What a start to the decade, right?
2020 has been a wild ride with coronavirus causing a world-wide pandemic and setting off a chain of adjustments to our daily lives. There has been a lot of uncertainty in the air regarding our jobs, our health, and our overall lifestyle.
Most of our current reality sucks…but it doesn’t all have to be lousy.
Our lifestyle has changed quite dramatically and in a very short time we were left with no choice but to adapt to the current situation. Let’s talk about some strategies to re-spark some energy into our family life, work life, and social life.
Start small
If you feel like you’ve been lacking the motivation to be productive for work that needs to get done, taking care of the kids, doing some of the house tasks your wife asked you to take care of, or even working out, take a step back and relax.
Don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking about the all the things you need to get done today. Start the day with an easy task like brewing a cup of coffee for you and your wife or taking the trash out.
Plan out the tasks that you need to get done the day before so you’re well aware of what you need to do and you don’t get blindsided by something you forgot. Something as easy has writing down your tasks can really clear up your mental space and will allow you to work with less stress.
Create your own space
You’re likely spending a lot more time with your wife and kids but still balancing that with work. When you’re so used to having your own designated area at the office, you may find it challenging to stay focused and without distractions at home.
It’s really tough to get in the “zone” when you feel like you’ve barely moved from your bedroom. It’s tough to get any quality work done if you’re distracted by the TV in the background or kids running around the house all day.
Set a quiet space in your home where you can focus and feel like you’re back in a work environment. Changing your setting will ease your ability to focus and the quality of whatever you’re working on will likely increase.
Feeling bored with nothing productive to do?
We’ve talked about some things that you can do to boost your productivity for work, but how about your life outside of work? You may feel like there aren’t a ton of things you can do right now due to social distancing restrictions and that might be getting to you.
Start a home project. Now is the best time for you to start that backyard garden or build that shed you’ve been meaning to the last couple years.
You’ll make your wife happy getting things done around the house but also feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It’s a great substitute to fill your weekends for the time being and you won’t be missing out on much of the outside world!
What about my social life?
If you feel like you are missing out catching up with your friends, family, and co-workers because of the lockdown, plan a virtual happy hour.
Software applications like Zoom, Skype, and other options make it really simple for your whole group of friends or family to hangout through video chat and share a cold beer together.
Everyone grab their favorite craft beer, or spots of Bourbon…whatever floats you boat.
It’s such a cool way to enjoy conversing with your friends and catch up on their current experiences with the virus. On the plus side, you won’t have to call an Uber home!
Make an excuse to get outdoors
This can be challenging for those who usually go workout at the gym or exercise at any indoor facilities. Find hobbies outdoors that accommodate to these times.
Play some golf with your buddies, take a hike with your family, or go a scenic bike rides with your wife.
So, about 10 of my buddies and I have kickstarted weekly golf together – different course, different games, different groups, (and different beer) each week. We’ve found that the pandemic gave us the impetus to get together, and also some leverage on the home-front to escape for a few hours.
If you’re a golfer, we all use The Grint – a free app that tracks scores, stats, handicap, and some other stuff. There’s a social element too. You get notifications when your buddies are playing, and you can see what they’re shooting (and harass them while you’re at it).
Here’s a good resource with the 14 Best Golf Apps of 2020
There are plenty of things you can do to stay active and it is vital to keep up with your health during these times. Making sure that your body is active will help you stay at ease and will always rejuvenate your energy.
Just keep it rolling
Don’t worry too much about things you can’t control. Stay informed but don’t obsess over the news.
It’s important to keep up with the updates on the pandemic and the severity of the virus but that doesn’t mean you need to be glued to the news.
As important as it is to up to date right now, it’s even more important that you retain your motivation and energy.
Stay on your pursuit and stay safe.
