With “shelter in place” orders, school closures, and mass event cancellations, everything looks a bit different right now–different from what most of us have experienced before and different from what we expected these months to be. In the middle of all of this, it can be hard to stay motivated.
Here’s some advice: stay curious.
That curiosity may also look different. If you’re like most people your day may have consisted of many things you don’t have access to during this time,that often launch investigation into ideas or observations that inspire us and connect us. Even so, curiosity is still available to you.
Remain an active learner
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Participate in an online class, Lynda.com offers free online classes- all you need is your library card-
no subscription required!
How do I use my Lynda library card for free?
- Download the Lynda.com App and launch it or go to lynda.com amd sign up.
- Select the “Organization” toggle option at the top of the screen. (organization name is your library, i.e. CincinnatiLibrary.org)
- Enter your library card number and PIN, and then press the “Log in” button.
- You will now be able to use the Lynda.com catalog to access playlists, view your favorite courses, and keep track of your progress.
Create a To-Do List (sort of)
To-do lists definitely aren’t for everyone. Even I don’t like using them sometimes. But it can certainly be helpful when fleshing out your quarantine routine. Your to-do lists don’t have to be composed of things you don’t want to do: you can fill them with hobbies you enjoy, books you want to read, activities you want to do. I just write mine down in the Notes section of my iPhone. It’s all stuff that I legitimately want to do: it just helps to remind me that, even when it’s difficult to establish order and control, I can always rely on the things that keep me happy. Plus, it’s a huge boredom-buster: if I don’t have anything to do, I can head straight to my list to see if there’s something I can check off.
The World Wide Web
Thanks to coronavirus, a lot of services have moved online temporarily. This means that therapists, teachers, gym instructors, art classes, music lessons, even dermatologists can all be found on the web! Don’t stress if you’re missing your regular appointments: you should be able to find almost everything you need online, even if it’s through a different provider. And don’t forget to check your Crescent benefits for all the diverse offerings especially within the
Discount Marketplace!
Self-Care
Motivating yourself to work is wonderful, but it’s extremely important to take some time just for you as well. It feels more natural to take some time off to relax when we have regular schedules, which leaves many of us unintentionally working extra hours when our natural routine is disrupted. And if quarantine has you feeling unproductive, you might have a mindset that says you don’t “deserve” any time for yourself if you can’t keep up your regular work schedule. But that’s not true!
You should always leave time for yourself at the end of your day: it will help stabilize your daily routine. Skincare, bubble baths, Netflix, video games: something that makes you feel happy, relaxed, and is entirely unrelated to your work life. I’ve certainly been taking the time to try out some new face masks (and some new wildlife documentaries). Giving yourself time to chill out will help you de-stress and leave you feeling more refreshed the next day. Quarantine doesn’t mean that you suddenly have productive superpowers, so don’t work yourself into a slump by denying yourself breaks or evenings off.
Remember, it can be difficult to spend all day staring at a screen when working online, so make sure to give your eyes a rest if you think they need it (swap your nightly TV session for something less technological if your eyes are hurting or feel teary).
Take Advantage of Quarantine Opportunities
You don’t need to come back a master chef or art critic, but there are a lot of special online opportunities being released because of quarantine. Museums are releasing virtual art exhibits that you can explore for free, science exhibits and zoos are live-streaming their animal friends online. Even colleges are releasing free online classes and tutoring sessions if you’re interested in learning something new or adding a little something to your skills list. Plus, lots of online classes, streaming services, and subscriptions are offering special deals during quarantine so that you can enjoy quality content for cheap. If you see deals like these, go for it: they’re perfect for keeping you entertained! And don’t forget to support small businesses and arts centers if you can: theaters, Etsy shops, local restaurants, and other small or performance-related centers are struggling right now, so donating to them will help them out a lot! You could even score special newsletters, videos, or future discounts by supporting them during quarantine.
Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself
Quarantine is difficult, and we’re all working through it differently. Focus on yourself and achieving small things. If the best thing that you can do in quarantine is simply live through it, that is worth celebrating! Take time for yourself and give yourself lots of love while you’re stuck indoors, and that is enough.
