The pandemic has definitely changed the way we function. Being unable to do the things I used to do has made me lose my focus and has taken a toll on my mental health. Since the transition to working from home, the pace I work at hasn't been the best. I’ve been more prone to procrastinate, especially since my workspace is my bedroom.
As a college student, I came up with a daily routine to keep me on track and turn my focus away from the stress. By doing this, I have the ability to utilize my time more efficiently, and this helps me take better control over my mental health. Here are a few things you can do to help you create your own daily routine.
1. Start your mornings right
What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Perhaps you grab your phone to check on the latest updates, like what most of us do nowadays. However, we could all use a change of habit.
According to Cristoph Randler from Eberhard Karls University of Tüebingen, morning people are more proactive and have an advantage towards success because they maximize their time and energy. Those who follow Ellen Adarna on Instagram know she starts her day by meditating and repeating self-affirmations. She discusses these topics in her stories. Doing these things actually help you clear your mind and prepare you for the tasks ahead.
Personally, I like to incorporate morning stretches into my routine. Before I go downstairs to feed my cat, I do some stretches, and I have to say, it’s been a real game-changer for my back!
2. Adhere to your daily schedule
I know social media allows us to connect with friends and look at memes, but there is a tendency for us to spend more time on our phone instead of being productive with other things. I find bullet journaling to be more effective compared to using my mobile phone because it keeps me away from social media distractions. I jot down the things I need to do and matters that are clouding my head so I can address them one-by-one to improve my focus.
Working in the morning allows me to have “me time” in the evening, and sometimes I even take a whole day off, especially if I’ve had a particularly hectic work day.
If you have no homework due, you can utilize your time for chores like washing your dirty laundry, watering your plants (mag-ingay mga ka-plantitas and plantitos!), and even organizing or decorating your room, especially if it’s where you prefer to do your work.
Be sure to include breaks in your daily schedule so you can relax in between tasks.
3. Use time productively
When creating your daily routine, don’t just put a bunch of stuff on a list and call it a day. PRIORITIZE!!! In a study done by Columbia University Irving Medical Center, your daily schedule has likely been significantly altered due to the pandemic. Identify your preferred way of scheduling — either have a highly structured schedule or a more flexible schedule, and re-create that in your current reality.
For example, if you have things to do like homework, laundry, and groceries, you need to identify which one needs to be done first and how much time you need to accomplish it. Having a time table will help you stay on track, and it’s a good habit to manage your time.
Tip: Create a list of the things you need to do on the night before so you’ll have a clear view of what’s going to happen the next day.
4. Take care of your body
Most of us working from home spend a lot of time sitting down, and in addition to being sedentary, multiple factors, including the current health crisis, cause a build-up of stress.
We need to take care of both our mind and body in order to achieve health. I have been following Casey Ho on YouTuber for a while now, and she just relaunched her app Body by Blogilates that offers a variety of workout videos that are easy to do, even for a beginner! The team of YouTuber Erwan Heussaff has also developed Rebel, an app that has workouts, nutrition info, and healthy recipes (suporta lokal!). These three components positively impact your well-being and even boost your immune system.
There are plenty of fun and productive things we can do even while we are isolating ourselves. Creating your own safe space and setting up a happy working environment are just a few things you can do that will help you cope during this pandemic.
Always remember to do what you love, and just take it one day at a time. ❤️
These are incredibly helpful tips. I feel so burned out by the increasing workload in online classes. And we still have the COVID-19 pandemic we still have to deal with I'll follow these tips as I feel like I can finally smile first thing in the morning. Great job, Mish!
Great work Ate Mish. I am loving this!