210+ Positive & Motivational Quotes to Start the Day

Some mornings, it can be hard to wake up and seize the day, but reading a positive quote can change your perspective and provide the boost of energy you need. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate list of positive quotes to help you start your day on the right foot. Keep reading for short, motivational, and inspirational quotes to get you through work, school, or whenever you need to lift your spirits!

Top Positive Daily Quotes

“Shine like the whole universe is yours.” — Rumi
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” ― Walt Disney
“Great acts are made up of small deeds.” — Lao Tzu
“Happiness is not by chance but by choice.” — Jim Rohn
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain
“Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” — Muhammad Ali
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” — Chris Grosser

Section 1 of 14:

Short Positive Quotes to Start the Day

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Kick off your morning with a short and impactful quote. Like the first sip of coffee in the morning, a short quote can give you the burst of energy you need to wake up and get things done. Here are some short and snappy options about seizing opportunities and making the most of the day:
- “The sun is new each day.” — Heraclitus
- “Shine like the whole universe is yours.” — Rumi
- “If you can dream it, you can do it.” ― Walt Disney
- “Great acts are made up of small deeds.” — Lao Tzu
- “Make each day your masterpiece.” — John Wooden
- “Think of many things; do one.” — Portuguese proverb
- “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” — Dalai Lama
- “Happiness is not by chance but by choice.” — Jim Rohn
- “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde
- “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain
- “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” — Muhammad Ali
- “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” — Chris Grosser
- “When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.” — Steve Maraboli
- “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” — George Eliot
- “If you’re not positive energy, you’re negative energy.” — Mark Cuban
- “I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life.” — Louise Hay
- “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” — Ralph Marston

Section 2 of 14:

Motivational Positive Quotes to Start the Day

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Turn to a motivational quote when you need a boost of confidence. If you feel like you’re losing your spark or having trouble staying focused, a motivational quote can give you the energy and encouragement you need. Here are the best quotes from athletes, entrepreneurs, historical icons, and more:
- “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” — Estee Lauder
- “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” — Babe Ruth
- “A year from now, you will wish you had started today.” — Unknown
- “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” — Wayne Gretzky
- “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” — Tony Robbins
- “Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.” — Robert H. Schuller
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” — Vince Lombardi
- “Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No Excuses.” — Kobe Bryant
- “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
- “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” — Michael Jordan
- “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” — Thomas Jefferson
- “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” — Steve Jobs
- “I learned a long time ago that there is something worse than missing the goal, and that’s not pulling the trigger.” — Mia Hamm
- “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” — Earl Nightingale
- “First, forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.” ― Octavia Butler
- “One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don’t throw it away.” — Stephen Hawking

Section 3 of 14:

Inspirational Positive Quotes to Start the Day

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Lift your spirits and get creative juices flowing with an inspirational quote. It can be hard to find inspiration some days, especially when you’re burnt out or going through a difficult time. Fortunately, a positive quote can provide clarity and a fresh perspective! Here are some inspirational quotes to remind you that you’re amazing and capable of greatness:
- “Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud.” — Maya Angelou
- “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt
- “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” — Aesop
- “Always go too far, because that’s where you’ll find the truth.” — Albert Camus
- “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean, in a drop.” — Rumi
- “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
- “There’s never one sunrise the same or one sunset the same .” — Carlos Santana
- “No great art has ever been made without the artist having known danger.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
- There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” — Edith Wharton
- “Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it .” — Rabindranath Tagore
- “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” — Warren Buffett
- “If you believe you can change and start changing your habits, the change becomes real.” — Charles Duhigg
- “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” — Jimmy Dean
- “The sun himself is weak when he first rises; and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” — Charles Dickens
- “Those who achieve the extraordinary are usually the most ordinary because they have nothing to prove to anybody. Be Humble.” — Aaron Lauritsen
- “All of my big mistakes are when I try to second-guess or please an audience. My work is always stronger when I get very selfish about it.” — David Bowie

Section 4 of 14:

Beautiful Positive Quotes to Start the Day

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Boost your confidence with a beautiful quote about self-love. Sometimes, you need a reminder that you’re beautiful, worthy, and capable of anything. Here are some poetic quotes about the beauty of life and the ability to start fresh every day:
- “Ignite the mind’s spark to rise the sun in you.” — Florence Nightingale
- “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” — Carl Sagan
- “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.” — Rumi
- “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” ― A. A. Milne
- “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
- “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” — Les Brown
- “The morning steals upon the night, melting the darkness.” — William Shakespeare
- “Small is not just a stepping stone. Small is a great destination itself.” ― Jason Fried
- “Each morning, we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” — Buddha
- “Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” — Dalai Lama
- “Keep your face towards the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.” — Walt Whitman
- “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
- “When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” — Henry David Thoreau.
- “When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return. You should give a good thought to the happiness that you can give out.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Section 5 of 14:

Powerful Positive Quotes to Start the Day

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Try a powerful and thought-provoking quote that packs a punch. Turn to these quotes when you’re feeling lost, insecure, or going through a tough time. They’re the perfect reminder that you have all the tools you need to succeed, as long as you keep going and believe in yourself:
- “With great power comes great responsibility.” — Stan Lee
- “Power’s not given to you. You have to take it.” — Beyoncé
- “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible!’” — Audrey Hepburn
- “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” — Norman Vincent Peale
- “I scorched the earth with my talent and I let my light shine.” — Andre Leon Talley
- “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” — Dennis P. Kimbro
- “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” — Ayn Rand
- “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
- “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” — Stephen R. Covey
- “You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” — A.A. Milne
- “Every society honors its live conformists and dead troublemakers.” — Mignon McLaughlin
- “But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” — Ernest Hemingway
- “Always be a first version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.” — Judy Garland
- “You have the power on your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” — John Quincy Adams

Section 6 of 14:

Funny Positive Quotes to Start the Day

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Brighten your day with a funny and uplifting quote. Feeling groggy? These witty quotes are sure to perk you up! Read them anytime you need a laugh or are looking to destress before the workday:
- “Good morning is a contradiction of terms.” — Jim Davis
- “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” — Milton Berle
- “Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.” — Oscar Wilde
- “Hustle until your haters ask if you’re hiring.” — Steve Maraboli
- “Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all.” — David Lynch
- “Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.” — Richard Whately
- “The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” — Dorothy Parker
- “Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.” — Wayne Dyer
- “Morning is wonderful. Its only drawback is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of day.” — Glen Cook
- “You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” — Tina Fey
- “Progress isn’t made by early risers. It’s made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something. — Robert Heinlein
- “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” — Herm Albright
- “Be the person that when your feet touch the floor in the morning the devil says, ‘Awe s***, they’re up.’” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
- “The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.” — Robert Frost
- “I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then, I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up.” — Benjamin Franklin
- “Birds scream at the top of their lungs in horrified hellish rage every morning at daybreak to warn us all of the truth, but sadly we don’t speak bird.” — Kurt Cobain

Section 7 of 14:

Positive Quotes for Success

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Embrace your failures and accomplishments with a quote about success. Even if you’re not reaching your goals as quickly as you’d like, it’s important to appreciate the highs and lows of your journey. Here are the best quotes about thinking outside the box, learning from your mistakes, and working harder than others:
- “Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.” — Ross Simmonds
- “Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.” — Bo Jackson
- “Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success.” — Virat Kohli
- “More is lost by indecision than wrong decision.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero
- “Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.” — Drew Houston
- “It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca
- “Never let success get to your head, and never let failure get to your heart.” — Drake
- “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle
- “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford
- “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” — Bill Gates
- “Success is to wake up each morning and consciously decide that today will be the best day of your life.” — Ken Poirot
- “There is no secret to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” — General Colin Powell
- “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” — Henry Ford
- “Sometimes magic is just someone spending more time on something than anyone else might reasonably expect.” — Raymond Joseph Teller
- “One of the differences between some successful and unsuccessful people is that one group is full of doers, while the other is full of wishers.” — Edmond Mbiaka
- “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan

Section 8 of 14:

Positive Quotes for Personal Life

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Remind yourself that you have the power to control your destiny. Life moves pretty fast, but one of the best ways to stay present is to read a positive and reflective quote. Here are some meaningful options about creating your own happiness and carving your own path:
- “You carry the passport to your own happiness.” — Diane Von Furstenberg
- “Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.” — Les Brown
- “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” — Dolly Parton
- “Don’t look at your feet to see if you are doing it right. Just dance.” ― Anne Lamott
- “Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.” — Mahatma Gandhi
- “Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.” — Pema Chodron
- “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” — Unknown
- “Life must be understood backward. But it must be lived forward.” — Søren Kierkegaard
- “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein
- “Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it.” — Daniel Kahneman
- “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.” — Stephen Hawking
- “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” — Henry David Thoreau
- “You’ll never get bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do.” — Dr. Seuss
- “The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain
- “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson
- “It is only when we take chances that our lives improve. The initial and the most difficult risk we need to take is to become honest.” — Walter Anderson
- “As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” — Henry David Thoreau

Section 9 of 14:

Positive Quotes for Men

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Focus on courage, self-compassion, and resilience to empower yourself. Men are expected to stay strong, keep moving, and never complain. However, even the strongest people need support and reassurance. Here are some positive quotes to help you get through the day and remind you that you’re not alone:^{[1]
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- “One man with courage makes a majority.” — Andrew Jackson
- “Great men are not born great, they grow great.” — Mario Puzo
- “Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.” — Bruce Lee
- “He that can have patience can have what he will.” — Benjamin Franklin
- “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark. Aim for the company of immortals.” ― David Ogilvy
- “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” — Benjamin Franklin
- “Try not to become a man of success, but rather become a man of value.” — Albert Einstein
- “The man who does more than he is paid for will soon be paid for more than he does.” — Napoleon Hill
- “The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way.” — Dale Carnegie
- “You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” — James A. Froude
- “One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.” — Benjamin Disraeli
- “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” — David Brinkley
- “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” — Epictetus
- “A man may conquer a million men in battle but one who conquers himself is, indeed, the greatest of conquerors.” — Buddha
- “If you perform the sacrifice of doing your duty, you do not have to do anything else. Devoted to duty, man attains perfection.” — Bhagavad Gita

Section 10 of 14:

Positive Quotes for Women

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Emphasize your strength and independence to boost your self-esteem. Women face unique challenges every day, which can be draining and mentally taxing at times. Reading a positive quote can remind yourself to stay on track, believe in your abilities, and stand up when you feel disrespected:^{[2]
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- “Be the type of girl that climbs the ladder wrong by wrong.” — Mae West
- “Women challenge the status quo because we are never it.” — Cindy Gallop
- “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” — Coco Chanel
- “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” ― Shirley Chisholm
- “Don’t try to lessen yourself for the world; let the world catch up to you.” — Beyoncé
- “Expect the unexpected, and whenever possible, be the unexpected.” — Lynda Berry
- “When a woman becomes her own best friend, life is easier.” — Diane Von Furstenberg
- “When anyone tells me I can’t do anything… I’m just not listening anymore.” — Florence Griffith Joyner
- “Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
- “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” — Margaret Thatcher
- “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” — Oprah Winfrey
- “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” — Madeleine Albright
- “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.” — Audrey Hepburn
- “You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.” — Maya Angelou
- “I found that ultimately if you truly pour your heart into what you believe in – even if it makes you vulnerable – amazing things can and will happen.” — Emma Watson
- “There’s something special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness and the nerve to never take no for an answer.” — Rihanna

Section 11 of 14:

Positive Quotes for Students

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Encourage students to reach for the stars with these quotes. Whether you’re a teacher trying to impart wisdom in the classroom or a student who wants to stay motivated, reading a quote about trying your best, asking for help, and taking small steps can make a huge impact. Here are the best quotes to empower students throughout the school year:
- “Without labor, nothing prospers.” — Sophocles
- “Well done is better than well said.” — Benjamin Franklin
- “Do the best you can. No one can do more than that.” ― John Wooden
- “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin
- “The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it.” ― Epicurus
- “The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” — Napoleon Hill
- “A surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence.” — Sonia Sotomayor
- “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela
- “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” — William James
- “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” — George Lorimer
- “Take the attitude of a student: never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.” — Augustine Og Mandino
- “If you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires.” — Malcolm Gladwell
- “Don’t settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had.” — Angela Bassett
- “Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too.” — Mark Twain
- “If the decisions you make about where you invest your blood, sweat, and tears are not consistent with the person you aspire to be, you’ll never become that person.” ― Clayton M. Christensen

Section 12 of 14:

Positive Quotes for Mondays

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Read a positive quote to beat the Monday morning blues. Coming out of the weekend, Mondays are rough for most people. However, a cheerful quote can add some pep to your step and turn your day around. Here are the best Monday quotes to start your week on a positive note:
- “Monday is for people with a mission.” — Cristina Imre
- “Monday is a breakfast of ideas.” ― Anthony T. Hincks
- “Every morning is a beautiful morning.” — Terri Guillemets
- “The morning was full of sunlight and hope.” — Kate Chopin
- “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” — Plato
- “Mondays offer new beginnings 52 times a year!” — David Dweck
- “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu
- “You are in control. Never allow your Monday to be manic.” — Andrea L’Artiste
- “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” — Zig Ziglar
- “This is your Monday morning reminder that you can handle whatever this week throws at you.” — Unknown
- “In the morning, a man walks with his whole body; in the evening, only with his legs.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “Okay, it’s Monday, but who said Mondays have to suck? Be a rebel and have a great day anyway.” — Kimberly Jiménez
- “Every morning, you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.” — Carmelo Anthony
- “Work while you have the light. You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you.” — Henri-Frédéric Amiel
- “Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.” — Lemony Snicket
- “Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier and healthier life.” — Germany Kent

Section 13 of 14:

Positive Quotes for Fridays

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Get excited for the weekend with a positive Friday quote. At the end of the work week, start your morning with an energizing quote to give you that last push you need to get through the day. Here are our favorite Friday quotes about staying strong and preparing for a fun weekend:
- “It’s Friday! Time to go make stories for Monday.” — Unknown
- “Work starts on Monday. Life begins on Friday.” — Ozama Yasin
- “Let Friday show you where the smiles are in life.” — Anthony T. Hincks
- “It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday!” — Rebecca Black, “Friday”
- “Every day is a gift. But some days are packaged better.” — Sanhita Baruah
- “If you must have motivation, think of your paycheck on Friday.” — Noel Coward
- “Friday sees more smiles than any other day of the workweek!” — Kate Summers
- “This Friday, finish your work and be done. Look forward to the weekend and have some fun!” — Kate Summers
- “It’s Friday morning mankind! Good vibe, don’t frown, and let the monster see you smile!” — Napz Cherub Pellazo
- “Happy Friday! Here’s to all of us who made it through another week of faking adulthood.” — Nanea Hoffman
- “I believe that it is a mandatory Law of the Universe that on Fridays, you have to do something a little fun.” — Hanna Rhoades
- “Oh! It’s Friday again. Share the love that was missing during the week. In a worthy moment of peace and bliss.” — S. O’Sade
- “Friday. The golden child of the weekdays. The superhero of the workweek. The welcome wagon to the weekend.” — Unknown
- “Make a Friday a day to celebrate work well done that you can be proud of, knowing that you just didn’t put in time to the next paycheck.” — Byron Pulsifer
- “Every Friday, I like to high-five myself for getting through another week on little more than caffeine, willpower, and inappropriate humor.” — Nanea Hoffman
- “I don’t care if Monday’s blue, Tuesday’s gray and Wednesday, too. Thursday I don’t care about you. It’s Friday I’m in love.” — The Cure, “Friday I’m in Love”

Section 14 of 14:

Using Positive Quotes to Motivate Yourself

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1
Make the quote your phone or computer background. This is one of the best (and easiest) ways to ensure you start the day with a positive quote. Simply change your phone’s lock screen or your computer background to remind yourself of the message and stay positive throughout the day.
2
Say the quote aloud as a positive affirmation. According to life coach Leah Morris, saying affirmations aloud can boost your self-confidence.^{[3]
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Leah Morris
Life Coach

Expert Interview} So, take a moment during your morning routine to recite your favorite positive quote. It can lift your spirits, boost your productivity, and remind you to seize the day!
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Stick the quote on your mirror, desk, planner, or wall. To stay motivated at work or school, print out a quote or write it down on a sticky note. Place it somewhere you’ll see regularly, such as your office desk or bathroom mirror, or attach it to a corkboard or whiteboard.