How to keep organised and feel more motivated!

With the uncertainty that is plaguing our lives right now, it comes as no surprise to find that some days can feel a lot heavier than others, making it a lot more difficult to get out of bed or enjoy the things you used to. 

However, it is when things start to get especially hard that it is vital to create a routine and look for a purpose; something to keep you on-track with meeting your goals and motivate you to keep going!

As someone who has struggled with their own mental health, I’ve comprised a list of, what I find to be, the most helpful tips to help increase your motivation and keep you organised. 

1. Positive mornings

Believe it or not, what you expose yourself to in the morning, particularly in the first 20 minutes after you wake up, has a huge impact on the overall tone of your day. Therefore, it’s better to start the day off by listening to an empowering podcast, meditating, reading or gratitude journaling; rather than checking your social media, where you may find a timeline full of negativity. Accompany your new morning routine with a glass of water and focus on three things that you would like to accomplish in the rest of the day. 

2. Getting out of bed

To motivate myself to get out of bed, I find that creating a list of small tasks the night before, to be completed in the morning, is the most productive and effective way to get my day started. For instance, on days where I have online lessons, my list of small tasks may look like: getting changed out of my pyjamas, doing my skin care, brushing my teeth, and making the bed. While they may not seem like huge accomplishments, being productive soon after I wake up puts me in a better and more energised mood, giving me the motivation to carry on with the rest of my day.

And while some may feel like that is not something they can do straight away, a great way to start improving your morning routine is by engaging with and creating some micro-habits. Micro-habits are exactly what the name implies: small, doable actions one completes that eventually become part of your daily routine as time goes on. These could take the form of reading one page a day, drinking one cup of water, and meditating for one minute every night- the key is to start off small and to build your way up!

Thus, starting your morning off right will set you in a good direction for the day; and with this sense of accomplishment, brought by your new and improved morning routine, should also bring about some motivation. 

3. Daily Routine

It’s important to set your intentions for the day, and with that comes thinking in advance about what you would like to accomplish. Whether you plan for your day the night before or simply decide in the morning, its important that these daily goals you set for yourself are realistic. I find that aiming to achieve 3 things every day is the way forward- whether these are big or small accomplishments, be kind to yourself!

4. Organising your routine

The best way to ensure that you’re always on-track is through purchasing a planner, so that you can make a note of the things that you need to do, from attending university lectures to going grocery shopping. Purchasing a planner and laying out your external needs can not only give you a sense of agency over your life, but also a sense of routine, whereby you can determine the tasks that you need to accomplish that day. I find that in planning out my university reading for the week it allows me to better prepare myself and motivates me for my course.

5. Listen to your body!

Even though it’s important to engage with external tasks, it is also extremely important to listen to your body’s needs. In order to accomplish anything at all, your body needs energy and so ensuring that you eat three balanced meals a day and drink plenty of water, is the best thing that you can do. Personally, I find drinking water to be a strenuous task and so one of my micro-habits lately has been to finish my 750ml water-bottle every day, so that I can provide my body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. 

If you find that you’re feeling up to it, getting out of your house and getting your body moving can be super helpful too! Whether you go for a jog or a slow-paced walk, you will be producing endorphins (hormones that make you feel good!) and relieving pent-up stress. Needless to mention, sometimes having a change of scenery can be exactly what you need to feel motivated!

            Though times are tough right now, remember that you will get through this! Hopefully, these tips will be able to help motivate you in your day-to-day life so that you may reach your full potential and meet your goals.