How to stay productive during changing times

Being productive isn’t always easy. Being productive during changing times is particularly challenging. When something happens in life that is unexpected, like this pandemic we’re facing, it’s easy to lose the motivation and will power to have productive days. 

Since our normal routines and schedules are disturbed, it’s hard to restructure our lives in a way that makes us feel content and fulfilled. 

Right now, you might have just about enough motivation to get you out of bed. But inside, you feel a little guilty and would secretly like to be productive again, right?

With a bit of proactivity, that’s possible. In this article, I’ll share with you six ways in which you can stay productive, even while your life is facing changes. 

Plan your days ahead of time. 

Planning your day is a good place to start if you want to boost your productivity. You can plan the night before or every morning after you wake up.  This will give you clarity as to what you need to do that day, and at what time. 

Waking up in the morning without a clear plan encourages unproductivity, since you don’t know what to do or what to start off with, in the end you don’t achieve much.

 You can have a mental plan in mind as to how you’ll structure your day to be productive, but I also recommend writing it down. Statistics show  that you’re more likely to achieve your goals if you write them.

Make it a habit to jot down a to-do list on a piece of paper. Or if you prefer, you can download a planner app. 

Prioritize what’s important first

After you’ve planned your day, prioritise what’s important to do first. 

For example, if you’d like to read today but you have a few emails you need to respond to, complete that task before you do anything else. 

As annoying as it is, nothing beats the feeling of relief you get after doing the important things.

It’s also a good idea to break down big tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. Say you have your house to clean. The thought of having to tidy each room is overwhelming, right? So start with the most important room first, and clean the rest of them gradually or even the following days. You’ll notice these hacks are simple, but will do wonders for your productivity. 

Look after your physical and mental health

When our lives take an unexpected turn, one of the first things we neglect is our physical and mental health. To start being productive again, create a routine in place that includes looking after yourself. 

For your mental health, this can be things like journaling in the mornings, practising breathing exercises, meditating or consuming useful information, like reading books on personal development. 

For your physical health, that can be exercising a few times a week, being conscious of what you eat or going out for walks. 

You don’t have to do all these things daily as that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Just make sure to jot something down that you’ll do to benefit your physical and mental health when you plan your days, so you can stay mindful about your mind and body.

Take time off technology

Technology takes up time in our lives. Whether it’s scrolling through social media on our phones or watching videos on our laptops, it’s always there to distract us. Taking time off technology is what you need to be more productive. Everyday, turn off your phone and laptop for an hour or more. 

You can use that free time to explore a new hobby, complete a task you’ve wanted to, or do something to benefit your physical and mental health. 

Fix your sleeping schedule – wake up and sleep earlier

When our lives are unstable, our sleep schedule can get affected. Since the covid-19 pandemic, many people have been sleeping and waking up late, or just sleeping at random times during the day. 

This isn’t something we consider as much as we should, but sleeping really helps to stay productive. It’s  important for your overall health, and if you wake up early after a long night’s sleep, you’ll see that you feel refreshed which will motivate you to have a productive day.

Think about your sleeping pattern right now, is it helping you be productive or not? If your answer is no, that’s the first thing you should work on to restructure your days properly. 

Final thoughts: Embrace the changes happening

Life changes all the time. That’s an uncomfortable reality for many of us, but a reality nonetheless. Embracing change is an important part of being productive as it helps you create a mindset shift. 

Instead of thinking about the past and trying to figure out how you can change your present to be like before, you can be proactive and adjust your routine to the way things are now. 

You can do this by looking at the things you do have control over, and focusing on that. 

For example, you might have been used to going to the gym but because these public places are closed due to the pandemic, you can’t go for now. Instead of choosing to stop exercising, be proactive and create your own workout routine at home. 

When you do this, not only do you feel proud of yourself and satisfied, you also learn to take control over a situation and remain productive even while your life is changing. 

For more advice and personal guidance on maintaining productive days, be sure to check out my coaching services https://lifecoachingwithnarriman.co.za/