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Infographic: Easeful Motivation

By Aryn Henning Nichols | Summer 2026 Inspire(d)

Easeful Motivation: Progress is progress, so go easy on yourself.

I don’t know about you all, but I start every summer with Plans. Trips, projects, goals, visions of cramming All The Things into three-ish short months (albeit with long days).

Isn’t summertime livin’ supposed to be easy? What if we could have both? Getting stuff done while not feeling rushed? That’s the thought process behind the theme for this Inspire(d): “Easeful Motivation: Progress is progress, so go easy on yourself.”

The phrase “progress is progress” is something I repeat to myself pretty much daily. When I’m not feeling motivated to do something hard on my work to-do list, I’ll look at my life to-do list. Can I throw a load of laundry in? How about I wash that one window where the dog smooshed her wet nose? Maybe it’s time to walk around the block or go to the gym?

My theory is that if I’m doing something on my list, even if it’s not the most important, pressing thing on said list, I’m moving forward. I am making the future time that I would be washing that window available for that work thing I’m avoiding. And hopefully I’ll be more motivated to do it then. Or it will just be so close to the deadline that I have no choice (haha – real talk there).

You can also simply move forward slowly, using little sips of your motivation. Any level up in life is still a level up. I recently read about the idea of the Snail Girl Era, which felt very on brand for this theme. It originated as a social media post in rebellion against hustle culture. When you embrace your inner Snail Girl (or Boy or Nonbinary), you set time to be introspective, listen to yourself and your body, set boundaries, and do things at your own pace. It’s okay, even revelatory, so go slow in a fast world.

Start by taking the time to ask yourself what is truly a priority, and why? Keep asking why you need to do this thing until you get to the real reason. If that reason aligns with your life values (or is non-negotiable, like paying your bills), you should keep working at it. If it doesn’t align and isn’t absolutely necessary, maybe you take it off your list (talk about efficient progress right there!).

The only way out is through, and no one is telling you how fast or how directly you need to move along the path. You may as well try to enjoy the journey.

Cheers to a summer full of Easeful Motivation!

XOXO – Aryn

Easeful Motivation: Progress is progress, so go easy on yourself.

Go at your own pace

Ask yourself: 

Why is this important?

What would make this fun?

If I don’t do this now, can I do it later?

Say no to hustle culture.

Any momentum builds motivation

Find a way to tap into even just a little bit of activation energy to get things rolling.

Embrace your inner snail

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

Give up all or nothing thinking

You don’t have to do it all at once. You don’t have to win to succeed. Any level up in life is a level up. Lower unrealistic expectations.

5 Motivation Hacks:

1. Follow the 2-minute rule – if it takes less than 2 minutes, just do it!

2. Automate what you can so you don’t have to motivate later (bills, setting up exercise classes, renewing your favorite magazine subscriptions).

3. Make breakout lists, separating your larger to-dos into smaller chunks

4. Decide what’s a priority. Ask yourself why something is important until you get to the real reason, then decide if it really needs to get done. 

5. Include big life goals on your regular to-do list so you are working on these big things – even in small ways – daily.

Stop judging yourself and start cheerleading yourself. 

Try to make your goals fun!

Stack a fun thing into your goal, like talking with friends on a walk or watching TV while you fold laundry.

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