Hi, everyone.

I think it’s safe to say that we’re all reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, so I wanted to speak more personally and directly in this post. First and foremost…

You’re not alone.

Since none of us has any idea how things are going to shake out, this sense of uncertainty can make it hard to motivate. According to the Mayo Clinic, common side effects of stress include “a lack of motivation or focus” and “feeling overwhelmed.”

Baby steps.

So much seems up in the air and out of our control right now. To take back some of that control, I’ve been focusing on the things I can do — and I’ve been having my clients do the same. Right now, I think the key is baby steps.

Listen, even if there are big things you can’t bring yourself to do right now, there are little things that you can do. Now is a great time to set small, manageable goals for yourself. Not only will this benefit you psychologically and emotionally — but it will benefit you financially.

Golden opportunity.

There are plenty of things you can work on — more than you may realize. Normally, life is ridiculously busy and hectic. But sheltering in place offers a golden opportunity to take the time to step back, take a breath, and think about your business.

This is a time when you can: Research! Connect with people! Get stuff done!

Small things that are do-able…

If you’re feeling even a little ambitious, go ahead and make an actual list of the business activities that are do-able right now, no matter how small. Now is the perfect time to set yourself up for a stronger business in the future.

For example:

1. Talk to people!

With everyone stuck at home, this is a great time to reach out to your network or connect with someone new. For what it’s worth, everyone I’ve been talking to lately has been thrilled to answer the phone and talk rather than emailing or texting.

So strengthen your connections or make new ones. If you’re starting a new business, reach out to your competitors — or your suppliers — or even your target customers! A few of these calls every week will add up in no time.

2. Clearly define what you want your business to do or be.

This is the time to dream big!

3. Build or improve your website.

You can make a really professional WordPress website using Divi by Elegant Themes. Divi is a user-friendly website theme that offers a wide range of beautiful, ready-made templates — and Elegant Themes has a slew of wonderful step-by-step videos for people who don’t know the first thing about building websites.

4. Teach yourself something new you’ve been wanting to learn…

Like building a website… or how to start a podcast… or write a blog.

Even smaller things…

If your head isn’t in a creative space these days, you can…

• Channel Marie Kondo and organize your files or clean up your contact list.
• Create a spreadsheet for your business budget and list as many relevant items as you can think of… and then research the costs.

Focus on what you CAN do.

This is a great time to finally do those things (big or little) that you’re usually too busy to do. Future You will be really glad you did, especially when things get back to normal.

So keep yourself focused on what you CAN do.

If you’re feeling like you need someone to help you focus, let me know… I’m happy to help.