I keep losing my Mojo
To lose your Mojo occasionally is normal, but to keep losing it – come on!
What does this Mojo look like you may ask? Well it’s sort of light and bouncy and a bit sparky, vibrant even, and it’s full of energy and curiosity and it’s bright and shiny and filled with fun. So how can I keep losing something so big and out there? Well here’s the thing, recently it just keeps fizzling out; goes flat; runs out of steam – poof, it’s just drained away. And when it’s gone so has the joy and everything becomes deflated and this big effort and its hard to muster the energy to even try and get it back.
It’s really hard to believe I can’t take more care of my Mojo; it’s such a precious thing and so much of who I am and what I can achieve, and yet in this winter lockdown something has happened and I’m struggling to find my Mojo. I’ve never been one of those people who are on full beam Mojo from the minute they wake to the time they sleep, that could be quite exhausting – for me and everyone else! My Mojo has days when it’s a bit more laid back than others, when it takes a little break to curl up in a corner and have a quiet kip, but it’s still around; still ready to perk up and play. This lockdown, unlike the first, has seen days when my Mojo has just gone off, out of sight, lost and I don’t feel at all like myself. Without my Mojo I feel slack, listless, low, under par, without motive, no oomph, gloomy as the skies outside and guilty. Guilty about losing my Mojo, about lacking purpose and not even summoning the energy to do simple tasks like clearing up the pile of papers in my office or sorting out a bit more of my overstuffed wardrobe.
There are a few things my Mojo likes and that’s where I start. First, I set myself an early morning task to get me up; walking for a couple of hours from 07.30 four days a week – two or three times with a friend and once or twice on my own listening to Radio 1 to give me bounce and pace, or just listening to the sounds around me, taking time to enjoy nature and process my thoughts. Twice a week I do a 09.30 Zoom Pilates class – roll out my mat, breathe and focus. My Mojo loves a bit of exercise; it also likes the feeling of being freshly showered, made up and wearing a different look every day, rather than the same old saggy, baggy outfit. Comfort is fine, but adding a bit of style and ringing the changes tickles my Mojo, so it’s well worth the effort.
Second, I need to find something to spike the Mojo’s interest and that starts with making some plans. When my Mojo’s on a go-slow it can be hard to crank up any enthusiasm, so I start small. Something interesting to eat maybe – no, Mojo, that doesn’t just mean chocolate, or another lazy bowl of cereal. This weekend I’m cooking a delicious Coq au Vin that will last me two days. I’m not a great cook, but varying my diet with nutritious ingredients is good for me and my Mojo. I normally love reading, but for some reason I’m now finding a lack of desire to pick up a book, so I give myself a dedicated reading time. Chunking my day up gives me an excuse to keep bringing the Mojo back to heel – come on Mojo, it’s time for the Podcast or to call a friend! There are a few rules like no television or alcohol before 6.00pm, but I do allow myself an afternoon nap now and again, because nine times out of ten I wake up refreshed and the Mojo revived.
As the days get shorter and colder and life ahead becomes more uncertain, I think it’s even more important to keep a close watch on your Mojo. Has your Mojo been sloping off recently? Have you found this lockdown more difficult than the first one? And what have you been doing to keep your Mojo fully charged and on hand?
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