Q&A: How Do You Stay Productive When Sh*t Feels Crazy?
Fair enough…
Honestly, sometimes I even find myself asking this question. It’s been said a million times, a million different ways how large of a dumpster fire 2020 has been. But, for whatever reason, the last two months have felt either incredibly long or just like someone piling books onto an already unsteady pile. Now that the election has passed, I thought things would calm down…slightly..but now we are at the holiday season. Next week it’s Thanksgiving and I’ve already found myself trying to figure out how to maximize my time this week so next week I’m not entirely overloaded.
How does this relate to the question at hand you may ask? Well, when I’m overloaded or overwhelmed I want to do…nothing. Simply because I don’t have a clue where to start and it’s well known that perfectionists often shy away from tasks and procrastinate out of the fear it won’t be good enough (my life story at this point). One reason I have strayed away from a typical office environment is I hate feeling like I have to be productive and “on” from 9 to 5. Sometimes I’m just not feeling it and with creative jobs, there isn’t an on/off/reboot switch to meet the demands of others. So left to your own devices in an environment where all of your favorite things are at your disposal and you’re not being “babysat,” how does one maintain productivity?
Here is how I do it.
Turn On the Tunes
It’s really no surprise to anyone music is a big part of my life so this is always my go-to. Of course, the selections of the day depend on my mood and my current needs. Sometimes I really need to check out and immerse myself in writing or designing and then I’ll try some jazz. Other times I just want sound so I’ll check out new releases. Then there are the times I just don’t want to function or need to pump myself up to be the baddest b*tch in the Zoom meeting ready to defend my choices to the death. Any music. that you love or feel fits the vibe can boost your confidence and, as a result, your productivity.
I like to listen to Workday Jazz, Ambient Indie, or you can always check out what I’m listening to by following me on Spotify.
Take a Break
This one has a little bit of a caveat to it. I literally hate the guilt associated with taking a break. I despise feeling like the second I return to my computer or email there will be a million requests making me even more stressed and overwhelemed than I was when I walked away. But honestly, there are reasons a break is beneficial. It’s a reset and it can re-energize. When you’re not feeling something, you shouldn’t just power through. The body and mind are telling you something isn’t right and you should listen. A break gives you a chance to come back and objectively look at whatever you’re working on, critique it, and know where to go next. It can be as long or as short a break as you need. Sometimes you just need to get out and take a walk.
Reassess the To-Do List
I’m a religious list maker, but looking at a very long list of tasks can be pretty overwhelming. Especially when it’s Monday morning and your inbox has been completely flooded over the last few days by people who probably love email more than anyone else. This the time when I make a huge list and begin to single out the tasks I know won’t be hard to complete. Everything from filling a prescription to jotting down a shopping list, something I need to reorder, or a post I need to schedule real quick. Completing the smaller things already makes me feel more productive and motivated to take on the larger tasks. Not only that but once small tasks are taken care of, I have now freed up the time I can dedicate to much longer, immersive tasks.
I’m a religious list maker, but looking at a very long list of tasks can be pretty overwhelming. Esepcially when it’s Monday morning and your inbox has been completely flooded over the last few days by people who probably love email more than anyone else. This the time when I make a huge list and begin to single out the tasks I know won’t be hard to complete. Everything from filling a perscription to jotting down a shopping list, something I need to reorder, or a post I need to schedule real quick. Completing the smaller things already makes me feel more productive and motivated to take on the larger tasks. Not only that, but once small taks are taken care of, I have now freed up time I can dedicate to much longer, immersive tasks.