Not gonna lie. This week’s post is as much for me as it is for you. And it’s totally crowdsourced. I got tips and tricks from friends, industry cohorts, and people that I follow online, on top of what I’d noticed working for me. So here’s my compiled list of tricks to staying motivated in this unmotivating time.
- Look for grace not perfection. This is a saying I took from planner queen Emily Ley. None of us have ever been through a pandemic before, so none of us know exactly how to navigate what we’re going through now. Instead of trying to be all the things to all the people, grant yourself some grace. Do the best you can, even if you know that your best would look different if times were different.
- My computer guru friend Tom Petaccia recommends writing out a daily to do list. (This is new for him; my listmaking soul has lived by this since birth. ha ha ha) Laying out what you need to accomplish where you can see it helps a bit with giving the kick in the booty to get it done. Get everything crossed off the list? You get to choose – stop and be cool with it or get started on the next day’s tasks. Either way is cool. Do what you need.
- Copywriter extraordinaire (and my pal) Joanne Spataro suggests setting a schedule, making every day unique. For example, she assigns writing work to Mondays, sets her client calls for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, then Thursdays and Fridays are her catch-all days (the days to get stuff done that didn’t get done earlier in the week).
- Joanne also finds that giving yourself something to look forward to each week can help you going. She and her fiancee have a standing Friday night mac and cheese and movie night.
- Enjoy the little things. Find things that make you happy like the smell after a rainstorm or that of fresh-cut grass, the sound of your kitty purring, the feel of your softest T-shirt…and relish in them while you can and there’s time to do so. For me, it’s been reconnecting with a yoga teacher from a “past life” and remembering how much just moving makes me feel better. This is one thing I hope won’t end when Lockdown Life is over.
- Focus on the present. Worrying about what’s to come or what could happen if XYZ transpires doesn’t help matters. (Yes, I understand the irony of a worrywart like me saying this.) I’ll go back to this: Do your best. Be as prepared and as informed as you can, but try not to obsess. (Again, yes, I understand the irony of me being the one to give that advice. I’ve already said this post is as much for me as it is for you. ha ha ha)
- Participating in Rachel Hollis’ Next 90 Challenge has been helping me navigate things. The challenge started at roughly the same time the US went on lockdown, and each week’s lesson has focused on ways to get through, hopefully thriving and not just surviving. It’s not too late, if you’re not participating yet. All the lessons are available. If you’re looking for a way to get through this a little better, check it out!
- Last but not least, accept that some days are going to be better than others. Some days you’re going to be worried about anything and everything. Some days you’re going to sleep like a baby, like you have no cares in the world. Some days you’re going feel like dressing your best and putting on makeup and styling your Corona-length locks. Some days getting out of your nighttime pajamas and putting on the daytime version will be all you can muster. And that’s all ok.
As many others have said, we’ll get through this together. I sincerely hope these tips help. And if you have any you want to share, feel free to use the button below to give us a shout. We’ll even update the post with your suggestion(s), if you’d like!
Image by Hebi B. from Pixabay