Is it possible to stay motivated during the pandemic?

Article by Debora Guerra In the face of a pandemic and social isolation, people with busy routines were suddenly forced to slow down. They gained more time with family, increased household chores, had their physical exercises limited, parents became teachers to their children, and working from home became a reality. But, in this scenario, there is concern about how to stay motivated to continue producing effective results, whether professional or personal. If we think that for everything we do there is a reason that generates an action, then we are talking about motivation, that is, acts that generate results. And why is it more important than ever to stay motivated? Because it not only contributes to increased well-being, feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, but also helps to make the new routine more enjoyable and even lighter, allowing us to appreciate moments never experienced before. Don’t blame yourself; it is extremely normal to feel unmotivated in the midst of a public calamity, after all, we are living through a crisis that impacts our daily lives. It is evident that this life change is generating stress, discouragement, and lack of energy in people, hindering the ability to think and act, and consequently preventing motivation. For those working from home, feeling motivated seems to be even more difficult, as it goes beyond dealing with demand variables, internet connection, and customer service. Solving a problem becomes even worse when there are interruptions from family, pets, deliveries, and everything else that disrupts concentration. The question is how to stay motivated like this? It’s not easy, but you can try with some tips. First, establish and organize a routine, creating a plan that will help make your workday more productive. Set aside time for things you enjoy doing, such as physical activities or meditation, and allocate time for household tasks if necessary. These measures will help control anxiety, allow you to enjoy your time more quality, and consequently, the results will motivate you. Have a clean and organized space for your home office, as far away from distractions as possible. Try to involve your family in your routine; this will make them understand that certain periods of the day will require you to be alone, which will give you more motivation to be productive in a short amount of time. It is certain that people have different rhythms, and with the limitation of time and space, it is necessary to reinvent oneself. Therefore, create a weekly goal schedule, close to your reality, to be achieved. This exercise will motivate you to keep your mind focused and active. But above all, believe in yourself and your abilities. Don’t forget that having dreams drives you to achieve your goals and keeps you motivated. Learn from your mistakes, reflect, celebrate your achievements, and be optimistic. All these attitudes, aligned with your reality, will help you regarding motivation. Debora Guerra is an entrepreneur and professional coach trained by the Latin American Coaching Society (SLAC)