How to Stay Focused and Productive During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Ted Ings, Executive Director
Like most people, you’re probably stuck at home, sheltering in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And that leaves you with too much time on your hands. What’s worse, the fear surrounding the virus makes it difficult to remain productive and stay focused.
But there are ways to make this mandatory downtime work in your favor. In fact, with the right attitude, you may even realize this break from your usual routine offers serval hidden blessings. All you need to do is approach the situation the right way.
Six tips for staying focused and productive during the pandemic
Right now, the coronavirus threat has everyone stressed out and afraid. The trick is to combat those negative emotions with positive actions. Here are a few tips to help make it happen.
1. Maintain an exercise routine
In response to the coronavirus, the gyms are temporarily closed nearly everywhere, which can make staying fit difficult. In some locations that have stay-at-home-orders, you may not even be able to take a walk outside.
WHO IS TED INGS?
Fortunately, there are ways you can get a good work out at home – even if you don’t have the space for exercise equipment. During the pandemic, some gyms are providing online exercise classes. Planet Fitness, for example, is offering free at-home workouts to both members and non-members.
Plus, there are a variety of digital exercise classes available through other outlets, such as YouTube. Set aside a dedicated space to perform your workouts (and, perhaps, invest in an exercise mat) and you’ll be able to stay in shape.
2. Practice healthy eating habits
While we’re on the topic of staying healthy, it’s important to remember to resist eating a bunch of junk food – and avoid overeating in general – during this time. Bad eating habits can disrupt both your physical and emotional well-being.
3. Learn something new
Learning something new is one of the best ways to stay positive and keep motivated. Maybe you’ve wanted to learn a second language or pick up computer programming. Now is the perfect time to hone that new skill.
What’s more, remote learning has never been easier. There are countless courses, which are either inexpensive or completely free, available online. A few examples include Khan Academy, Udemy and Coursera. If you do a quick Google search, you’ll find many more similar programs.
4. Catch up on work
When you’re working eight hours or more each day, getting to certain side projects can be difficult. For example, you may not have had time to work on your social media image or create a decent email campaign. Take advantage of this reprieve from the daily grind by catching up on the various work goals you’ve been putting off.
5. Limit the amount of time spent viewing online media
Nearly every second, shocking new coronavirus-related reports are popping up online, making it easy to get wrapped up in fear and anxiety. While it’s important to stay on top of issues related to the virus, so that you can comply with local regulations and remain healthy, it’s also wise to regulate the amount of information you digest. Limiting the time you spend on social media is especially important due to the amount of “fake news” posted there.
Here’s a suggestion: Choose a few set times throughout the day to check reputable news sources. If you have a hard time not browsing other media outlets, you might consider installing a website blocker in your browser. Such tools prevent the use of select sites (e.g., Facebook) when you’re trying to be productive.
6. Work on bettering yourself
Everyone has something that they can improve on. During this downtime, consider working to better yourself by engaging in meditation or reading a self-improvement book. You may even want to think about setting up a few sessions with a therapist to work on bigger issues. Most mental health professionals are now offering their services remotely.
Remember: We will get through this
One of the most important tips is to remember that the pandemic won’t last forever. Do your best to stay healthy and happy right now. And look forward to the time when we can all be together again, enjoying life.