This may seem like an impossible task! How can you possibly stay motivated to work and revise when you’re bounded by the same, boring four walls of your house every day? How can you possibly concentrate when your mind is racing with growing resentment for Covid-19 and deep worries about when the next batch of toilet rolls will be delivered?
The reality is, you CAN stay motivated! With a pinch of encouragement and a dash of advice, I give to you the ingredients for staying motivated in isolation (I love how cheesy this is!)
1. Make good use of your time
I know it’s easy for sleep patterns to change when in isolation (believe me, mine have!) but try to adopt a relatively regular schedule. In the words of my great grandmother “two hours before midnight is better than several after it!” You want to be able to make full use of the day and to do that, you need to get a good night sleep.
2. Don’t try to do long bouts of revision
Even though it may not seem like it, being ‘locked up’ in the same place for an extensive period of time can take a hit on your mental wellbeing – some of you may even be suffering from cabin fever. Thus, your brain is likely already stretched. Don’t overdo it, it’s not healthy and you’re much more likely to procrastinate. Maybe do two hours then take an hour break to do something you enjoy. You can easily come back to it later.
3. Have something to look forward to
I’d say this is essential! You need to have something to work towards whether it be big or small. Examples could be; watching an episode of a new series each night, reading a chapter of an awesome new book or treating yourself to some nice snacks in the kitchen cupboard. It is a natural human response to want to be rewarded for hard work so try and find something you can treat yourself with. Setting small goals gives you something to work towards and a sense of achievement once you’ve completed it.
4. Eat healthily and stay hydrated
This is just as crucial as getting a good amount of sleep! Staying healthy in body means staying healthy in mind – and if you’re not healthy in either, this will just lead to irritability, short-temper and lethargy; the worst combination for work and revision. Try and eat foods rich in vitamins and fibre (fruits, vegetables and fish) but also foods rich in proteins (eggs, meat and mushrooms). Due to the more sedentary lives you’re likely leading at the moment, try to reduce your carbohydrate intake (but don’t cut them out completely). Carbs provide short bursts of energy which if not used up, will accumulate in your body as fats. During my A-Levels I made a bullet journal where I could keep track of how much water I drank daily. This might be a good way for you to keep track, though there are other methods.
5. Do some exercise
Exercise is one of the things that I am terrible for! There are plenty of apps, videos, vlogs, Instagram accounts, twitter accounts, books, DVDs…. I could go on…. which provide short work out schemes for DIY exercise (aka without a gym). Further to this, go for a jog around your local area (obviously, follow the restrictions emplaced by the government).
6. Take days off
People may tell you that you need to be revising every day to be the best. They are lying! Barely anyone can work excessively day after day - you have to allow time for the muscles in your brain to relax. You wouldn’t constantly do exercise. Everyone knows that for exercise to be most effective, you have to allow your muscles to relax. The same applies to your brain! Taking a day off doesn’t necessarily mean you’re wasting time – you can use it wisely by planning out the next few days and doing a bit of admin work.
7. Appreciate the things you don’t normally have time to appreciate
This might seem like quite a fluffy statement but showing appreciation and acknowledging all that is good in your life creates a very good, positive mind set! This is essential in times where the daily news reports can be quite disheartening and the lack of knowledge about the future, disconcerting. Take time to appreciate the little things. For example, by being at uni, I rarely see my mum for long periods of time. This ‘lockdown’ has given me the opportunity to spend more time with her. Also, I don’t get to see my twin brother at uni very often, but now I can see him every day and the banter is truly on point! Appreciate your family. Appreciate your friends. Appreciate the fact that you have a roof over your head and somewhere to call home.
These times may seem tough but, just as everything does, it will come to an end. You just have to stay focussed and remember the tasks ahead of you. So, stop stressing about the number of toilet rolls you have and get that book open to the correct page!
“If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
Love from Abbie xxx
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