Things are weird right now, aren’t they? Kind of an abrupt way to start off a blog post, but it’s the first and most relevant thing that came to mind when I sat down to right this intro because THINGS ARE WEIRD RIGHT NOW. The global COVID-19 pandemic that’s now caused state-wide mandatory stay-at-home orders, has shut down hundreds of thousands of businesses across the country, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and even more devastating…thousands of lives have been lost. It’s an extremely difficult time right now for all of us. Even those that DO still have their jobs and their health. But one thing that this quarantine has given us is time.

Time to do all the things that we didn’t have time to do before. Thing is, I’d be totally lying if I didn’t say that although I have more time now, my motivation has been so low. It’s been a struggle for me to find the will to want to do all the things that I couldn’t before. And I don’t know why! Because now is supposed to be the time! We likely won’t have this time again! So why can’t I get it together? I don’t know the answer to that question, but I do know that I’m not alone in feeling like I do. In fact, I think a lot of people are feeling this way. And first – let me say IT’S OKAY! I’m a huge proponent of sitting in your feelings if you need to. But – I do think that in time, it’s healthy to not allow yourself to sit in them for too long. In time, you’ve gotta pick yourself back up and take a step towards moving forward. One day at a time.

Knowing that a lot of us may be struggling with how to get and stay motivated, I tapped a few of my favorite ladies from all walks of life to share what’s helping them push through this challenging time.

SHIFT YOUR MINDSET

“It all starts with a shift in your mindset. See this as an opportunity because now you have the time to focus on yourself.  If you are able to set goals, and make a plan that keeps you active and engaged throughout this time, then when the dust settles and this whole thing is over – I think people will be surprised at how much they have accomplished. You have a choice – you can either sit back feeling bad about what’s happening or attack each day with a new sense of purpose knowing that you’ll make the most out of this and will come out better because of it.” – Elise Caira – Owner, Sweat Fixx

KEEP A ROUTINE

“Before COVID-19, I was working at a hotel sales manager at an independent hotel, but once the state ordered the mandatory stay home order, my hotel was shut down and I got furloughed. It’s been tough but I stay motivated by keeping a routine. I have an alarm every day at 7 AM, get up walk the dog, come home, make coffee and work on my blog. I like to treat it as a job in order to keep my sanity. I’d love to become a full time blogger so I am envisioning what this would be like. Catching some afternoon Vitamin D helps too!” – Amanda Sobkowiak, Lifestyle Blogger, Blonde Out of Water

CREATE A DAILY SELF-CARE CHECKLIST

“I want to first preface my thoughts with a reminder that there is no wrong way to do quarantine time and to not feel shame if you are just surviving and cannot bring yourself to be productive. I love what this article says about that. I gave myself about two weeks of wallowing on my couch. I know from past pitfalls and ruts, that productivity makes me feel better personally. Being productive straight from coming out of a depressive hole can be as small as brushing my teeth earlier in the day, walking to the mailbox, or showering. Being productive once I’ve been out of the rut for a bit can be a daily self-care checklist. For me right now, it’s making sure I walk 10,000 steps Monday- Friday, not turning on the TV or binging on shows (even as a background to working) until after the sun goes down and making a to-do list. My to-do lists during the pandemic are about 75% shorter than they were pre-pandemic because I’m giving myself the grace of taking it slow to prioritize my mental health. This pandemic has reminded me our health is one of our biggest assets and our mental state is a vital part of our overall health.”  – Linda Nguyen – Blogger, Girl Eats World and Photographer, Curious Notions Photography

GIVE YOURSELF TIME

“We live in such a fast paced culture and, with that, comes the pressure to always be on. When I feel overwhelmed, it’s a signal that I need to take a step back and focus my energy toward something totally different. This slowing down improves the quality of my work so I’ve learned to greet those stress-filled times with a bit more grace. Right now, I encourage everyone to take a deep breath, take a step back, and take a moment to recognize why you’re here and the value of this precious time in front of you. The best thing anyone can do right now (besides stay home) is to give yourself time and space to create. A wealth of innovation will come out of this time – new businesses will be born, entire books will be written, ideas (big and small) will come to fruition. My hope is that you realize, just because you aren’t on the front lines, doesn’t mean you don’t have something amazing to offer this world. Now is the time to listen to your heart and remember that you don’t need permission to take action on those dreams. Go for it, gracefully.” – Liz Fleming, Marketing Coach, ElisabethFleming.com

LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE

“There’s a lot of pressure on people right now to be productive – write the next novel! bake a decadent cake! – but I’ve found the best forms of creativity during times of high stress and anxiety can be found in the simplest pleasures. Working on a puzzle with a candle lit and some of my favorite music on helps me focus on the task at hand, while letting me brainstorm and feel inspired. I have some of my best ideas during those times! I think now is a great time to listen to your inner voice and follow the hobbies that make you happy. It’s easy for us to default to what makes us money, but allow yourself this unique time in life – when everything is slowing down – to allow yourself the same grace. When you sit with yourself in the quiet, the ideas that arise will be the ones coming from your most authentic self and that’s where the true success comes from.” – Marie Evans – Owner, Colette