8 ways to stay motivated through social distancing

In times like these, mental health should come first. It will help to see this as a different period of time in your life, and not necessarily a bad one. You can achieve that through the little things in life: for example, make sure you put a boundary in place between work and private life. Stick to your normal working hours and schedule some time for yourself in the evening. Create a list of the things that make you happy and try to inject one into your day, every day. Also, if watching the news or reading the headlines makes you feel anxious, try to limit your consumption if you can.

Staying active can be a bit of a challenge when you’re spending so much time at home, but it’s just about getting creative with it! There are loads of exercise videos online to get your endorphins going at home, ranging from cardio workouts to dancing and even Zumba. Make sure you get some air when you can as well: go for a long walk, a run or a bike ride - but make sure you stay within the recommended time frame! Our opticians recommend swapping your glasses for daily contact lenses when exercising, as it’s a hygienic and fuss-free option to get freedom of movement and crisp vision while on the go.

Let’s face it: before social distancing came about, we all had a list of things we simply never got around to doing. From post-holiday scrapbooking, to home DIY, learning languages or reading that book your friend passionately recommended 4 book clubs ago. We’re not short of time at the moment, so now’s your chance to write these things down and go down the list one by one, in a pace that you feel comfortable with. Plus, the satisfaction you’ll get from ticking all your to-do list will work wonders for your mindset!

Get up at the same time in the morning, and try your best to follow a routine. This could be easier said than done for some of us, depending on what we do for work, so make sure you set yourself a realistic plan, which fits in with your work schedule. Factor in your favourite type of exercising and all your household chores, but don’t forget the most important part of a routine: ‘you’ time. Relaxing after a long day, watching Netflix on the sofa and Facetiming a friend are all integral parts of the ‘new normal’.

Stuck for non-work related things to do in the evening to take your mind off things? Look around you: there are probably so many things at home to use creatively. Painting, writing, making music or singing could be useful tools to help you focus and get your spirits up. The most important thing about creative processes is that there are no rules you have to follow, so find what works best for you and unleash your inner creative.

From core strength and flexibility to managing stress and keeping calm: the benefits of yoga are endless. We’d recommend starting your day with a bit of yoga - it doesn’t have to be a long flow, but we find the calming exercise does wonders to help set some positive goals and intentions for your day. Alternatively, as yoga is also great at helping you mellow and relax, there are some great routines that can help you to better switch off after a long day. We love Yoga with Adriene - an amazing YouTube channel full of different yoga exercises, for enthused beginners and seasoned pros alike.