As the planning for the “CSMFO 2025 Annual Conference: Educate, Connect, Empower,” is well underway, it has reminded me of how inspired and just plain cozy I feel after returning from the conference each year. The 2025 theme says it all—we can look forward
to enhancing our minds with education, our hearts with connections, and our spirits with empowerment. Back at home after the conference, in my work life and family life, my steps are lighter, and my laughs are deeper. Challenges that weighed
me down seem surmountable, and opportunities that were out of grasp seem attainable. But inevitably, the inspiration fades after a month or two of the same old routines, and I’m back to feeling discouraged and disengaged.
I’ve been thinking about how I can break this cycle of peaks and troughs and convert a motivational moment into sustained momentum. I discovered that there are small ways I can keep inspiration as a regular occurrence. Grand events like the Annual Conference
can shove me into the light, but everyday life decisions can continue to nudge me in that same direction.
As ironic as it may sound, I find that scheduling inspiration works for me—if anything, I recognize that I rarely cancel things that are on my calendar. On the other hand, if it’s not on my calendar and I tell myself I’ll get to it—I never get
to it. So, I’ve committed to reaching out to the uplifting people in my life and getting lunch or coffee on the calendar. Even though time is a limited commodity, and there are many other things I “should” be doing instead of having coffee with
a friend, I keep these calendared commitments, and I’ve never regretted it.
I’ve also rediscovered old song playlists that I hadn’t listened to in years. Something about music, whatever one’s preference, can bring the “feels” and energy back! And while my kids grumble and eyeroll when I teach them about the “oldies
but goodies,” I know I’m enriching them by broadening their musical genre exposure (at least that’s what I tell myself).
Finally, I have found that figuring out ways to combine multiple goals into one activity has helped to sustain momentum. For example, my 5th grader just joined cross country, and because I have to take her to practice anyways, I’ve volunteered
to run with the SLOWEST group of kids. This allows me to spend some one-on-one time with my oldest, get some exercise in (which has been one of those seemingly unattainable opportunities), and knock out some required school volunteer hours! I
understand that these types of solutions are not always readily available, but if I put my mind to it, I know I can find ways to combine at least two goals into one activity (i.e., scheduling walking conference calls, working lunch meetings, or
rejuvenating short getaways with one child instead of the entire family).
Ultimately, life is a string of moments. Scheduling catalytic coffee dates, keeping motivation alive with music, and finding creative ways to meet everyday goals can help sustain momentum in between moments of great inspiration.
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