The majority of the populace is in stark agreement that 2020 was a write-off and the first half of 2021 hasn’t been much better. The happenings of the outside world have been terrifying and confusing; the world is largely falling apart but that doesn’t mean you have to as well. Here are a few tips to quell those feelings of negativity, and to alleviate any notion of stagnation.

#1 Start Something!

The hardest part of doing anything is starting. I cannot stress enough how important it is just to start something, anything! It can be the worst thing you’ve ever done, it can be a bunch of absolute twaddle, but just starting something can totally reinvigorate your creativity and force you to get back into the swing of things. I’m a third-year English student and I’ve often found that once you get the starting out of the way you’re good to go. The first things I write for any piece of work are likely awful, but that’s alright because nobody sees those bits but me. The more detritus you write, the more good material comes from it. Don’t get held down by too much planning. Allow yourself to have bad ideas because the bad ideas are often what the good ones spring from.

#2 Turn Off Your Phone for a bit

Nothing has been more of a productivity vampire than my phone. I don’t doubt that social media can be used as a tool for amazing things, bringing people together while being apart, keeping people updated on the here and now to name a couple. However, it can also have the single worst impact on a person’s sanity. Throughout the pandemic I found myself mindlessly scrolling for hours on end absorbing nothing and just passing time with the mundane comfort of it. I couldn’t even begin to tell you the amount of time you can waste on your phone without realising it. You start a piece of work, you check a notification on Facebook then bam! You’re scrolling, you’re clicking links to YouTube videos, you’re lost down the virtual rabbit hole. You eventually get back to work but now it’s midnight and you’re feeling sleepy. I find that like with all good things: Moderation is key

#3 Early Mornings are Not Your Enemy

It’s been so easy throughout the pandemic to just sleep in and ignore that the morning exists. Sleep ins are good, and they have their place in alleviating fatigue and helping mental health, BUT when you’re sleeping in everyday it’s easy to cross the line into absolute laziness. You probably don’t have a conventional job to go to, good! All the more time to spend doing something else! Give yourself enough time in the morning to start your day right!