Each one of us had one of those days when we are being unproductive. when no matter how hard you try to focus on the work before you and you seem to be on a stand-still. If you are feeling less productive or overwhelmed then just know that it is normal to feel this way. There are external and internal forces that take a toll on our productivity. It is tough to make progress when we are clouded by unproductive days which turn into unproductive months and then years.
Let’s take a moment to acknowledge that these days it is hard for each person to concentrate during this coronavirus pandemic. Many things have been changing for us. To build a newer perspective, we need to take a step back and realize where we are.
Reasons why you become unproductive
There are many underlying reasons as to why you may become unproductive. When you focus too much on the tasks ahead because you feel overwhelmed. We can say that being unproductive also attracts being unmotivated. When we are stuck in a limbo, despite our best efforts, there are instances when it is hard to stay motivated.
In a society that pinpoints the importance of being productive, many of us become busy. As the pressure increases to perform, you become even more fearful of underachieving your goals.
It becomes absolutely necessary to gain a perspective when you drown into being unproductive. How do you do that?
Let’s see
How to overcome being unproductive
Now that you know you are being unproductive, we can get to the ‘What to do when you feel unproductive?”
- Take a pause from the fast paced life. Researchers have stated that we need to take a step back and press the reset button. This will help us to access the one thing we can control and that is the perspective. With an ongoing stress our brain is wired to shut down the logical thinking process and moves into a reactive state.
- Remember that it is normal to feel unproductive. You are a human, it is just as simple as that. You go through a lot in your daily routine. And when you sit down to work, your mind gets shut. Always remember to be kind to yourself and give yourself time.
- Understand the difference between being busy and being productive. When we are stuck in zoom calls all day, have a long list of to-dos – then we are busy. Though being busy and being productive are two separate things; being productive makes us feel accomplished whereas being busy makes us feel overwhelming.
- Take one action towards your goal. No matter how small a task is, work on it. We might feel like it will not amount to much because you have a long list of work still left to finish. Do not worry about that at the moment and rather take small steps to finish one by one. All at once, your to-dos might feel overwhelming to you. But if you do it one at a time, you will reach more satisfaction and this in turn will make you more productive.
Conclusion
Take small steps towards increasing your energy, improved health, better care for yourself. Take time to prioritize your task and take consistent actions towards being accountable to your higher ups. Remember you are not in this alone, each one of us have their baggage that weighs us all down. But when we are working in a system, we need to ensure smooth functioning and that can only be possible if you are efficient towards your work responsibilities.
Reference: Asio, J. M. R. (2021). Determinants of work productivity among selected tertiary education employees: A PreCOVID-19 pandemic analysis. International Journal of Didactical Studies, 2(1), 101455. https://doi.org/10.33902/IJODS.2021167470
Banker, Rajiv D., Srikant M. Datar, and Robert S. Kaplan. “Productivity measurement and management accounting.” Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance 4.4 (1989): 528-554. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0148558X8900400407
