Control what you can to avoid feeling overwhelmed
Many things are outside of our control right now, which means it’s easy to feel helpless. What do we have the ability to control and change? I’ve been thinking about this question a lot and have changed a few things in my daily situation as a result. They’re small, but together they’ve had a positive impact on my productivity and general well-being.
“Unschedule” yourself
There are only so many hours in a work day
- Neil Fiore calls this “unscheduling”
- Turn your relation to work and play by scheduling play first
- Work with more focus knowing that you’ll soon reach a scheduled break to recharge
- Get more done in less time
- Don’t feel guilty about taking breaks
Put up boundaries between home and work
Research suggests that a commute even as short as 15 minutes is an effective way to transition from home mode to work mode (and back).
- Other ways to set boundaries include: No Slack in the bedroom, No Slack on OOO days, Buying a Personal PC, Hard stops at a certain time every day
Find your tech-free mindfulness moments
Mindfulness makes you more productive, and finding time for mindfulness has helped me feel more in control.
- Thich Nhat Hanh, often credited as a major influence on bringing mindfulness to the West, describes mindfulness as “the capacity to be aware of what is going on.”
- Even if you find just a few seconds of mindfulness, it can help you feel relaxed.