( sticky notes with the word everything – Depositphotos )
Right now I’m looking at my to-do list, which looks about two miles long, and I can’t seem to motivate myself to do anything about it today. What I’d like to do is crawl into bed early tonight. To be fair, I spent most of last night sick, so I’m more tired than usual, but that isn’t everything.
We’re about to go into a busy stretch at work, with a weird schedule, and part of me is stressing about that. Plus I’ve looked over my goals list from the beginning of the year, and that has left me more than a little disappointed with my lack of progress on some things. I’m also behind on my Common Elements Romance Project novella. I kind of wish I could take a vacation. Not necessarily to go anywhere, just to stay home and do some of the things on my to-do list.
So how do you motivate yourself when you don’t feel motivated? I need a jump-start.
While I’m searching for some motivation, I have a little story snippet to share with you from my Common Elements Romance Project novella.
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Lucie didn’t argue when Nate refused her help with the dishes. Her insides were still shaky from the realization that he was attracted to her.
“I’ll see you in the mornin’, Lucie!” Hayden shouted, hopping on one foot.
She smiled as she put her sweater on. “Yes, you will, buddy.” They’d already decided that Hayden would join her after breakfast so Nate could cram in a few hours of work before he headed to the hospital to see his dad and try to get his mother to come home to sleep in her own bed rather than the less-than-ideal pull-out chair-bed in his dad’s hospital room.
She wasn’t sure that was a battle he would win, but she understood his concern.
Hayden gave her a quick hug and then ran back to his book in the living room.
“I really do appreciate this, Lucie,” Nate said from where he stood at the sink.
“It’s nothing, Nate,” she said lightly. “Keeps me from having to spend endless hours on the job search sites and getting more depressed than I already am.” She kept her head down as she buttoned her sweater up to her chin.
“It isn’t nothing to me.”
His firm, quiet tone made her look up, and her mouth went dry. The shadows in his brown eyes made her curl her fingers around the edges of her sweater to keep from reaching out.
“I’m not accustomed to asking for help.” He cleared his throat. “I appreciate it.”
She swallowed. “It’s no problem,” she whispered. Dammit, hot, attracted to her, and vulnerable. Shit, that was trouble. She took a slow breath. “I’ll see you in the morning then.” She inched toward the door.
A hint of awareness darkened his eyes, but he stayed where he was. “Good night, Lucie.”
She took two more steps, clearing the doorway to the mud room, and a little relief sank into her belly. Until she heard his footsteps behind her.
Within reach of the back door, she whirled around. He stood at the open doorway of the kitchen, undisguised desire in his eyes this time. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a quick rush of excitement that she tried to squash as he stepped into the mud room. She held her breath as he took another step. One more. Until he stood a foot away, and her breath rushed out.
He studied her face for a long moment, and she wondered what he saw, what he was looking for. Impulsively, she moved closer to him, noting the way his eyes rounded, and she stretched up to brush a kiss on his mouth, then stepped back.
“Good night, Nate,” she whispered, reaching behind her for the doorknob.
His dark gaze followed her out the door, and she turned away, feeling a smile curve her lips.
Well, that was nice. She could deal with the repercussions another day, and, for now, be reminded she was still alive.
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Okay, I’m off to figure out supper and work on some cards that have to go in the mail tomorrow. Hit me with your best ways to self-motivate when you’re not feeling any.
