To call 2020 chaotic would be the understatement of the century. The past 9 months have been nothing short of life changing, and it's no surprise that most people have struggled to adapt to the way life flipped upside down what felt like a matter of seconds. In a world where normalcy is hard to come by anymore, I have found comfort in forming a routine and creating habits that give me a sense of control over my life. I think that one of the most important things for me has been finding habits that will benefit me post-pandemic. That way, I don't feel like what I'm doing is just a temporary fix for a small problem. I feel like I'm doing things that will actually benefit me in the long run and will lead me to maintaining a healthier, happier lifestyle in general. Some of these things are so cliché, but it's for good reason-small changes to your daily schedule can have a massive impact on your productivity.

Waking Up Earlier

This is the most cliche advice about being more successful in your every day life, but there's a very valid reason. Having a few extra hours to jumpstart your day gives you the opportunity to do things you normally wouldn't have time for. You don't have to be awake before the sun rises every morning. Honestly, just getting up an hour or two before you normally would will make you feel so much more productive, even if the only thing you're able to do is make a substantial breakfast.

Journaling

Setting aside time to write down your thoughts and reflect on them is something that's so hard to do unless you specifically budget that time into your schedule, but it can help you significantly in finding clarity and focusing on what's important. Ideally, I've found that I get the most out of it when I make it the first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing I do before I go to bed, but honestly any chance to write things down is helpful.

Exercise

Everyone tells you this from a young age, and it's sometimes the more difficult pieces of advice to follow, but moving around for at least a few minutes a day is so essential to feeling well in general. Physical and mental health are closely connected, and while being in good physical shape won't solve all of your problems, it definitely won't hurt. Having to balance school, work, and extracurriculars is already a major stressor in itself, without having to worry about feeling well physically. Implementing movement into your day is as easy as walking around campus with a friend for 30 minutes or doing a 15 minute Instagram workout from your room. Working out has also become more accessible from home since lockdowns started, so finding easy workouts that don't require equipment has become simpler than ever.

Reading

Reading for fun is a great way to compartmentalize and take a break from reading passages for school or work emails. Waking up earlier helps me have time to incorporate reading into my schedule, and having downtime at any point in my day feels so much more productive when I'm reading, even if it's nonfiction or a blog post. Learning about anything besides what's required is such a great way to encourage yourself and escape from the monotony of a busy schedule.