10 Ways To Stay Motivated During The COVID Pandemic

10 Ways To Stay Motivated During The COVID Pandemic

By Alyssa Blair, Swimming World Intern

There’s no denying that 2020 has been one of the easiest years to have an excuse for being lazy. Between being quarantined in our homes and only being allowed to go certain places for a certain amount of time, it’s easy to become complacent and fall into a routine that does not align with your long-term goals of swimming. However, just because the world stops, that does not mean personal progress and growth have to as well. Here are 10 ways to stay motivated through all the year has thrown at us.

1. Stay In Touch With Friends

Photo Courtesy: Linda Striggo

In a time of forced isolation and unknowns, though it is necessary, it is easy to feel alone. Even if you are not physically alone, not being able to see and spend time with those closest to you can be mentally draining. Talk with friends, teammates, and coaches to keep your mental health up and to continue surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who will push your limits despite being physically distanced.

2. Think About Your Last Failure

Take a minute and recall your last major failure. Remember the feelings that followed, whatever they may be, and use those feelings as an inner drive to push harder. Do that one last lift set, run that last mile, swim that last lap even if you’re tired and you don’t want to, and use the remembrance of last time’s failure as a guarantee that next time the result will not be the same.

3. Make A List

Writing out your goals, both short-term and long-term, can help you to better visualize what they are and make a tangible plan for how to make those inner goals a reality.

4. Try Something New

Photo Courtesy: USA Swimming

Maybe drylands are getting tedious, or it’s harder than you thought it would be to reacclimate to swimming practices. To continue staying active, research and try a new form of physical activity. Many things can count as cardio or body weight exercises that people tend to skip over. There’s nothing wrong with going back to the basics if it means giving yourself a mental break.

5. Make A Routine

Building your workouts into your daily routine will increase the likelihood that you’ll actually do them as well as give you an outlet to relieve stress and any other pent-up thoughts and feelings you may have. Social distancing is draining mentally, and sometimes making a routine of letting out those emotions each day will help you to feel better in multiple ways. Without all those feelings clouding your mind, it’s also easier to keep your eye on the goals you’re working toward.

6. Make It A Competition

As athletes, we thrive on competition. We develop certain instincts and reflexes for competing that make us thrive under pressure. So make a virtual competition with some friends or teammates. Set up rules, make a reward, and get to work to win.

7. Fuel Your Body

Photo Courtesy:

A huge part of achieving your goals is incorporating the correct food into your diet. Break out the cookbooks or surf the web for some new healthy recipes to try. Experiment in the kitchen and find some new delicious food that is fun to prepare and great to eat.

8. Remember Why You Started

Take a trip down memory lane and remember why you started this journey. Think about what keeps you going, and why you still are in the sport. The reasons that pulled you in the first place and the nostalgia that comes with them will serve as a reminder as to why you should keep going.

9. Stay Positive

The months that have passed have been filled with one grim thing after another. Negativity is the easy choice because it doesn’t seem like there’s positivity anywhere to be seen. Work hard to see the good in every situation, no matter how terrible it may seem. Attitude is half the battle in any sport; you can be in the best physical shape but a negative mindset will crush any chance you have of coming out on top. Practice optimism, and you’ll be glad you did in the long run.

10. Have Fun With It

Many items on this list boil down to a very simple philosophy…have fun with it! Athletes live for competition, yes, and sometimes that can be a great motivator. But competition involves pressure and can tire mentally fast. Give your mind and body a break once in a while and have fun, and watch the effect it has on your motivation.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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Aimee Blair

3 years ago

Awesome job Alyssa! Great article. Can’t wait to read more from you. So proud of you!