There’s something heavy about the term ‘hump day’. When you’re only halfway through the week and everything seems to be vying for your attention, staying focused can feel as hard as lugging a weighted backpack over a hill. But according to clinical psychologist Julie Smith, it’s possible to lighten the midweek load and carry on with your to-do list, even when mind and body are telling you otherwise. And it’s all to do with the way you approach difficult feelings.
According to Julie, who spent 10 years working in the UK’s National Health Service before she became known for her videos offering advice on a range of mental health issues, flagging motivation is caused by the inner dialogue that loves telling you to give in to distraction. And, as long as you’re taking care of yourself by eating well and getting enough sleep, the desire to give up halfway through the week is all in your head.