So it’s been about three days, and I am finally able to get some consistent words out. For some strange reason, what sits in my head, refuses to convey onto the page. However, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time scrolling on social media, talking on the phone, and making various trips to the kitchen cupboard. I feel restless, unfocused, and extremely unproductive.
The only thing that seems to help, is being able to share my thoughts. So here we are. Welcome. 😊
Now the funny thing is, this is something I help people with a lot, so it’s not that I don’t know what to do. However, for some reason, I just can’t get over this slump.
After a conversation with my sister, who lovingly reminds me of what I’ve told her in the past. I recognize I need to let go and have more self-compassion. For the past 48 hours, I’ve been beating myself up, over my lack of productivity. I just need to recognize that sometimes though we want to, we are not in the mental space to produce; and that is okay. Sometimes we are going to be unproductive.
When I take a closer look, I recognize I’m distracted, mentally tired, and in some respects physically drained. This is probably my body’s way of forcing me to rest and rejuvenate.
I need to recognize, that this is part of the process. There will be days where you feel on top of the world, and days where you just have the blahs
So what do you do with it? I’ve been learning, that you ride the wave. Often the message we receive is to white knuckle through it, but I’m committing to a gentler approach with myself. I know what burn out feels like, and that is an avenue I have no intention to go through. Instead, I’m going to learn through this. These are three things I remind myself of as I go through this slump:
The Brain Needs Rest
It’s pretty easy to recognize the need for physical rest. We feel tired, sluggish and know it’s time to rejuvenate the body. It can be easy to recognize the physical signs, it’s a little harder to do so for our mental needs. There is this idea that if you can physically perform, you should just keep going. The body is what drives us. In todays society, it is so important to recognize our mental health needs. As I reflect on why it’s been so hard for me to focus, I remind myself of the images of war and atrocity, deadlines, and challenges of everyday life that I constantly face. It should not be surprising that I need a mental break. Rather than recognize this, I’ve been frustrated with myself.
The brain needs rest too.
This is where mediation, prayer, and other mindfulness practices come into play. We tend to turn to these techniques once we experience stress and burn out. However, if we make it a habit to be more proactive, we can better manage and maintain when times like this surface. If you want to learn more on developing a strong self care routine, learn more here.
Being unproductive may hold clues
This point seems pretty straightforward. We aren’t meant to always be on the go. Yet we often push till we are at our limits. This is why I don’t subscribe to hustle culture. The idea we need to constantly be pushing ourselves, is not sustainable and frankly very unhealthy. It actually makes us more unproductive. I have been guilty of this, and though at the moment it seemed worth it; feelings of burnout and overwhelm weren’t the best payoff. I have worked with so many clients who’ve experienced many adverse effects on their physical and mental health, as well as their relationships. To combat this, I think it’s so important to build balance. If you know you need to buckle down and deliver; schedule just as much time to rest, disconnect and rejuvenate. There may be 24 hours in a day, you don’t need to jam-pack every hour.
Exercise Self Compassion
Self-compassion is so important, and can’t be overstated. When I think of the frustration I’ve felt over the past few weeks, it reminds me of the importance of displaying grace. How easy it is to turn on ourselves. I truly believe we are always doing our best in the moment, yet I still find myself laying blame. Frustration with self doesn’t make us more productive, it holds us back. It’s so important to remember that feelings are clues rather than pesky nuisances. My body was trying to tell me it was time to rest. However, all I was telling myself, is to fight through. I am happy I was able to find support in speaking with my sister, who helped me put things back into perspective. I wasn’t just being unproductive, my body was sending me clues. Self-compassion is talking to yourself like you would a good friend. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves, we are our greatest friends.
Dr. Kristin Neff has some great insights on self-compassion. Check it out here
Remember….
As I reflect on the last little while, I recognize how easy it is to fall into old habits. Despite knowing better, those pesky familiar thoughts have a way of creeping back in. This is why it’s so important to remember this is a process. If we can be gentle with ourselves, and remain open; we can ride the wave back to solid ground. If you are feeling unproductive, step back and consider what the message really is.
