Finding Motivation in the Small Stuff
Hello from Melbourne and the coldest part of winter which is also the sixth month of social isolation and our second lockdown now with mandatory masks. Restrictions had just started to be relaxed when we had a spike in virus cases and lockdown began all over again. My old routine is now a distant memory and my motivation threatened to tumble to an all time low. My plans for 2020 have hit a wall but I’m no writing off the entire year so I’m taking baby steps to get me through. If you’re feeling the same, whatever your work or occupation, then let’s try to smarten up the last half of 2020 together.
STICK TO A SIMPLE ROUTINE. I try to start every Monday with a mini reboot by planning out the week to give it some structure at a time when every day feels the same and weeks slide seamlessly into each other. It’s Groundhog day without the benefit of learning to play the piano. Even though it can feel a bit forced to begin with I’ve been trying to schedule something different every day. It can be as simple as planning a special meal, ordering a book, setting up a video call or joining my Pilates class on Zoom but if there’s one productive or special activity every day the world really does seem a little better. (My current ‘stay-at-home’ routine is at the end of the post)
BE KIND TO MYSELF. For me it’s all about knowing when to let it all go and just zone out. Some days I’ve given in to the distractions and accepted that it’s simply a down day. This is global situation is lasting longer than we hoped for; it’s the marathon and not the sprint, so I’m pacing myself. On the flip side nothing makes for a better day than ending the day knowing I’ve been productive and created something. I’ve rediscovered old knitting skills and on a good day I enjoy making a really tasty meal. On other days however showering and making the bed seems like a win.
AVOID THE JAZZ HANDS. You know what I mean, those people on YouTube who make Pollyanna look like a pessimist. It makes me anxious to see their enthusiasm for this ‘transformational time’ while they describe the joys of the ‘new normal’. I do get it; that’s how some people are getting through but jazz hands and the super pumped energy are not going to work for me.
DEAL WITH THE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. Some days I get waves of negative thoughts that can be really destructive. Mostly I deal with them by accepting them, and then moving them right along. ‘Hello and Goodbye’ in the same breath. I’ll never win an argument with the traitor in my brain that always sees the dark side so I’ve taught myself to wave them on through and get on with my day. In the end I trust myself to have ‘safe hands’ and know what is right for me.
PLAN FOR THINGS I CAN DO NOW. This may not be the time to plan an overseas holiday or a large family reunion, but it can be fun to plan for the small things. The way I’ve done it is to break up my plans into Projects, Goals and Action Steps. For example under Project ‘Health and Fitness’ there are several Goals such as Walk My Neighbourhood, Sleep, and Get Strong. Each of these then breaks down into attainable Action Steps like cutting out coffee after 1PM, turning my screens off at least an hour before bed and even setting a bedtime (yes as if I’m 3 years old). These are the little things I can work on to make progress towards individual Goals and the overall Project. It’s simple but it has helped me feel a little more in control of this out of control time.
MY LOCKDOWN ROUTINE
7:30AM-8:30AM – The alarm chirps like the dawn chorus to wake me. Now it’s time to sit in bed, sip my lemon water and scroll on my phone for a while. Then it’s time for my first coffee of the day and I’m happy.
8:30-9:00AM – Go for a quick 30 mins walk. It’s cold so quick is needed to stay warm.
9:00-10:00 – Shower, make my bed and get ready for the day. Maybe eat breakfast but some days I’ll Intermittent Fast through till 12:00. I’ll also do any small household tasks like popping on a load of laundry or a speedy vacuum.
10:00AM-12:00AM – Then it’s my morning work session when I tackle planning, filming and editing and anything that’s high priority.
12:00PM-1:00PM – Break for lunch
1:00PM-4:30PM – Afternoon work session, focusing on creative things.
4:30PM-6:00PM – I use this as my activity slot when I do a YouTube Pilates class or take a stroll around the block.
6:00PM onwards – Making and eating dinner, reading, watching TV chatting/messaging friends and family and, of course, my evening skincare routine.