Social distancing is in full-effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic and I am going to make sure that I am producing at a high rate despite the circumstances. I encourage you to do the same. I plan on using this time to pour into work, school, the blog, and myself. I can’t get wrapped up in the laziness of being in the house all day even though I’m in the house all day. Here I share 5 ways I plan to stay productive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
STICK TO THE ROUTINE
It is easy to choose to lounge around while trying to be productive when working from home, but you are not maximizing your productivity when doing so. Create a space that replicates “office space” and distance yourself from family and roommates as best as possible. Working from home doesn’t mean “work when you want,” it means, “proceed as usual but at home.” I’ll be working from home over the next month or so. That said, I’ll continue to wake up at 6 am and proceed with my morning as if I am heading into the office.
Once I submit to my at-home office space, I am officially “in-office” and my workday has begun. If you don’t already have a daily routine, I encourage you to create one. Small habits add up to BIG results and a daily routine is a great way to implement small habits into your life. Unfortunately, many do not have the option to work from home, but creating a routine to grow and evolve during these times is just as important. We are not sure when social distancing restrictions will be lifted. So there’s no point in wasting time during these times.
CREATE (+ COMPLETE) TO-DO LISTS
I live and die by to-do lists. Regardless of whether it is for work, home, blog, communication, or any other to-do list you can think of. I am currently reading Atomic Habits by James Clear and he emphasizes how goals are not what set you apart from everyone else, systems do. He talks about how many have the same goal, but different systems. To-do lists are one of my many systems to reach goals. You can create actionable tasks that propel you towards your goals. To-do lists also help keep you on track and focused. They help you prioritize and visualize all that you need to accomplish. This is undoubtedly one of the best ways to remain productive.
SET MINI-GOALS
To my point above, goals don’t set you apart from others – systems do. However, that’s not to say that you don’t need goals. How are you to create a system without a purpose? No one implements a workout routine/system into their lives, “just because.” They do it to reach a goal whether it be to lose weight, increase stamina, or become a runner. Setting mini-goals is not only an important part of productivity but to my success overall. Mini-goals come in many forms. It can be used to carry you into your next task or into your next project. “Respond to all emails by 10 am and then move on to the next task,” “Finish the first draft of my proposal today,” or “work for 3 hours with no distraction and take a break.” Mini goals guide you and ultimately make you more productive.
TAKE IN FRESH AIR DAILY
Social distancing does not mean, “do not go outside.” Johns Hopkins describes it as “deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness.” You can still go outside, go to the park and run/walk/exercise, etc. However, you are encouraged to maintain distance between yourself and others in doing so. I plan to intentionally incorporate the outdoors into my daily routine since much of my time will be spent in-house otherwise. Many don’t know, but fresh air is a healing agent. It can give you energy, increase your focus, make you happy, and clean out your lungs. Incorporating 10-15 minute outdoor breaks into my routine is one of many ways I’ll stay productive during this time.
PERMISSION TO RELAX (+ RELEASE)
If you know, you know. I keep myself busy and have a hard time sitting still. Social distancing has me a bit excited about this forced solitude for relaxation and meditation purposes. I’ve been trying to master the art of not feeling guilty when I am not being “productive.” The only thing that has helped me learn to relax is knowing that without taking a break, I cannot put forth my best effort. I’ve tiptoed on the line(s) of being burnt out from work and school way more than I’d like to admit. The one thing that has kept me from crossing that bridge is by being still – by choosing to relax even when I feel like I don’t deserve it. This pandemic is stressful and it’s causing anxiety in many. Give yourself permission to feel, to relax, and to release will help you stay focused and in tune with your overall purpose.
OTHER THINGS I’LL BE DOING:
- Read (Current Read: Atomic Habits by James Clear; Next read: Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek)
- Practice meditation
- Exercise
- Walk Lewi-V at the park
- Create blog content
- Get ahead of school work
- Stretch to work on flexibility
