Lost Your Mojo? Five Ways to Get It Back

Another closing, another showing, the phone keeps ringing, and the mountain of paperwork on your desk looks like the aftermath of a blizzard. You feel a lot like the hamster on a wheel that your kid is raising for his science project. You’re going round and round and round, and you’re getting exactly nowhere.

If it’s getting harder and harder to drag yourself into the office every morning, you need more than an extra shot of espresso in your morning latte. You’ve lost your mojo, and we’re here to help you get it back.

Mojo: the term comes from Africa and it means the kind of magic and spells that bring you luck and power. Could you use a little of that today?

Here are five quick strategies guaranteed to bring more mojo into your Monday (or whatever day of the week this happens to be).

1. Get your priorities straight. Perhaps you say your top priority is to have quality family time. But what does your to-do list say? What messages is your calendar giving you? If the only thing on your schedule is another open house, another staff meeting, another listing conference–you’re not telling yourself the truth about your priorities. Have you scheduled a family picnic for this weekend? How about your daughter’s dance recital? If you want something different in your life, schedule it.
2. Get a handle on your stress. Very few things in life are worth the physical and emotional damage that stress is causing you. So let’s have an honest assessment. Are financial issues the cause? Are you worried about your kids? Is a close friend or family member ill? First of all, determine what you can control and what you can’t. Write down your “can’t control” list, put the list in a drawer somewhere and let it go. Then look at what you can control. If it’s finances, sit down with the family and develop an action plan. If it’s a health issue, make a doctor’s appointment. If your child’s grades are a concern, go with her to see the teacher or school counselor. Action is better than a tranquilizer for coping with the stress in your life.
3. Get quiet. Speaking of stress, one of the great stressors in all our lives today is information overload. How long can you go without checking your Facebook page? Do you jump every time you get a message ping on your phone? You probably have EOS (electronic obsession syndrome). The cure? Disconnect. Start by picking a non-work day. If you can’t disconnect for a whole day, try half a day, or even just an hour or two. This includes radio and TV news, by the way. If the world comes to an end while you’re off line, someone will let you know. And you’ll be surprised at the peaceful feeling that comes from “The Sound of Silence.”
4. Get fabulous. Nothing drags down your mojo more than feeling frumpy. If you’re not fond of that reflection in the mirror, do something about it. No, you’re not going to lose 10 pounds by the weekend. But you can get a great haircut, put on your best clothes, splurge on a new scarf or stylish shirt, and look like your best self. Do this every day for a week, and you’ll never want to be frumpy again.
5. Get fun. Remember fun? It’s Friday night date night with your spouse. Matinee chick flicks with your besties. A long walk on the beach. Sitting in the sunshine with a good book. These are simple things, but they put the joy and enthusiasm back in your life.

And when you begin to feel joy, the burden gets lighter, the sun shines brighter, and before you know it, mojo is right there at the door, waiting for your day to begin. Let’s roll!