podcast, David and I became fast friends and travel buddies!

Go for a Walk: Sometimes at night I’ll go for a walk around my neighborhood. There’s a Starbucks right down the street, so I’ll take a walk, grab a coffee, and spend some time just thinking. I always have so many ideas when I go on walks and take voice notes while walking.

The bottom line is, when you need inspiration, you need to give yourself time to disconnect.
Put the phone, the laptop, and the TV aside. Allow yourself the chance to journal, to think, to let your mind wander and imagine the possibilities. Reflect on what you’ve been thinking about or struggling to connect with. It’s important to give yourself this time on a regular basis as we get too caught up with distractions and don’t allow ourselves a chance to really clear our minds or tap into the inspiration within us. You all hear me preach about manifesting, and it’s so important that our minds are clear when we’re trying to do so.

Never accept that you’ve lost your fire or drive. It’s there, you just have to reconnect with it! Instead of worrying about what you can’t control, shift your energy to what you can create.

As always, I love hearing from you guys! Tag me @AskHeatherMariannaBlog on IG with some things you do to cultivate inspiration or some quotes that inspire you.