I don’t know about you, but transitioning from the lazy days of summer back into the full swing of work is never easy. Over the past few weeks, the weather has been gorgeous, and the call of my garden was far stronger than the call of my office. But the change of seasons always resets the equation. On Monday, it was 95 degrees at the pool; just three days later, it barely cracked 64. Thank you, weather gods, because that shift nudged me right back into my Pull Energy. Suddenly, I wanted to sit down at my desk in my cozy office and write.

Usually, once Connor is back in school, my engine revs up quickly. But this year, it’s taken me a few extra weeks to feel the pull of my regular (non-summer) routine. What I’ve learned, time and again, is that when we give ourselves the space we need, our energetic gas tanks refill. Today, with mine full, I felt eager to get back to it.

But what about those times when we know it’s time to dive back in, but we just don’t feel it? When our inner toddler insists, “I want to play today!” Then we have choices: we can give in to the toddler; we can push through halfheartedly (as most of us were trained to do); or we can shift our perspective—changing both our mind and heart—so that we genuinely want to re-engage.

Here’s the trap: in those moments, we tend to focus either on all the reasons we don’t want to do the work or on all the reasons we have to. Both approaches drag our energy down. It’s like pressing the brake while trying to accelerate.

My favorite way to move into the “I want to” space is by collecting evidence that supports my want. For example, on this cloudy day, I reminded myself how much I wanted to be in my cozy office. I sat in my comfy chair, closed my eyes, and visualized the feeling of completing this article, the satisfaction of sending it out, receiving insightful comments, and the connections those comments create. I imagined the joy of knowing that even one person might shift from Push Energy to Pull Energy because of what I shared. Within three minutes, I was fully in Pull Energy, with my saboteurs at bay. And let’s be clear: this wasn’t Pollyanna optimism. It was a genuine, wholehearted want.

Next time you feel the pull away from your work, try collecting evidence to support your want to get anchored into your Pull Energy.

Here’s what happens: when you operate from Pull Energy instead of Push Energy: you’re at least 22% more productive. Even better, your work carries that energy forward. The article you write, the LinkedIn post you share, or the project you tackle will resonate more powerfully—because it’s infused with your higher vibration. [And if that sounds a little “woo woo,” just check out Power vs. Force, which is packed with research and evidence on this very topic.]

So, what’s your favorite way to get into Pull Energy so that you feel genuinely excited about the work in front of you?