4 Ways to Stay Motivated During the Pandemic

With the pandemic stretching on into yet another month and another season, continuing to stay motivated to keep up our healthy habits can be a challenge.  Here are a few ways to help keep a positive mental attitude so you can stay on track even if you sense your resolve is starting to wane.

1.   Take Breaks

Yes! Sometimes, we have to walk away for a few minutes to stay sane. Now more so than ever, most people are under immense pressure with their day-to-day duties. It’s okay, and even more important, to stop during the day, take some deep breaths, hydrate and/or get a nutrient-dense snack. Take a walk and if possible, see if a friend, relative, co-worker, pet, etc. can join you. While it is just as important to stay focused, cut yourself some slack in the process.

2.   Meditate

Meditation is not necessarily for everybody and it may require committing to several (if not more) sessions to truly get the hang of, but if you haven’t yet given it a try, now is a great time to experiment. YouTube has a plethora of instructors to choose from, while apps like Headspace, Waking Up, Calm & Mindfulness can also be a great resource, especially if you’re new to meditation.

3.   Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone

In most cases, there comes a point where exercising can become stale, eventually mundane, and then stagnant if there is no change in your routine. Changing up your routine might seem tough right now if you're still somewhere with limited gym access, but there are actually lots of ways you can still switch it up! Here are a few:

• Expand your home gym. Treat yourself to a new piece of equipment, even if it’s just a set of dumbbells or resistance bands, or get creative with additional households items like books as weights.

• Try doing a few workouts outside every week.

• Try adding new calisthenic exercises into your routine. Of course, most of us are familiar with the more common ones such as push-ups, sit-ups, crunches and so on, but try to incorporate ones that you may not have utilized in the past, providing they are not a detriment to any injuries you may have of course! For example, maybe you switch it up with wall squats, hip thrusts, or leg lifts.

• If you’re working with a trainer, make sure to give them lots of feedback – they can definitely help you find new ways to keep it interesting!

4.   Look at the Glass Half Full

It is easy to get caught up in the negativity of our day-to-day challenges — especially right now! — and many of us are still dealing with tough circumstances. Try to find one positive to focus on to be grateful for each day, even if it's small, like a going for a (socially distanced) walk with a friend.

While we can sometimes lose sight of just how much our physical and mental health impact each other, these tips should help you keep both on track.