After talking to a few university friends, I quickly realised that some of us were experiencing a considerable lack of motivation – to work or in general – during isolation. These days, keeping a sense of community is what will help us all, so I thought I would share my tips and tricks to help students through these uncertain times.
Please note that it is OKAY not to be productive, or as productive as you would like. After all, your sense of normal has been taken away from you, and quite suddenly. However, if you feel like being slightly more on top of things, keep on reading.
1. Routine. My TOP advice for you all will seem pretty basic, but it is all about having a routine. As days seem never ending, or you simple can’t distinct Wednesday from Sunday, it is very important to set yourself a very strict routine. I am not saying that you should act as a robot all day long, this will be actually very boring. Instead, I want you to think of the day ahead as a highway; signs will keep you safe and help you avoid obstacles whilst putting you in the right direction. When waking up (or the night before) set yourself some intentions for the day, by achieving them you will experience a nice feeling of accomplishment. Try and set realistic ones, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself straight away; keep the bigger objectives for days where you feel more on top of things. Routines have proven to help us build good habits; if one doesn’t feel right, take on a new one and you will soon snap back into a good routine. I strongly advise you to leave room for a little spontaneity here and then – a socially responsible walk, or even an unplanned video chat with old friends…
2. Contact. My second-best tip is pretty simple as well, but with the present circumstances, we tend to forget about it: human contact. Social distancing or self-isolating for your own and others’ safety shouldn’t cut you off all human interactions. Remember that following the government’s advice, you are not supposed to see people outside of your household: it’s the perfect excuse to spend quality time with your flatmates. Since September, you might only have shared a few chats in the kitchen, but today, they are just going through the same troubles as you, so bond over these! Invite them into your routine; cook together or go for a simple social distant walk for example.
Contact doesn’t have to be face-to-face only; technology brings so many possibilities to keep in touch with uni friends who have gone back home. The list is endless, you can find out more in my other post.
3. Move. Find a balance between relaxing and moving your body. We have seen so many great things happening all over the internet recently. From live workouts, to free yoga programs, there is something to suit everyone, and every level. It is important to move regularly during the day, take breaks from your intense (ish) study sessions or change where you work from (room, shared space). Try and get away from your bed, keep it as the space where you sleep only. If you have a garden, or a courtyard, make use of it, have a little stroll, and a breath of fresh air. Remember that by staying within gated spaces, you are keeping yourself and others safe.
4. Enjoy and learn. We now have seen so many people trying to find a new hobby or make use of this downtime to do something incredible (and impressive on Instagram). You shouldn’t feel pressurised to do so, and you might find it enough to just take more time to do the things you usually do. However, if you are up for the challenge, or just curious to see what is available out there, have a look around here.
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