As we continue to adapt to the changes in our lives it is important for us to not waste this time. It would be very easy to just act like we are on vacation and binge watch our favorite shows or play endless games on our devices. I suggest instead you use this time as an opportunity to grow and do the things you “never have time for”. Start an exercise program, read those books that are laying around, finish the project that remains undone, start a new project, take an online class. Do something that makes you better and you will feel better about yourself.

The first step is to have a schedule and stick to it. We need structure in our lives and when that is gone we tend to fall apart. How many Facebook posts have you seen about people not knowing what day it is. I believe I saw someone post that it is no long Mon – Tues – Wed but this day – that day – the other day. This is in your control and important to your sanity to keep track of. We too often allow our lives to be controlled 0r managed by other people. Whether this be our work schedule or worse our email. Now that you don’t have to be at work (cause you are at home) it is no longer controlled by someone else. Take back the control and create your perfect schedule. Yes, some of you still have some forced structure but try to control all that you can. Students are always tired, well this is a great time to create a schedule that fixes this. Stop staying up until 1 or 2 in the morning. Go to bed at a reasonable hour and do the same in the morning. When we come out of this there is going to be a lot of opportunity for change. Maybe you can work from home a few days a week. Or maybe you can work from home everyday. Maybe how we do school gets re-structured. Again, this is an opportunity so when we get past COVID-19 don’t just fall back into your previous habits. Never let your present circumstances limit your vision for the future.

I know that change can be hard and scary but it can also be fun. Remember all you need are small changes to add up to big results. I too am working on making changes to better myself. The first habit I started was that the first thing I do when I wake up is some sort of exercise. This can be: stretching, going for a run, or a strength workout. Length of time doesn’t matter just that this is the first thing I do. So don’t let the fact that you only have 5 minutes of time before you have to get ready for a Zoom meeting stop you. Do something for 5 minutes and congratulate yourself. For me starting with exercise launches my day but it may be something else for you. I also don’t make it dependent on a specific time (ie get up at 5 am and workout) because if I had a difficult night of sleep and need to sleep until 6 I feel like I failed. However with my habit if I sleep until 6 that is fine I just do my exercise then. We want habits that work and are sustainable not that we manage for a week and then give up on.

So what are you going to do?