The month of April is announcing its presence with sunnier skies and daffodils in the shops, but there’s something different about the ringing in of the new month this year. As Government Guidelines have been put into place, we’ve seen a dramatic change in our day to day lives.
At the moment, there’s no certain end in sight to the new measures that we are taking, and with most of us working from home, it can be hard to keep your motivation up. It can be easy to procrastinate our tasks – especially when juggling a busy family life!
How can we get our motivation back?
The disruption we have all had in our daily routines could be a big factor behind where our motivation is going. The term “self-care” is thrown around a lot in our day and age, but it’s more than just bubble baths and a face mask; self-care is about looking after yourself and keeping yourself healthy. One way to do this is by keeping a regular routine which can help give your mind some stability during uncertain times, therefore helping to lower anxiety and stress levels. A typical example might be: wake up at the same time, have breakfast, work from home, have lunch, finish your workday, exercise, have dinner and then spend some time doing something you love before going to bed at a reasonable time.
How can I set myself a routine?
Have you ever noticed how the days when you feel chaotic and disorganised tend to be the ones where you feel the most stressed? By having a set list of things you intend to get done each day, and following your routine, your stress levels (which are already elevated during this time of uncertainty) can be brought back down.
Keep it simple
Starting a new routine can be as simple as picking a wake-up time and a bed time. If we don’t get an adequate amount of sleep, our brains find it difficult to function and get what we need to do done. While the brain only needs 6 hours of sleep to function efficiently, it’s best to give it a full 8 hours to ensure that proper brain function is maintained.
What if I am still working from home?
If you’re working from home, why not wake up at a set time each day, but switch out the time you’d normally spend commuting to work for an energising morning workout instead? This would set you up for the day. After work, treat your day as you normally would when you get home from work; have dinner, spend time with the people in your household, and then go to bed at a reasonable time.
Having a good routine can even have benefits once everything does go back to normal, which it will. Setting a routine now, where you can incorporate eating healthier foods more regularly and exercising, can help to ensure you include these key building blocks to a healthier lifestyle once the gyms reopen.
There’s all kinds of blog posts out there right now about how important it is to be exercising and to get yourself outside in the fresh air (adhering to the government measures), but when you’re lacking in motivation, it can be very easy to do the exact opposite. Sometimes all you need to do is put some routine in your life. Start small, get bigger and watch your mood transform.