Do This When You Can't Get Off the Couch

A lazy start to a new year.

Jan 10, 2022

PICK-ME-UP: ICE COLD MONDAY.

Hello! Greetings from my couch in Brooklyn. It's been so cold and gloomy here that it's nearly impossible to feel any sunshine radiate inside of your bones.

I try really hard.

I bast upbeat songs. I eat colorful fruits to make me feel like I'm vacationing on an island. I fake a smile when the snow falls on my forehead. I put my heavy winter coat on my grateful list because it keeps 85% of my body warm.

But I'll be honest, friend, this weather makes me feel sad and slow, tired and unmotivated. I'm fighting off that feeling most of the day and what has worked has been simple: pizza, walks on the treadmill, afternoon coffee dates with friends in the neighborhood, and forcing myself to dance in the living room when I start to think negative thoughts.

Sunshine is something we can create in our world. But it takes work and practice. It takes being super aware and it takes admitting, out loud, when you're feeling an immense lack of it. Sunshine isn't about just looking up, but looking around you too.

Send me pictures of your sunshine, please, whatever that looks like for you this week. I'll send you a picture of mine.

In this issue:  How to find motivation when there's not a whole lot, why you don't need to rush into the new year, and odd jobs when it's freezing out.

Why you’re getting this: I'm Jen Glantz and this is my Monday Pick-Me-Up newsletter. I've been sending it for over 8-years, every single Monday morning, to thousands of awesome humans, just like you. Thank you for letting this email live in in your inbox. It makes my heart explode with joy.

The Pick-Me-Up: I Need to Get Off the Couch

I spent too much of the new year, so far, on the couch.

I clocked the hours. In the past week, I've spent 47 hours sitting on the right side half of my Bob's furniture couch.

I work from my couch (and have for over 6 years). I'm sure this isn't good for my bones or my back, but it's where I get the most stuff done. I use one of these desks in my lap and my best friend, Goofy, snuggles up against my hips.

But this week, it's been hard to get off the couch and do …..anything else. I've only wanted to eat junk food, the kind you can shovel into your mouth while you're sinking deeper into the couch. I've worked out – but it's felt like I was moving in slo-mo when I was doing the moves the teacher was yelling at the class to do. I've spent way tooooooooo much time on TikTok, after bragging to my friends that I hardly spend any time on that app.

ALL OF THIS IS TO SAY – MY NEW YEAR, SO FAR, DOES NOT LOOK LIKE SO ASPIRATIONAL.

I wish you could see me now. I' m wearing a face mask that's been left on for too long so it's slowly peeling itself off. I'm wearing the same AC/DC t-shirt I've worn for the past three days. I'm excited about having pizza for the THIRD night in a row.

Sure, I gained a new year, but I lost my desire to get out of this vacation-mode mental state.

I can blame this on so many things: the freezing weather, being home alone because Adam's traveling for work, or just this general suffocating feeling of it being a new year….and knowing that I have so so so so so much to do.

But the truth is, while I spent most of the week feeling blue and not having the most Instagram-worthy habits, I'm not mad at myself.

I AM PROUD OF MYSELF!

Yep, I said it. The girl with an expired face mask still on her face is PROUD!

Why?

Because I don't believe in these cliches:

→ How you start is how you finish

No it's not. Life isn't so linear and neither is the speed we live it.

→It's a new year, so go go go go!

It's a new year, but so what? I just lived an OLD YEAR and I'm recovering from that.

So my advice to you this month is simple:

→Forgive yourself. Don't even let yourself get mad at yourself. January isn't for you to question your self-esteem. It's for you to just be yourself without the pressure to change - if you don't want to change.

→Find joy. Can you just use this month to find out what brings you joy again? What brings you joy right now?

→Can you find reasons to laugh at yourself and your habits? The habits you will one day ditch but for right now bring you immense comfort? Just laugh about it. Don't take yourself too seriously as you ease into writing the next chapter of your life called “2022”. Usually chapters start off with the main character being a bit of a mess anyway.

Twirl in your January mess, my friend. I am cheering you on.

All my love,

Jen Glantz

❤️

Random Links

Play This on Repeat:

Something that made me really happy this week was listening to a playlist of the popular songs on TikTok. I honestly listened to this playlist 13 times in a week. It brought me joy.

Also, have this podcast for you if you need a quick hit of inspo.

Picked From My Shelf: True Love

This book is a collection of random love stories by complete strangers. All the stories are true. Some are odd and filled with hope. Others are short and sad. The first page of the book recommends you don't read it all at once (it will really toy with your head + heart if you do). I did and it was a lot a lot. BUT it's the perfect read if you love love and want to read mini-stories. I bought the book at a used bookstore in Portland, Oregon when I needed a pick-me-up in the love department.

Odd Jobs When It's Freezing Outside

The theme of this week's odd job newsletter is about how to make cash money when it's freezing out. I figured why not monetize my free time in this frigid weather. Some of the jobs let you earn cash from your couch – while you have your favorite TV show blasting in the background. Check it out.

🖤

Mini Pick-Me-Up: I wrote this poem for you

I know it's a new year but it still feels like the old one.

Things don't change just because our calendars do.

Things change when we are ready, when we have a plan, when we get off the couch and press go.

So if that's not this month, or next month, or any month for the foreseeable future - know that's okay.

But if it is this month, know it's also okay to go easy on yourself, on your goals, on your life.

& don't be upset with yourself if the first week of this year felt like a melted ice cream sundae. Don't be so mean to yourself if you didn't do what you said you were going to do this month.

There's tomorrow, or the next day, or July.

Press go, when you're ready.

The End

Thanks for reading my Pick-Me-Up Newsletter.

I'm in Brooklyn bringing sunshine into this freezing cold apartment. LMK if you have any recommendations for songs to listen to this week! If you're on Instagram, add me here: @jenglantz. I post interesting things every day to my story.

If you're new to my emails - welcome! I promise to work hard to bring joy and motivation to your inbox every Monday.

If you have a friend (or 2) who would love to receive this Pick-Me-Up, share this link with them.

Until next time... I'll be rooting for you and cheering you on!

Have a great week.

Jen Glantz

p.s. Here's the About Me on my website if you forgot who I am or where we met.