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How can I stay motivated during quarantine?
I'm a sophomore in high school and really want to finish off the semester with good grades, but haven't been motivated to get work done or get them turned in on time. #high-school
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2 answers
Updated
Sunny’s Answer
Hi Abigail,
We are all going through a tough time, so I understand it is very difficult to focus on the task in front of you. But I believe there is a way that we can still make ourselves productive.
- Time management: I think the downside of virtual studying is that there is no person that can supervise your studying during class and it gives you more free time on your hands that needs structured management. So you need to set up your own school hours (for example 9 to 4) and focus your mind and try not to be distracted by your phone or other events during these hours. After the school hours and you finish your assignments, then you are free! You need to close your laptop and enjoy the break. So it is as simple as turn on and off the school mode during your day, and this will give you a sense of how to separate your schedule between studying and resting.
- Work out regularly: After Covid started, I noticed I spent more time on a chair or a couch and do not take many steps on a daily basis (before Covid, I used to have 5,000 steps, but I barely had 500 steps after Covid). So I started walking every day for 40 minutes and this gave me more energy and time to relax and decompress. I think this is very important since our mental health is linked to our body and this gives us a more positive mind and calmness through the day.
I have been doing this during my business hours and it has been working pretty well.
We are all going through a tough time, so I understand it is very difficult to focus on the task in front of you. But I believe there is a way that we can still make ourselves productive.
- Time management: I think the downside of virtual studying is that there is no person that can supervise your studying during class and it gives you more free time on your hands that needs structured management. So you need to set up your own school hours (for example 9 to 4) and focus your mind and try not to be distracted by your phone or other events during these hours. After the school hours and you finish your assignments, then you are free! You need to close your laptop and enjoy the break. So it is as simple as turn on and off the school mode during your day, and this will give you a sense of how to separate your schedule between studying and resting.
- Work out regularly: After Covid started, I noticed I spent more time on a chair or a couch and do not take many steps on a daily basis (before Covid, I used to have 5,000 steps, but I barely had 500 steps after Covid). So I started walking every day for 40 minutes and this gave me more energy and time to relax and decompress. I think this is very important since our mental health is linked to our body and this gives us a more positive mind and calmness through the day.
I have been doing this during my business hours and it has been working pretty well.
Updated
Patricia’s Answer
Hi Abigail
I understand completely about staying motivated. It is so easy to develop bad habits and just let things slide.
Before COVID I had been working from home frequently due to the projects I was working on. I have coworkers all over the world and sometimes end up having meetings at all hours of the day and night.
To stay productive during that time I had already developed some key behaviors:
1. Get up and get ready in the morning as if you were going to be leaving the house anyway (this really does have an impact on your outlook)
2. Take breaks. Get up and walk around at least once an hour and give your brain and your body a break. If you can go outside, even better.
3. While you are working and need to concentrate find a method to enhance your focus and concentration that works for you. I have used the Pomodoro Technique and was surprised how helpful it was. It is a time management technique (they even have apps) that uses a timer to break down work into intervals, usually 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks.
4. If while studying or working on assignments you find listening to music or podcasts helpful try to use that to quiet all of the external distractions and help you to stay focused and motivated.
I know the world is so different right now but always take time for self care.
Something that is helping me right now is doing digital volunteering and reading through questions like yours and your peers has been amazingly motivating.
Without even trying you are helping all of us by letting us into your experience and allowing us to try and help.
Thank you.
Tricia
I understand completely about staying motivated. It is so easy to develop bad habits and just let things slide.
Before COVID I had been working from home frequently due to the projects I was working on. I have coworkers all over the world and sometimes end up having meetings at all hours of the day and night.
To stay productive during that time I had already developed some key behaviors:
1. Get up and get ready in the morning as if you were going to be leaving the house anyway (this really does have an impact on your outlook)
2. Take breaks. Get up and walk around at least once an hour and give your brain and your body a break. If you can go outside, even better.
3. While you are working and need to concentrate find a method to enhance your focus and concentration that works for you. I have used the Pomodoro Technique and was surprised how helpful it was. It is a time management technique (they even have apps) that uses a timer to break down work into intervals, usually 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks.
4. If while studying or working on assignments you find listening to music or podcasts helpful try to use that to quiet all of the external distractions and help you to stay focused and motivated.
I know the world is so different right now but always take time for self care.
Something that is helping me right now is doing digital volunteering and reading through questions like yours and your peers has been amazingly motivating.
Without even trying you are helping all of us by letting us into your experience and allowing us to try and help.
Thank you.
Tricia