David Saunders
If your morning routine includes a quick scroll for motivational quotes before you face the day, you’re in busy company—especially among Gen Z. New research suggests young Brits are marinating in positive affirmations online, with many saying their feeds are stuffed with upbeat lines designed to jolt them into motion.
For plenty of young workers, it’s more than a harmless habit. The polling indicates that a clear majority look to positive phrases before gearing up for work—and this week, they may be particularly welcome.
The quote that tops the list
The most popular line came from Steve Jobs: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do” (52 percent). It’s neat, optimistic, and just vague enough to apply to everything from writing a report to surviving a commute.
Close behind was a tougher, more boot-camp brand of encouragement from David Goggins: “Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done” (46 percent). That one doesn’t whisper. It barks.
Other quotes that help Britons slay Monday, include “Believe you can and you’re halfway there”, Theodore Roosevelt (33 percent), “It always seems impossible until it’s done”, Nelson Mandela (33 percent), “The mind is everything. What you think, you become”, Buddha (21 percent).
Alongside more modern musings, such as, “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one”, Dolly Parton (19 percent) and “Hard things will happen to us. We will recover. We will learn from it. We will grow more resilient because of it”, Taylor Swift (19 percent).
And according to the poll by menthol lozenge brand, Jakemans, The famous words of self-love from Gen Z cultural icon, RuPaul, best-known among this generation for the global Drag Race series’, ring true for nearly one in five (19 per cent): “If you can’t love yourself how the hell you gonna love somebody else?”.
When a line of inspiration comes in handy
This isn’t just a pre-work ritual. Respondents pointed to plenty of everyday moments where a short phrase can steady the nerves: trying a new activity, heading to the gym, getting ready for a date, lacing up for a run, or bracing yourself for family and friends.
Motivational Speaker, Dr Alison Edgar MBE explains: “Motivation is the bridge between our thoughts and our actions. It’s what gets us out of bed, keeps us moving forward, and helps us achieve things we didn’t think were possible. Without it, even the best ideas remain just that… ideas.
Top Motivational Quotes for the Year Ahead (Gen Z)
Search by keyword (e.g., “dream”, “work”, “light”) or click headers to sort.
| Rank ↕ | Quote ↕ | Author ↕ | Share ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do” |
Steve Jobs | 52% |
2 |
“Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done” |
David Goggins | 46% |
3 |
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there” |
Theodore Roosevelt | 33% |
4 |
“It always seems impossible until it’s done” |
Nelson Mandela | 33% |
5 |
“If you’re going through hell, keep going” |
Winston Churchill | 30% |
6 |
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” |
Eleanor Roosevelt | 26% |
7 |
“If you’re waiting for someone to believe in you, you’ll be waiting forever. You must believe in yourself” |
Cher | 25% |
8 |
“One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world” |
Malala Yousafzai | 24% |
9 |
“The mind is everything. What you think you become” |
Buddha | 21% |
10 |
“Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are” |
Beyoncé | 20% |
11 |
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream” |
C.S. Lewis | 20% |
12 |
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today” |
Franklin D. Roosevelt | 20% |
13 |
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!'” |
Audrey Hepburn | 19% |
14 |
“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one” |
Dolly Parton | 19% |
15 |
“If you can’t love yourself how the hell you gonna love somebody else?” |
RuPaul | 19% |
16 |
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go” |
Dr. Seuss | 19% |
17 |
“Hard things will happen to us. We will recover. We will learn from it. We will grow more resilient because of it” |
Taylor Swift | 19% |
18 |
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them” |
Walt Disney | 18% |
19 |
“There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in” |
Leonard Cohen | 18% |
20 |
“Don’t count the days, make the days count” |
Muhammad Ali | 17% |
21 |
“Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own” |
Michelle Obama | 17% |
22 |
“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them” |
Madam C.J. Walker | 16% |
23 |
“Champions keep playing until they get it right” |
Billie Jean King | 16% |
24 |
“To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try” |
Rosa Parks | 15% |
25 |
“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light” |
Aristotle | 15% |
“Fear of failure, overwhelm, and procrastination are the big three barriers to feeling motivated. When the mountain feels too steep to climb, it’s easier to stand still. That’s why a short phrase at the right time can reframe your thinking and give you the push you need to act. They’re not magic, but they can act as a mental reset when self-doubt creeps in.”
Brits don’t just save them—they send them
The love of a motivational meme doesn’t stop at a single screen. More than half pass them on to people they care about, usually about once a week.
Partners, mums, best friends and sisters lead the list of recipients, followed by brothers and dads. Some even send these verbal boosts to colleagues—and a brave few to their boss.
Dr Edgar MBE adds: “Your voice carries energy and emotion – it’s not just what you say, but how you say it – I keep my voice crisp and clear, and my throat soothed with Jakemans menthol lozenges. A confident, warm tone can uplift and inspire, while a flat delivery can kill even the best message. The voice is your most personal and powerful instrument of influence.”
The need for motivational voices is clear as, according to the survey, 88 percent of Brits struggle to motivate themselves for the day ahead, leading to 79 percent regularly pretending to be positive when they aren’t.
Elizabeth Hughes-Gapper, Senior Brand Manager for Jakemans who commissioned the research, says: “It’s clear how much, as a nation, we need those motivational moments to help us get through the day or offer that little boost of confidence when we need it most. In fact, four in ten (42 percent) also regularly pick up the phone to share motivational words with friends, so much so that they save these quotes that they’ve found so they can revisit them later (44 percent). It’s clear that it’s not just what you say, but how you say it as well.
“Our voices are an incredibly powerful tool in communicating the motivation that we need. So, it’s important to do our best to look after our voices, particularly as winter approaches and our vocal chords are impacted by sore throats. Making sure you have a packet of soothing Jakemans menthol lozenges will be key in delivering those all-important words of motivation and expression.”
The takeaway
Gen Z Brits might be the most online generation Britain has ever produced, but they’re using that constant scroll for something surprisingly old-fashioned: a quick shot of courage, a borrowed bit of wisdom, and a reminder that Monday doesn’t get to win without a fight.
