It’s been months since many of us first received the stay-at-home order. These are strange times, and finding the motivation for school can feel like a real challenge—especially when you’re stuck at home and don’t get to enjoy going places and being with people. Although we don’t have any perfect solutions, we do want to offer some helpful tips and advice for staying motivated during this time because we care about you and your mental health!
Find a Routine
Try waking up at the same time every day, and don’t sleep in too late. If you find it difficult to get out of bed even after your alarm goes off, figure out what makes you excited to start your day and do those things every morning. Maybe that’s making a big breakfast, exercising, spending time in prayer or taking a walk.
Then, consider your goals for the day—write down a list of assignments and other tasks you want to complete, and check them off as you go. Be realistic with what you can accomplish but challenge yourself too!
Stay Connected
Physical distancing doesn’t have to mean socially disconnecting. Although there’s nothing like face-to-face communication, technology is a wonderful tool that has the power to bridge physical barriers. Here are a few great ideas for using technology to stay connected with family and friends:
- Set up weekly “coffee talks” with a group of friends on Google Hangouts or the HouseParty app.
- Use Netflix Party to link up with friends and host long distance movie nights and TV watch parties.
- Download Marco Polo—a video walkie-talkie app.
- Join a community Facebook group.
Technology is great but be sure to set limits on your social media consumption. Spending too much time scrolling through Facebook or Instagram is one of the worst things for your mental health.
Set Boundaries Between Home & School
It’s important to find a balance between home life and school life, especially now that your family is probably at home too. Choose a few specific hours each day to focus on classes, and only work on school during that time. Consider setting up a workspace with a desk, which will allow you to be more productive than working on a couch or in bed. When you’re not working on school, put your computer away and be intentional about focusing on other things like family, a hobby or leisure time.
Take Care of Your Body
Exercise and mental health are directly related—exercise releases chemicals that improve your mood. Although you can’t go to a gym right now, here are some ideas for at-home workouts:
- Right now, Peloton is offering a free, 90-day membership trial. They stream live and on-demand fitness classes like cardio, strength, yoga and cycling!
- Use Youtube for yoga or workout videos.
- Run or take walks outside (in low-populated areas).
Finally, be sure to eat healthy and energizing meals. Use Pinterest for healthy recipe inspiration, avoid processed foods, and most importantly, eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies!
These times aren’t easy, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel! This won’t last forever. In the meantime, focus on establishing a daily routine, staying connected with friends and family, setting boundaries between home and school life, and taking care of your body. You got this!