How to Stay Motivated During Covid-19

“During these unprecedented times”... how many times have we all heard those words these last few months. Well, they’re not wrong! The world has become crazy, everyone’s doing their best to social distance, to ‘flatten the curve’ and stay on top of the Covid-19 pandemic the best that we can. For many people that means working from home, seeing our friends and family less, for those of us who live alone it can be a lot of isolation.

For a lot of us who rely on getting out of bed to do things, who rely on seeing their friends to get themselves pumped for the days ahead, all of this isolation can have a detrimental effect on our motivation as we keep moving forward. So here are some simple ways to stay motivated while social distancing!

1. Get Some Sleep!

I hardly need to be a doctor to know that sleep is an important way to keep your energy levels up. Sleeping too little is going to tire you out. Sleeping too much is going to make you lethargic. If you want to stay motivated and stay working, the key is consistency. Make yourself a routine and stick to it. Wake up more than 10 minutes before you turn your laptop on for school or work just like you would if you actually had to commute. Having a little extra time in the morning for yourself can help you retain a sense of normalcy, and make you feel better as you continue to social distance. Following that...

2. Create a Routine!

Once you have a solid handle on a good sleep schedule, having a routine to your day will get you feeling like things are just as they were. Make sure that you aren’t slacking on the important parts of your day like having breakfast, taking a shower and getting dressed just because you have a lazy day indoors. Putting on fresh clothes can actually make you feel better about yourself! It’s easy to take the easy way out, but giving yourself a little extra credit and taking care of yourself during the day can make sure you feel your best.

3. Go for a Walk, Get Fresh Air!

As long as you are allowed! Some areas have stricter rules on social distancing. If you can avoid people, make sure to get outside. Work in your yard if you have one, or just get out on a local trail or even a quick walk around the block. If you live in a busy area, maybe reserve yourself a little time later at night or earlier in the morning where avoiding people is a little easier. Even just opening up some of your windows and getting air flowing through your house or apartment can really help to elevate your spirits!

4. Make some Lists!

These lists can be for work, they can be for chores, they can be for goals, it doesn’t matter. Make some lists of things you need to do as visual cues to remind yourself there are things that need to get done. In addition, make sure that some of the tasks on the lists are easy to check, that way you can trick your brain into releasing serotonin by giving yourself a feeling of accomplishing something when you cross it off. Jot down all the things you need to do each day, week and even for the month and then as you go you’ll and the list gets better you can look at all the things you’ve accomplished instead of feeling bad about what you didn’t do.

5. Go Distraction Free!

All through University I struggled with finding a study space that got me to study, I’m a procrastinator and it’s so easy to get distracted. If you find yourself getting sidelined by this or by that, make sure that your work space is distraction free. Don’t open up social media, set your phone upside down, put on a motivation playlist with sound cancelling headphones if you can. If you have a separate office, close your door. Bunker down when you need to and keep your concentration going as long as possible. Time yourself and take breaks every so often, but then settle down for another chunk of work. Even set up small rewards like chocolate at the end of each hour to get yourself in the game!

6. Use a Desk!

Following up on getting yourself into the working mood, don’t work somewhere soft and comfy like your bed. Not only has it been shown that working in bed can have an effect on your sleep schedule, but it will stop you from getting as much work done. Get a desk or a table, get a solid chair that makes you sit up straight and set up a workstation. Keep the rest of the world separate from the place you sit down and put in the hard work. That way, at the end of the day you can step away from that designated “work” zone and put it behind you. Then, when it’s time to work again, it will immediately put you in the right mindset.

7. Take Breaks!

Don’t forget to move around during the day. Every hour or every two if you’re really in the zone, get up. Do a loop of your apartment, look out the window, reward yourself with 10 minutes of replying to friends or checking up on Instagram and Snapchat. Just remember that at the end of the break to put the distractions away again. Using breaks to make a quick snack, get some water or make more coffee can help put your mind to other things. Just make sure you don’t stay sitting for longer than a couple hours at a time, it helps to get your body moving.

8. Try to Exercise!

This can be hard if you’re stuck inside, but just remember that a healthy body is a healthy mind. Go for a walk in the morning, or a run! During your breaks at work, do a couple stretches, squats or pushups. Whatever makes you get a little burst of energy. If you are very unmotivated, start with the smallest amount you’re willing to do, and then slowly try to add to that number over time. Start by walking, and then add in a minute of jogging, then another minute. Or start with two push ups each break and work your way up. I promise getting endorphins flowing will help you feel sharper and more energized in the long run.

Each of these tips can help you if you feel like you’re in a rut. Being isolated can be tough, but taking things one little bit at a time makes it all a little more manageable. Get out there and do your best! One foot in front of another!