While previous summers were not complete without pool parties, barbeques, and vacations surrounded by family and friends, this year is proving to be much different. With shelter in place orders and a consistent rise in Coronavirus cases, many were forced to cancel their summer plans and spend a majority of their summer at home. This could be seen as disappointing news, but there are many ways to take advantage of this time off and remain productive during quarantine! There is no better time to get some much-needed relaxation while also accomplishing your goals from the comfort of your home. Hopefully, these tips will help you utilize your time wisely and make the most of your summer vacation.
- Get you sleep schedule on track
There is nothing better than sleeping until noon and bingeing your favorite series on Netflix until 2 am, but it is necessary to have a set schedule in order to be productive during quarantine. It might be difficult at first but getting your sleep schedule on track is so beneficial to making the most out of each day. Waking up early gives you more hours in the day to cook an elaborate breakfast, exercise, meditate, or whatever you choose to do. This does not always mean waking up at 6 am but can be as easy as waking up an hour earlier than you usually do. Having a consistent sleep schedule will also help regulate your meal times and hunger levels, so you can plan out what and when you are going to eat. Sleeping at a consistent time every night will also help you fall asleep faster because your body’s internal clock will adjust overtime. Getting enough sleep can greatly improve productivity because you’ll have enough energy and motivation to complete each task.
- Make a To-Do list
Writing out a To-Do list each day is such a great tool for outlining your tasks and keeping yourself accountable for what you are accomplishing each day. Whether it is on the Notes app on your phone or on a piece of paper, checking off finished tasks is so rewarding and will motivate you to complete everything on your list! Before you know it, it’ll be 3 pm and you realize that you’ve been watching Netflix for half the day already. Holding yourself accountable is so important for productivity because this motivation comes from within us. My favorite way to stay organized during the day is to use alarms on my phone to remind me to do specific tasks. If I have a Zoom call with friends or have to submit a paper for my summer class by a certain time, I will set an alarm to remind me. Without a concrete idea of what your goals are for each day, the hours seem to fly by.
- Reward yourself!
Since quarantine is preventing many of us from celebrating the summer with large parties and festivals, it may be hard to find other ways to reward yourself for being productive. However, if you have completed a grueling summer assignment or a big project at work, you should definitely treat yourself for your efforts. Some other fun ways to treat yourself are: watching a movie, meeting a friend at the park (while social distancing), or even taking a hike to a nearby lake. Also, with Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype, you can video chat with your friends and talk to them while social distancing! There are many online games that you can play live with others, including Pictionary, Bingo, Most Likely To, Trivia, and Heads Up. Since these days of quarantine can all seem to blend together, breaking up the day with something to look forward to will help improve your mood. Focus on positive aspects in your life and don’t feel like there is nothing exciting you can do from home!
I know many of us were disappointed about fun summer plans being cancelled, but there are so many ways we can take advantage of this quarantine. Staying productive will not only help you keep a consistent routine but keep you from getting bored and unmotivated!
