Staying Motivated From Home During a Global Pandemic

By Maggie Mancini

It’s officially the last month of the semester, and as we gear up for the end of a tumultuous and overwhelming spring, it’s easy to lose motivation and opt to lay in bed all day. Somewhere between sorting through dozens of emails, Zoom calls, and a never-ending news cycle, the COVID-19 outbreak has made it increasingly difficult for students to get work done in a normal, effective way.

Plus, at least for me, losing my job along with the added stress of transitioning to online learning and being unable to go anywhere has made it easy to fall into damaging habits.

If you’re looking for some ways to find motivation in this age of uncertainty, look no further than your peers! I’ve compiled a few tips from fellow Temple women on how they’re finding and keeping motivation, as well as what they’re doing to keep themselves afloat emotionally as we wait for our next steps.

As Samiya Green, a senior journalism major, tells me, three cups of coffee per day is just part of how she’s keeping herself balanced and motivated.

“I do a 35-minute workout routine that’s borderline rigorous and try to pace myself with work,” Green said. “Exercising aids my anxiety, and watching movies, listening to music, and journaling makes me happy because they’re creative outlets that stimulate me when I need it most.”

Finding simple ways to pace yourself with work, particularly with assignments that would be stressful regardless of the circumstances, is important. For Green, that includes exercise and doing creative work. For others, things may be much different.

Sarah Waddington, REFINE’s digital editor, has been staying motivated by challenging herself to try something new every day.

“It can feel like every day is the same when you’re inside all the time, so I think it helps even just mixing up one thing, like listening to a new podcast or baking something new,” Waddington said.

She’s also been trying new smoothie recipes in her free time, which gives her something to look forward to each day.

There are a bunch of different ways to increase productivity, but one that I’ve found especially helpful is the Pomodoro Technique. It’s a six-step method for getting a lot of work done in a small amount of time, while also allowing for breaks to calm down and evaluate what you’ve completed.

As REFINE writer Malorie Lazer mentions, she’s been keeping herself motivated by setting alarms for getting work done, while also leaving herself motivational quotes via Post-its.

“Seeing those motivates me because it helps me remember to take care of myself during this time when I could easily just watch Tiger King on Netflix all day,” Lazer said.

No matter the method, making time to just be a person and do the things you love is incredibly important, especially at times like these.

Whether that means catching up with your favorite show, Zoom dates with your friends or significant other, or emergency dance parties at 2 a.m., finding time to just exist without worrying about your coursework is an important part of being motivated to actually get the work done.

And as I’ve been trying to tell myself these last few weeks: forgive yourself. If you’re feeling bad about not being your usual, productive self, recognize that we are living in an uncertain time and your well-being should take precedence over your productivity.

Cover Photo by Hannah Olinger on Unsplash