It’s hard to stay motivated as a creative when all you hear is bad news, your photoshoots have been postponed or cancelled so you start to feel flat or unmotivated.

So here are my tips on staying motivated

Tip 1

Set a routine

I work from home every day.  If I’m not physically on a photoshoot, I’m working from home.  So I need to follow some rules.

If you’re used to working every day in an office you will have your regular routine.  Get up early, have breakfast and go to work, have a coffee break, have lunch, have another coffee break then go home.  Do exercise, make dinner, relax and then do it all again Monday to Friday.  So why should working from home be any different?  Treat it like a work environment.

It’s easy to sleep in and fall out of routine, especially when the news is all bad and you feel like what’s the point and you just waste the day.

I get up early, make a coffee (I intermittently fast so don’t have breakfast), I read the news which at the moment is all bad, so sometimes I just flip through Flipboard and find more uplifting stories.  Then I do my morning walk with the dog.  At this stage we are still able to leave our house for exercise, still keeping our distance from other people.  But by the time you read this, things may have change, so I’ll adapt.  (more on fitness in Tip 2), then I have a shower and get dressed in something other than active wear.  If you dress in loungewear, you’ll feel like lounging around. 

Plan out your work day.  9am start work - 10:30 coffee break - 12pm lunch - 3pm - coffee break - 5pm finish.

A routine will make your day feel more productive and will also make the day go quicker.

Tip 2

Stay active

If you don’t want to leave the house, or by the time you read this, you are not allowed, then do one of the many free YouTube or Apps on how to exercise at home.  I regularly practice yoga via YouTube channel “Yoga with Adriene”.  As it’s an easy to follow yoga routine where the lovely Adriene takes you through each pose step by step.  I’ve been following Adriene for years and she’s great.  Want something more of a workout than yoga, then another great channel for fitness that I’ve used is the Popsugar fitness channel.  There are heaps of different workouts designed by celebrity trainers and they are free.  They’ll have you work up a sweat and burn those callories.  

Staying active is good for the body and good for the mind.  So try not to skip this step.

Tip 3

Set up your workplace

If you’re not used to working from home, let me tell you, there are plenty of distractions.  So choose an area of the home that is not high traffic area like the kitchen table.  If the kitchen table is your only option and you live with others (children, partner, friends) then tell them that you are unavailable for a few hours.  Put your headphones in and ignore the world around you.  Just like you do if you were at your desk at work.

If you have the option to work away from your kitchen table and in another room, then this is a great option.  I make sure there is natural light, at least 1 plant but I have tonnes of indoor plants for my office space and for me my photos hanging on the wall as seeing photos I have created, inspires me to create more.

Tip 4

Create a personal project

Just because you can’t go out and shoot, doesn’t mean you can’t plan a personal project.  Start with something you love and go from there.  Create a moodpboard, create a brief.  In the brief include everything you would need to carry out this photoshoot- talent, location, mood, time of day and what do you want to get out of it.  

Doing this will spark you creatively and then when isolation comes to an end, make sure you follow through with your project.  It will be a great reward and achievement that you will be both proud you created and be great for your portfolio.

Tip 5

Connect with others

Times like these affect people differently.  Some people can be hit hard and really need a friend.  Physical isolation can feel lonely but we are lucky enough that during these times, we have access to technology so we can stay social.  A great idea is to create a group chat and check in with people every day, even if it’s just to say hi.    Also, don’t forget to call and check in on people that don’t access social media. Like family.

Tip 6

Learn something new or refresh an old skill

Again, in this day and age we have access to technology and you can learn something new or refresh your knowledge without even leaving your house.  I use Skillshare and YouTube.  Skillshare is a subscription based website/app that you pay once a month and can learn as many new skills as you want.  

Tip 7

Eat Healthy.  

This probably should have been up the top somewhere.

One of the things we crave when times are tough and stress starts to kick in, is comfort food.  Usually for me it’s sugar.  The more sugar I eat, the more sugar I crave.  I also find my mood deteriorates the more sugar I consume and then the more unmotivated and flat I become, then we’re right back where we started, which is a vicious cycle.  

Remember, you get out what you put in.

Tip 8

Try to stay positive.

It is so hard to stay positive and easy to focus on the negatives when all you hear is negative news.  But there is nothing better than positive vibes.  It’s true what they say, a smile is contagious so make sure you pass that on.  Practice kindness, you don’t know what other people are going through.

Tip 9

Get fresh air.

Just because we are in isolation, doesn’t mean you can’t get fresh air.  Stand outside in your backyard, on your balcony, if you have none of these, then open a window.  Breathe in fresh air.  It is great for the mind.

And lastly Tip 10

Take Care

You have to make time for yourself. It is so important in times of stress to focus on yourself.   Meditate, read a book, play a guitar. What ever it is you usually do in your downtime, don’t stop.