How I stayed motivated through miss rona...😷

@jacqueline

By: Thais Ribeiro

The past year and a half have revolutionized the way in which we all live our lives. Jobs have been lost, study plans cut short, and many opportunities or plans postponed. I wish I could say that it was easy, that I was able to immediately bounce back, recalculate my next steps and get right back on track. The reality however, is that finding the motivation to get up on my feet, take care of myself and fine tune my ambitions has been a long journey. Although the temptation to stay in bed and spend hours on TikTok is unbelievably strong, here are some things that have worked for me as I have rebuilt my life in the past year:

1. Listen to yourself

This might sound stupid, or too simplistic, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to pay attention to your thoughts. There is so much pressure today to be “productive” at all times, and this can get overwhelming. Take a step back, listen to how you’re feeling, and proceed at your own pace. There is nothing wrong with listening to the signals your body and mind are communicating. Separating myself and my reality from the journey of others was extremely important before I could fully begin to work on my own goals.

1. Set short term and long term goals

We’ve all heard this before, but sitting down and identifying what you want to want to achieve is crucial. I am far from being the most organized person on the planet, but identifying where you want to be in a given amount of time immediately allows you to create a set plan on how to get there. Say, for example, that your ultimate fitness goal is to be able to run a half marathon nonstop, and you hope to be able to do this within a year. Set a new goal of kilometers to reach per week, or per month if that’s what you need. This will provide you with smaller milestones that act as stepping stones to reaching your ultimate objective. This idea can be applied across the board, and has helped me come closer to achieving both my personal and professional goals in an organized, timely manner.

1. Get up early

The early bird gets the worm. Isn’t that what they say? It took me some time to realize the extent to which getting up early increased my productivity. And this doesn’t mean being up at dawn; set your alarm for 7:30, take a couple minutes to stretch and check your phone. Once I became accustomed to being out of bed and working by 8 am, I became much more available and enthusiastic about my to-do list.

1. Eat Well, Sleep Well, and Stay Active

Make sure you’re getting the rest you need! Not only will this make step 3 easier, but it’ll make sure you stay energized throughout the day. Keeping a healthy diet is also something that’s really helped me: fruit smoothies, salads, and healthy snacks keep me feeling lively and ready to take on the challenges I set myself. When I’m feeling down, a quick run, home workout, or even a walk are fun ways to get your endorphins going. And this doesn’t only have to be in the morning--if you’re like me, and you cherish those extra minutes in bed, literally take any small opportunity you find during the day to get moving!

1. Reward yourself

Don’t hesitate to reward yourself for the little things. Whether you were finally able to finish that tough workout video, you finally completed an important work assignment, or were simply able to check an item off your to-do list, you have something to be proud of! Reward yourself by watching an episode of your favourite show, spending some time with friends, or even just enjoying doing nothing and relaxing for a night. This really helps me finish what I need to do promptly as I have something exciting to look forward to! It also helps make sure that you’re recognizing your own efforts and achievements.

1. Surround yourself with people who support you

This last and final point is one of the most important. Choose the people you interact with carefully! Stay away from those who seem to thrive on your downfall, as this will only steer you away from your objectives. Keep close those who motivate you, support you, and want you to see you happy and successful. Forming a strong, supportive, and fun inner circle will boost your happiness and provide a safety net to fall back on if you need.

Aaaand that’s it! These six steps have helped me stay focused, active and on top of my goals. I hope they’re able to help you take a step back, formulate goals and get to work on achieving them, no matter how big or small. You got this :)