Productivity slumps happen to the best of us, but it’s how we deal with them that makes us.
If you are going through a major productivity slump that is affecting your work, home-life and mental health, it is time to break free.
Follow these 5 tips for pulling yourself out of a major productivity slump.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
The worst thing you can do when you are going through a slump such as this is to beat yourself up.
Instead of focusing on the negatives, look for solutions and find ways to help you deal with the situation.
If you are constantly attacking yourself, how do you expect to get out of your slump?
We should always be kind to ourselves, as negativity gets you nowhere.
There could be many reasons for this slump, including a huge stressor in your life.
Acknowledging that you are in a slump is the first step to breaking free.
Remember – it will pass, and working through these tips will help you to make it pass sooner.
Rather than looking for sympathy from yourself or turning your anger inwards, search for ways to make it better.
Consider What Started It
When we want to get out of a productivity slump, we have to delve deep to figure out why exactly it started.
Even if the answer doesn’t seem obvious, there is always a reason why we shy away from something.
Is it because you are no longer happy in your job or studies?
If you have been on autopilot, never really paying attention to your emotions, then you may have not noticed how unhappy you truly were.
If we aren’t happy, we have the chance of falling into a major productivity slump, which may well be what happened.
Talk to your loved ones or consider counseling if you are struggling to come to terms with whatever started your slump.
If it’s something that can be fixed, go ahead and begin that journey.
Consider journaling to get your thoughts onto paper, as this is a great therapy for the mind, and you may have a major breakthrough.
Get Back to Basics
When major productivity slumps occur, it may be time to get back to basics.
Are you looking after yourself as you should, both mentally and physically?
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the everyday stressors of life that we fail to meet our most basic needs; exercise, sleep, nutritious eating, and looking after our mental wellbeing. Here is how you can get them all in check.
- Start exercising 3-4 times a week. Find an exercise regime that works well for you and be sure not to exercise solely with the intention of losing weight. Exercise has so many great benefits for the mind and body and not seeing instant changes in your body does not mean you should stop exercising. Focus on the now and let yourself feel good in the moment. Focus on the health benefits, rather than physical changes. Finding a way to exercise that is fun for you will make exercise a happy activity, rather than a chore.
- Not getting enough sleep is enough to make any major productivity slump feel 10 times worse. This can become a vicious cycle and the more we beat ourselves up and fail to look after ourselves, the harder it can be to break free. Get a good queen sized mattress, with enough room to sleep you and your partner. Establish a bedtime routine and always sleep and wake at the same time. Avoid those pesky screens too close to bedtime and if you can’t help yourself, charge your cell phone in another room while you sleep.
- Do you understand what your body needs to work at its most optimum? Crash diets won’t help your situation, and neither will filling your face with fatty, salty foods. Both will make the circumstances worse and make it harder to focus. A nutritious diet can leave you happier, more energized and ready for anything life throws at you; including pulling yourself out of a major productivity slump. At the same time eating healthy, make sure to take right supplements for your body. Nootropics are the best supplements known as cognitive enhancers which will help you always stay focused and energized. You can find them on the Chemical Planet website.
- Our mental wellbeing is just as important as our physical. The earlier steps can help you come to terms with what is causing the problem and remove that negative mindset of blaming yourself. If you aren’t happy, ask why and do something about it. If that means making a major life change such as quitting a job, then so be it. Just be sure you have enough to remain financially stable or you could cause more problems for yourself. Find time to do things that make you happy and spend time with loved ones.
Change Your Mindset
If your mindset is always focused on the bad and you are constantly looking back into the past or forward to the present, it is time to change your mindset.
Cultivating a state of calm and happiness will help you in every aspect of life, including your productivity levels.
When we are happy with ourselves, we are less likely to face productivity slumps, although they do still occur, but they are usually easier to break free from if you have the right mindset.
Surround yourself with positive people.
This may mean ending friendships and facing some hard truths about those around you and removing certain people from social media.
Start changing what you see by making sure your social media is there to inspire, rather than depress you.
Watch, listen and read things that are positive, and you will see your mindset change every day.
Learning to meditate will allow you to change your mindset for the better and live in the present moment.
Form Better Routines
Sticking to the same old habits and routines won’t get us anywhere.
If you really want to pull yourself out of a major productivity slump, you need to change your routines for the better, and stick to them.
It may take time to do this, so don’t expect to start a new routine and instantly feel comfortable.
Change your routines bit by bit, until you form new, healthier routines.
Wake up early in the morning and don’t start your day by looking on your cell phone.
If you are looking for a great way to start your day, try morning pages.
These are useful for getting your creative juices flowing, forming an intention for the day, and finding ways to be more grateful.
If you are always glued to your cell phone, now may be the best time to break this habit.
It can be all too easy to lose hours, pointlessly scrolling through pages and having nothing to show for it.
When we start replacing these hours with more interesting things, such as exercise, reading, creating or socializing, we realize more and more how they can inhibit our brains from reaching their full potential.
Start a digital detox and slowly break free of that online addiction.
The above tips are there to help pull yourself out of a major productivity slump.
Not only will they help with this, but many of the above should be incorporated into everyday life, leaving you feeling happier and therefore, more productive.
This means the next time you hit a productivity slump, you will have everything you need to break free.