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How to Stay Motivated During Lockdown

How to Stay Motivated During Lockdown

How to Stay Motivated During Lockdown

"A clear plan for the day turns time at home from a worry into a win." – Chris Farmer, Lead Trainer, Corporate Coach Group

Remember, lockdown is temporary. Nothing lasts forever, and neither will the lockdown. So, enjoy the day you're on.

Do you remember when you had to go to work every day? You complained about the people at work.

Now you're not there, you appreciate all the things being at work gives you.

So, for the short while you have at home during lockdown, appreciate all the things you have at home.

Create a structure

One of the things you got from work is structure.

At home there is no structure imposed.

So, create a good structure and stick to it.

For example, I ensure that I am at my desk at 9.00am, ready to do whatever I can to contribute to my future. Today, I wrote this blog.

Even though I don't need to, I insist on working between 9.00am and 1pm. Then in the afternoon I dedicate myself to self-study and I read all the books I've never had time to read.

I do this even on the days I don't feel like it, because structure is important to a healthy mind.

An unstructured day leads to an unstructured brain, and that leads to feeling off-colour.

You can design your own structure, it doesn't matter exactly what it is, so long as structure exists.

Dress-up and put on a good show

On lockdown, it is easy to sit around in your pyjamas. But don't.

The "psychology of clothes" is a profound study, that you might look into after you have finished reading this blog.

What people wear, affects how they feel. That is why people wear uniforms, because clothes give identity.

If you want to feel good, look good. Dress up nicely and put your best foot forward.

Ask yourself, what is great about this?

It is not facts that determine how you feel. It is how you evaluate the facts.

If you cannot change the facts, but you don't like how you feel, are you doomed to feel bad until the facts change in your favour? No!

If you don't like the way you feel, but cannot change the facts, then change how you evaluate the facts, by asking more positive questions such as:

  • What is great about this?
  • How can I make this more fun?
  • How can I profit from this situation?
  • How can I use this situation to help others?

Make your home environment more motivational

Whilst being at home during lockdown, it is easy to go stir crazy.

Everyone is affected by their physical environment. So it is important to ask, "What can I do to beautify and embellish my living/working space, to make it more stimulating?

You have five senses: Sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell.

  • Sight: Put up some new art. Or better still, take up art.
  • Hearing: What interesting things could you listen to. Or better still, take up singing, or a musical instrument, or learn a new language
  • Touch: What can you do that needs careful hand-eye coordination?
  • Taste: This is easy: what could you cook or bake?
  • Smell: how can you make your living space fragrant.

You can make your living space feel like a prison or a palace. Make it a palace.

Don't overdose on the news

Keep up with national and international news.

But don't overdose and become a media junky.

Because of the amount of competition, every news organisation - including the BBC - are in a life and death struggle for their existence.

Journalists are NOT paid to get the truth; they are paid to get ratings.

So, the news media sensationalise, dramatise, exaggerate and distort the news to make it more alluring. Click bait.

The news will always be an exaggeratedly negative version of events. You don't need to drown in bad news. It is emotional suicide.

Limit your exposure to once a day.

Phone a friend

There are lots of people who would love to talk to you on the phone. During the writing of this blog I took a call from my mum, who called me by mistake, but we talked for 15 minutes. Since I am on lockdown, I can do that. So can you!

Ring friends from the "good old days".

Yesterday I called Gavin, my old room-mate from college days. I have not seen him for many years, but I called him yesterday and caught up on old times. It was fun.

Phone everyone you know and talk. It's good to talk!

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." William Shakespeare

Face-to-Face Training Resumes in July

We are pleased to announce that our open training courses will resume in July 2020, in Leeds, London and Birmingham.

Or book a course three or more months in advance and receive an early bird discount.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

FREE, live streaming Personal Development Webinars.

We are offering you the opportunity to learn a powerful set of new skills, which will help you get the best result from any situation that life throws at you.

There are eight modules of approximately an hour in length, each one covers a different topic:

  • How your thoughts affect the result
  • Reduce fear and replace it with confidence
  • How to positively influence others
  • A five-part formula for success
  • Prioritisation: How to get the most from every day
  • Feedback: the breakfast of champions
  • A healthy mind and healthy body
  • How to set and achieve your goals

Don't delay, register your interest today!

Definition: daily structure

In personal productivity, a daily structure is a plan for the whole day that puts tasks into set time blocks, repeats on every normal day, links each block to a clear goal, and is followed with steady self-discipline. When any one of these parts is missing, the pattern stops being a true daily structure.

Show CG4D Definition
Context: Personal productivity
Genus: plan
Differentia:
  • sets fixed time blocks for tasks
  • covers the entire waking day
  • ties each task to a clear goal
  • is applied in the same way each day

Article Summary

Lockdown tests us, but you can keep going: choose a set routine, dress well, ask helpful questions, refresh your space, limit gloomy news and phone friends. These small daily steps keep mind and mood strong and show that time at home can still move you forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.


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Did You Know: Key Statistics

A 2021 study of 70,000 UK adults by University College London found people who kept a steady daily routine were 30% less likely to report depression during lockdown. The 2022 Reuters Institute Digital News Report shows 46% of UK news users now often avoid the news because it makes them feel down, more than triple the 15% recorded in 2017.

About the Author: Chris Farmer

Chris

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.

Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.

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Further Reading in Motivation

  • How to Change People's Bad Attitudes at Work
    Change bad attitude at work by exposing root beliefs, reframing views and coaching staff to act. Get clear steps, stats and tips managers can use today.
    Read Article >
  • How to be Happy and Successful
    Discover how life balance and smart goal setting prevent neglect, boost health, enrich relationships and drive personal success. Learn steps to stay happy.
    Read Article >
  • Motivational Emotions
    Learn why fear and anger harm mental well-being while desire lifts ambition and results. Discover simple ways to use positive motivation to inspire yourself.
    Read Article >
  • Three Ways to Motivate Others
    Learn how to motivate others by rewarding good behaviour, limiting punishment and using praise that boosts profit, cuts absence and turns teamwork into success.
    Read Article >
  • How to Motivate Yourself and Others
    Learn how to motivate yourself and others by asking eight goal-setting questions. Shift focus to a better future, spark emotions and gain clarity of purpose.
    Read Article >

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