We are all in a very interesting time in our lives. Working remotely, learning remotely, slowly waiting for the quarantine to be over.
Also, as I write this post about staying productive in stressful times there are currently fire alarms going off in my building and three fire trucks lined up outside at 8pm on a Thursday night. (To be fair the fire alarms go off so often here that we know it is not an emergency or of course I would be leaving. This is not one of those situations.)
But the writing must go on. Because hey… this post is all about productivity in less than favorable conditions. So let’s get moving.
With all the new stresses being thrown our way, its important we make a plan to stay productive, get successful, and find calm all at the same time. If you read any of my earlier posts, you know that I swear by organization and I am going to say the same thing here.
Get organized and you’ll get productive. But doing so when stressed is a whole different story.
To be honest, I find myself one or two steps ahead in this since the way I deal with stress is by distracting myself with all my to do’s. So I’m currently drowning in all kinds of lists, routines, and productivity hacks.
But to be fair, I know that most of us are not like this… so here is my cheat sheet on how to get ahead when dealing with stress (as we all are at the moment).
*Tip 1: Determine What Productivity Means To You!
Understanding what productivity means to you is crucial when trying to define what your successes will look like. I know that may sound a tad intense but its true.
What I see as productive might not be to someone else, and might be overly worked to another person. Everyone has their own standards and you need to be able to identify those for yourself. That will be your jumping off point. So determine what you deem as being productive.
Side note quickly, this does not mean if you achieve two things on your task list you call it a day because you usually achieve one. We all know that’s a bit of laziness and procrastination. Decide on what makes you actually productive.
*Tip 2: Have A Routine With Designated Working Hours
I’ve also described this in depth in various other productivity posts as well. But again, it rings true in those just as much as it will here. If you are looking to head off some stress, being productive and getting things done is the number one way to alleviate those immediate panic attacks from setting in.
And to do that, you will need a working routine that you follow everyday. Yes, everyday! Once the routine becomes habit, you won’t even think twice about it and just jump right into getting your things done. Yay!
You may also want to check out this post on creating a functional at home work space too.
*Tip 3: Write Things Down
This is probably my favorite tip! I live by this and will continue to do this no matter what anyone says and whatever technology comes out. And it is something that can help you very much as well.
If you are looking to stay productive, regardless of added stress or not, then creating a to do list for yourself is vastly important so that you can visually see what needs to get done. Yes, you need to visually see it. Not just try and remember it.
The idea of not writing things down and having everything in your head is completely absurd. I know that may sound a bit harsh but it’s true. No one productive ever said “oh I just remember everything in my head”. Absolutely not. No thank you.
Also, if you are dealing with a lot of stress, remembering what tasks you need to get done sounds miserable. What if you forget one? What if you forgot an important one??
Let’s lessen the stress, lessen the anxiety, lessen the headache, and just jot it down.
Now the means in which you do so is completely up to you. There are so many different apps and platforms to help you organize your tasks, that it would be silly not to take advantage of them. Some of these include Slack, Asana, google calendar, and if all that is more than you need you always have the notes app in your phone.
Whichever one you choose, just make sure it is something you are comfortable with and will use…a lot.
There is one more option that you can use and I do everyday. To be honest, I don’t really use any of the channels listed above. I have a very traditional annual planner that has the months, weeks, and days listed. I write To Do lists for myself every single day. There is something about having a hand written page in front of you that not only makes it organized but adds a bit of nostalgia too. Plus it’s pretty :).
Also, I look at my planner often throughout the day, and to think if that was on one my screens, it will most definitely cause headaches. And again, we want to be productive but decrease stress. So headaches…no thank you.
There is another reason that I physically write things down too. The exercise of thinking of something, writing it down, and then visually seeing it helps a lot. You have just reviewed that task three different times. Once mentally, then physically by transcribing it, and lastly visually. If you need help remembering things, this would be a great exercise for you to start doing as well. The triple action really helps with task memory retention.
*Tip 4: Vent Your Stress Away
This is really important too. I discussed why we all need to do this in my post about staying sane during quarantine. I will link that below for you so you can give that a read if you’d like.
But honestly, it is very important to be able to talk about everything that you’re feeling and going through. Of course, this is always important but it’s not as easy for some people and isn’t made a priority either.
However, in times of stress, where we are trying to remain productive, we need to have an outlet to get those feelings out as they will build up more than usual. You are also battling new stresses you may not have had before. If you want any hope of staying productive and focusing on the things that need to get down, you’re going to have to learn to ward off any possible mental break downs.
And a key way to do that is to just talk to someone. It may not be comfortable. But just think about it helping you get towards your productivity goal. Have a little vent session and then keep it moving so you can focus your positive energy on your tasks.
Check this post on how to stay sane during quarantine too!
*Tip 5: Take A Full Day Rest
Okay, so my next tip is all about rest. Yes, you read it right, you need to rest.
I know some may be asking why do you need to focus on rest if you’re trying to be productive and get things done.
Well when people are in stressful situations, as we may all be right now, it takes a toll on your mental and emotional health. You’ll start feeling more exhausted than normal even if you’re doing less things. That’s what stress does. It sucks the energy out of you.
So if you want to help combat that you have to make space for it in your schedule. If you’re stressed out, you’re going to feel more tired and perhaps more on edge. By taking a day of rest, it will help give your body the physical break it needs while also allowing your mental health to replenish.
I definitely advocate for taking a full day. You should start prepping the day before about making sure you’re not taking on too much stress and responsibility the following day.
*Tip 6: Enjoy Some Self Care Ideas
And to end this post and really help get your rest days going, there are a ton self care ideas you can incorporate!
This is more important now than ever before since we are trying to alleviate stress. Truthfully, we are trying to avoid as many break downs as possible.
You cannot expect to be productive 100% of the time without allowing yourself any kind of self care. If you want to help decrease your stress, getting your work done needs to be balanced with some time to relax. So be sure to check out my post with an awesome list of ideas you can try.
You can check out my post here on wonderful self care ideas to help anyone unwind.
*Summary
There you have it! A couple of the tips and tricks I use weekly if not every day to make sure that I am getting all that I need done but also helping to calm the stress that is all around us. Some of these items are easier said than done but practice will help. And everything starts with a positive intention. So put the intention and energy in, and I promise if you put these tips to work, you’ll not only be getting more done but handling the stress of it all much better as well.
And as always, If you have any questions, comments, or ideas please share them in the comments section below with your fellow parents! And definitely subscribe to the newsletter for updates and ongoing happenings at TylekTeaches.com. The subscription link is just on the right hand side of this post. See you there!
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