Productivity during low-energy times

Do you know that feeling of total unproductiveness on some days?

When you feel like achieving nothing at all?

When you believe that you should be doing something, working, achieving, showing up — but you don’t know how or where to start?

First of all, this is totally normal and is part of being human. We are not machines. And even those need a regular maintenance.

Life is not always about productivity. Our energy levels vary — over each day, each week, and also over the years. Keep this in mind, because it is important not to blame yourself for being unproductive on an occasional basis.

Nevertheless — you do have the power over your small and big life choices and everyday decisions. Therefore, it might help you to change your perspective. Especially if you want to increase your productivity.

• Are you truly unproductive?

What does productivity mean to you? What is your definition? Have you ever listened to others how they define being productive?

• Who do you compare yourself with?

Each person is unique — also in their rhythms, their ways of structuring work and life, as well as their ambitions. While it can be inspiring to have role models, it is helpful to focus on yourself and your situation.

• Are your standards and objectives realistic and sustainable?

What are you expecting of yourself? Do you allow for failure and small but steady improvements or do you think you must achieve everything at once? Also, is your environment favorable of reaching your objectives or are you constantly fighting against huge waves?

• Are you generally unproductive or does it affect one area, e.g. work vs. leisure time?

Being unproductive can mean that you feel lazy or incapable in everything you do. Maybe you don’t trust in your potential or your self-doubt is overwhelming you?

It can also mean that you do great in most areas of your life, but neglect one specific thing. And is this one thing new to you or has it just recently become important? Or did someone else tell you to do better in that one area and there is no internal motivation?

• If it is about work, is it one particular area of your work tasks or your entire job?

When you ask yourself those questions, be honest. We are all conditioned and influenced by the environments we are in and the people who surround us. Maybe it will take some time to find the truth within yourself. 

Then try to be as specific as possible: The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to separate your unproductive area from the rest of your life.

In a next step, decide whether this area can be postponed. Sometimes this is not possible and needs to be done exactly today — then don’t procrastinate. But most of the things — honestly — are not that urgent.

Then postpone and focus on something different.

What can you switch your focus to?

Be creative. Different can mean another task at work. Maybe you are not productive in people meetings today, but feel good when working on a project or improving that Excel file report which has been neglected for too long.

It can also help to switch from brain work to manual work for example. If you feel like not being able to think clearly, do something with your hands. Or if your body is unable to do a physical task, consider a thinking task.

Change the order: Maybe you cannot avoid the task itself, but you can do it differently. Either by choosing another working method or by doing something in opposite direction. You will see that it immediately feels differently and might boost motivation.

If that is no option, you can still change perspective: If there is no workaround or the task must be done by you right now, try to find a positive attitude. By switching to a positive mindset, you will be able to motivate yourself.  There is no sense in pitying yourself in that moment. Accept it, get it done, move on, and feel better afterwards.

Remember: There is always a way if you want to find it. If not, you will find an excuse.