Feelings of lethargy, sluggishness and a lack of motivation are common nowadays. Working from home has become a “what you make of it” situation, which may be difficult when you’re spending your entire work day in your living room. Thanks to social media, there’s a sense of camaraderie amongst everyone who has been spiraling down the same rabbit hole of Netflix, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter--but that doesn’t mean you have to be stuck there, too.
The hardest part comes first, which is to knock yourself out of the funk. It’s easy to avoid doing the dishes or cleaning your house in lieu of your work schedule, but it’s also just as easy to get yourself back into a healthier headspace, and that requires centering yourself mentally. Ask yourself what brings you joy. Tapping back into old hobbies or interests can give you something to look forward to after your tasks are done, thus chopping your day into a series of moments instead of one long 24-hour stretch. In order to work with yourself, you need to be on the same page, in both mind and body.
Introducing small at-home workouts, morning meditations, or occasional journaling can also boosting your energy levels and daily outlook. Pick one of the three that you feel most connected to and give it a try! Having a positive connection with your mind and body is imperative to feeling productive.
Holding yourself accountable for your work is important to feeling better about what you do in a day, but there’s also a balance. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of setting unrealistic expectations. Many social media influencers will push out the idea that they’re writing an autobiography about their life, working out five days a week, taking care of their children, and on top of all of that, holding down a full-time job. Needless to say, it’s most likely not the truth and feeling like you need to maintain the equivalent of Superwoman during quarantine is largely unrealistic. Set attainable goals for yourself, or simply create a new schedule and stick to it!
One thing we know for sure is that this is a time for personal growth and acceptance. Take these moments as opportunities to have a relationship with yourself and learn what it takes to foster creativity and productivity. Utilizing these tips will get the ball rolling, but make sure that the focus is on you and whatever you need to get yourself back on the rack.
Here are a few ways to get started.
- Search “guided morning meditation” on YouTube and find one that works for you. Commit to it.
- Listen to the “Deep Focus” playlist on Spotify while you work.
- Stretch your body when you wake up to get your muscles ready for the day.
- Opt for a “One Line a Day” journal where you write something about the day that made you feel grateful or happy.
- Find an at-home yoga workout for a morning or mid-day break.
- Make a smoothie or other healthy alternative as a treat.
- Pick something you loved to do but haven’t done for a while. Or try something new.