At this point, much of the United States has been on lockdown due to COVID-19. During this pandemic, we’ve all seen a lot of very unusual and atypical things…here in LA, the beaches are empty, there is no more traffic, and the air quality is the best it’s been in 40 years.

I’ve seen a lot of things on social media circulating about how this should be a time where everyone should be super productive and disciplined to do the things you claim you didn’t have time to do previously. There are a couple of things I have to say about this. 

This is a global pandemic. This is the first major pandemic that the majority of people have ever lived through. This is extremely unusual. 

Be patient with yourself! This is a really difficult time for millions of people. Jobs have been lost, people are really struggling to support themselves or their families, students can’t afford their debt, and so on. 

If you’re not feeling creative or inspired, that’s okay! If you’re feeling depressed and lonely, that’s okay too! All of your feelings are valid and warranted…thankfully there are some things that can help guide you in the right direction.

What Should You Do?

Remember, this is all subjective – these are some things that have worked for me and may not work for everyone, so you can apply it and modify it however you wish.

The tips you will be learning are:

• Be patient with yourself
• Listen to your body
• Move your body
• Self reflection
• Try new things
• Make phone calls & connect with others

Be Patient With Yourself

Like I mentioned above, this is a really uncomfortable time for everyone so you’re not alone. Practice patience and gratitude for the things that still remain good in your life. Ask yourself – what are 2 things you are grateful for today? 

Lean into the discomfort and practice seeing this as an opportunity for growth and change. This process is definitely not meant to happen overnight, but over time it’ll help change your perspective and make you a stronger individual.

If you’re not feeling creative, it’s okay! I’ve had to keep reminding myself of this time and time again. When I’m not feeling productive or motivated, I don’t feel fulfilled. It’s okay to not have it all figured out and it’s okay to not be productive at all hours of the day.

Listen To Your Body

If you’re feeling tired and just want to watch Netflix all day, go for it (and share some suggestions of your favorites!) 

Now is a great time to practice being in tune with your body’s needs. Continue to drink lots of water, eat healthy meals, and even discover something like a free yoga class you could participate in. 

Listening to your body also includes listening to your mind. 

How is your mental health? Are you feeling depressed, lonely, isolated? What are some things that have been known to help you in the past?

Go On A Walk / Move Your Body

Believe it or not, taking a break and going on walks has been a huge help for me lately.

I’ve been trying to go on walks once a day by circling around my apartment complex. If the weather is decent in your area, consider just walking. It’s refreshing to get outside of your home and to rejuvenate your mind & body.

Maybe hop on a bicycle and ride around your neighborhood?

If you have gym equipment available to you at home, you could set a routine for yourself to stay consistent. 

If you’re having trouble finding motivation for any of this, that’s perfectly okay. Even just sitting on your living room floor and stretching can help you feel a bit refreshed.

Reflect On The Things That Inspire You

Let’s brainstorm back before COVID…what were your hobbies? What are some things you’re passionate about? Can any of those options be done while in quarantine?

Once you’ve come up with the answer to that, remind yourself how those things make you feel…happy? Alive? Recharged? 

Let your mind dream about reaching that feeling. If your hobby/passion is something that can be done from home, brainstorm some ways you can find that peace & happiness at home.

I will be the first to admit that throughout this quarantine I have felt very uninspired, unmotivated, and lazy. It also hasn’t been a linear process – some days I feel energized and some days I feel like doing nothing.

Try Something New

This is probably what helped me through the most…what’s something you’ve always wanted to try? 

Maybe you’ve wanted to try cooking or baking, photography, playing music, building computers, a new sport, becoming a vlogger, etc. Remember the things that inspire you and try applying them.

Also remember that if you can’t come up with anything or you’re still not feeling motivated, that’s perfectly okay! 

As I’ve mentioned before, this is a process and will take time to navigate. Going back to one of my previous points, be patient with yourself and take baby steps with this.

I personally am taking this opportunity to start blogging, which many of you may be able to tell I’m definitely still a beginner! But I realize that we all have to start somewhere and it’ll take me some time before I have it figured out (and even then, there will always be something new to learn!)

If you do happen to be a photographer, there are some great ways you can get creative with indoor photography. 

I’m actually considering doing a blog series that’ll consist of some different photo challenges for all you new photographers out there. This will help me stay on top of my work while (hopefully) inspiring others to try something new. 

Make Phone Calls & Connect With Others

I also tried this one out and I was amazed to see how much it actually lifted my spirits. 

I actually texted a bunch of people one day just to reach out and see how they’re doing, and even FaceTimed some of them. Being able to talk to friends and connect with people over the phone may seem cheesy, but it has worked wonders.

In my case, I live across the country from my parents and I have family in 4 different states. Making these phone calls and weekly Zoom calls has been so beneficial in helping me feel connected to loved ones. 

I encourage you to reach out (text, call, etc) to your friends and family and just check in. It doesn’t have to be a long message by any means, but you may be surprised to see how much it helps. 

When I do my weekly zoom calls with family, we’ve actually discovered it’s a lot of fun to play games! 

We really enjoy playing a game called Scattergories – but we actually made a homemade version of it that combined all of our interests. Maybe I’ll do a separate blog post about some fun games that can be played over zoom.  

Wrapping Up 

I know how difficult it can be to find the motivation to do some of these things…I feel the exact same way sometimes.

Most of the time, it’s much easier said than done.

I’m certainly not perfect and I’m not always able to follow my own advice, so I don’t expect you to either.

But maybe something will spark inspiration and motivation within you.

Share your thoughts in the comments below – what are some things that have worked to keep you motivated? What hasn’t worked? 

Other Blog Posts:

https://taylorthewriter.com/5-helpful-tips-to-determine-your-career-path/

https://taylorthewriter.com/how-to-manage-your-money-after-college/