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Work Motivation During COVID-19 Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, many professionals are struggling with how to maintain their work motivation. Some people may be working from home for the first time, while others may be trying to balance work responsibilities with new quarantine or self-isolation guidelines.
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10 tips for staying motivated during the pandemic
COVID-19 pandemic can be a difficult time for many people, but it is important to remember that you are not alone in your struggle. There are several things you can do to maintain your work motivation during this challenging time. Here are some helpful tips!
Remember your goals
Practice healthy and mindful eating and sleeping
Take breaks
Create opportunities for community building
Disconnect when you are not at work
Keep a positive attitude
Celebrate the small wins
Share your story with others
Get plenty of rest
Continue moving forward with life outside work
1. Remember your goals
Remember that the reason you are working is an important one! If you are self-employed or run a small business, it’s especially important to remember your goals and priorities since they don’t always align with those of your clients, customers, or employees.
Being under quarantine can affect employees who work for you as well as clients/customers who may need your help. If possible, work on the most critical projects first so you can stay productive without sacrificing what’s most important to you professionally.
2. Practice healthy and mindful eating and sleeping
By maintaining a healthy and mindful diet and getting enough sleep, you will be able to maintain your focus, stay productive, and avoid burnout. You can also help others around you by practicing good hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus. As a bonus, it’s always nice to look presentable even if you are under quarantine!
3. Take breaks
It’s important to take breaks during work hours. Breaks can offer some mental clarity as well as physical relief from sitting at a desk all day long. Even people who normally enjoy working without taking breaks should make time for them – especially during this stressful time! You may want to include short walks or stretches in your routine since they have been shown to increase productivity and happiness.
When taking breaks, it’s also important to stay mindful! Take a moment to stretch or go for a short walk – anything else that can keep you relaxed without breaking your focus so you can come back refreshed and ready to work again.
4. Create opportunities for community building
When under quarantine, it may seem like you are completely disconnected from the world around you. However, working with your colleagues will help alleviate some of this isolation as well as provide an opportunity for supporting each other during this difficult time.
You might consider creating a new Slack team just for those who are under quarantine, adding some tasks related to helping each other out (like organizing potlucks or movie nights), or encouraging people to check in with each other every day. This can also give you a reason to continue checking social media during work hours!
5. Disconnect when you are not at work
Remember that there is no shame in disconnecting from technology or turning off your phone or computer after work, if only for an hour or two before starting your daily routine again.
If it’s difficult for you to sleep unless you’re on your phone, consider using the application F.lux (for computers) or Twilight (for Android devices) which gradually reduces screen brightness throughout the evening – this has been shown to reduce insomnia and improve health even if usage continues well past bedtime! You may also want to limit the use of electronic devices during the day, at least until you can go home and relax properly.
6. Keep a positive attitude
It’s easy to fall into a cycle of negativity during this difficult time – that’s natural! However, if you take steps to stay positive throughout the day, your mind will be freer from worry and stress so you can focus better when it’s time to work. If possible, find ways to keep your sense of humor alive even when under quarantine – laughing often reduces stress hormones which can improve both mental focus and physical health!
7. Celebrate the small wins
By focusing on your professional goals instead of dwelling on what might happen eventually (or what’s already happened), it’s possible to maintain your motivation and even celebrate small victories during this challenging time!
You may struggle with maintaining your professional motivation, but taking breaks can help too! Maybe you’ll have a good cry, get some fresh air, or check in with friends and family – do whatever works for you. Although it may not seem like it now, the world will eventually get back to “normal.”
8. Share your story
If you’re finding ways to maintain your professional motivation during this challenging time, share them with others! You can even write about them on social media or blogs. It’s possible that someone out there needs advice on how to stay motivated – hearing from someone who has been in their shoes before may help them find ways to cope too!
9. Get plenty of rest
To properly recharge, you need to get enough sleep! This may be difficult during the pandemic time, but make sure you are getting at least seven hours of sleep every night. You might also want to consider turning off all of your electronic devices an hour or two before bed – this can help ease the transition into a more relaxing routine which will hopefully improve your overall mood!
10. Continue moving forward with life outside work
Remember that although quarantine is stressful and difficult, it’s not everything in your life. It’s important to continue living even when under quarantine so you don’t feel trapped by the situation – maybe making small changes like taking short walks around your neighborhood or joining a meditation group can help, or maybe you’ll discover a new interest and want to pursue it!
As we continue to work together to find a cure for COVID-19, we hope that the above tips will help you maintain your professional motivation and keep you productive throughout this challenging time! We encourage you to share this article with others who may benefit from it, and be sure to follow us on social media for more helpful advice during this pandemic.
