5 ways to help stay motivated during COVID 19
So it’s a difficult time for everyone all over the world right now with the coronavirus still ongoing and a lot of people are feeling anxious about the future. Firstly, it’s important to remember that it’s ok to have days where you feel like you are struggling, you won’t be the only one as no-one’s life carries on normal right now but things definitely will get better.
As social distancing and staying at home orders are extended throughout the world, here are just 5 things that I find helpful during this situation.
It really depends on the government advice within the area you live but for the UK, you can get out for an hours exercise per day. I’ve been using this time to go for a walk. It helps clear my head after a busy working day, I get the chance to listen to my music and just go a wander. Walking has been proven to help mental health as it reduces stress, fatigue and anxiety. It also helps with sleep so even on those days you just can’t be bothered, do it and you’ll notice a difference to how you feel.
2. Keep routine in your life
I’ve been working from home since the 16th of March so I have been sticking to my usual routine, the same as I would if i was going into the office for the day. I know a lot of people aren’t working at the moment so it’s easy to lie longer, put off doing things that need done so I would recommend getting a decent nights sleep, setting an alarm to get up at a reasonable hour and try set yourself daily tasks no matter how small they seem . This will just help give you a sense of normality and can massively improve feelings of uncertainty.
Make sure to give yourself some TLC. For me, this is after I’ve had my walk. I come home, cook my dinner then enjoy a nice shower with some good skin care. It may sound simple but having this relaxing time just slows me down into a more relaxed state and allows me to switch off from “work mode”. I tend to stay away from my laptop or TV for a couple of hours after work just to help me unwind and rest my eyes but whether it’s putting on your fav tv show or reading, give yourself an hour or two to just focus on you and what makes you feel good.
4. Keep in contact with friends & family
With not being able to socialise, it’s crucial to make sure that you remain in contact with your friends and family. Social distancing can be the hardest aspect of this pandemic for many people. Not getting to spend time with friends can be emotionally exhausting for some, especially those who are on their own. I’m lucky as I live with my fiance and we spend a lot of time together normally anyway. Social distancing does not mean you have to put your life on hold. The main one at the moment is by video chat or phone calls. I felt like I was back in 2005 to the good old MSN days when I had my first zoom with my friends and it was a little strange but now I’m loving it. Weekends just wouldn’t be the same without it. It’s good to know that even though we can’t all be together at the moment, you can keep up to date with the people you love, just as you would if you get up for a coffee. Speaking to people about how you feel helps you remember that you’re not alone and everyone is experiencing the same things.
5. Accept that it’s normal to not be that productive right now
Some days you may not have much ability to focus and that’s honestly to be expected. You may find that you have good days where you’re feeling motivated and other days where you just want to lie on the sofa eating. Learning how to adjust to being isolated from your usual normal is bound to be hard and staying motivated can be tricky, but you can help make it a bit easier for yourself by setting realistic schedules and taking time to care for yourself. Staying motivated can help refocus our attention away from these stressful changes.
If I told you last year this was the way things would be at the moment, I’m sure most of you would have laughed and shuddered at the thought but look how much we as humans can adapt. For some, it may be challenging but you have and will continue to adapt so that’s something to be proud of. I hope you are healthy, keeping safe and being sensible in order to get life back to normal as soon as we can!
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