By EDGE Women Speaker, Bestselling Author, and Productivity Expert Allie Pleiter
Remember when we all thought we’d be more productive at home?
We envisioned work from home with a host of advantages: no commute, better coffee, comfy yoga pants, no one barging into your office with a new crisis.
It hasn’t quite turned out that way, has it? Some of us are facing more distractions than ever. We’re working in environments that challenge our productivity (and maybe even our aching backs). We’re wrestling schedules packed by dozens of draining Zoom meetings. Whole families are locked in battles for WIFI. Let’s face it: mental focus feels as if it left the building three weeks ago. Maybe even three months ago.
That’s not good news, because the current business landscape is asking more of us than ever before. Unprecedented problems are crying out for creative solutions. While virtual communication opens up new possibilities, it brings daunting complexities. “On-line” isn’t always more effective or faster.
We desperately need to break out of our pandemic slump and regain momentum. But how?
Try these five productivity hacks to jumpstart your creativity and focus:
#1: Work small batches in new formats.
Break projects down into smaller chunks and accomplish them in new ways. If you normally compose at the keyboard, try handwriting on index cards. Break out an old-school notebook or a yellow pad. Dictate into the voice memo function of your smartphone. Brainstorm with a dry erase marker on your picture window or bathroom mirror. Plant a landscape of post-it notes on your wall. Try anything that shakes up your normal way of thinking with a small start in a new style.
#2 Compartmentalize
Different parts of our brains tackle different tasks. As a writer, I can edit or proofread just about anywhere, but under pressure, I have tremendous difficulty writing a first draft. You may love the wild possibilities of ideation but writing a proposal makes you twitch. Laying out an event schedule may come far easier to you than writing promotional copy.
Categorize your current workload and sort the pieces by how easy they are. Start with the tasks that are easiest and bolster your confidence until you feel ready to tackle the hard ones.
#3 Set a timer.
If you’ve got a task demanding focus you can’t seem to find, start by setting a timer for a small attempt. Go ahead and set the bar ridiculously low—most of us can stand fifteen minutes of almost anything. Then set the timer and have at it. You’re bound to make a small accomplishment that you can build upon the next time. Starting is often the hardest part, and you may discover you can work long after the buzzer goes off.
#4 Come to your senses.
Scent has been proven one of the most powerful mood changers. Find something that smells like peace to you—a candle, lotion, essential oils, herbal teas—and surround yourself with it before you sit down to work. Curate a play-anywhere collection of music on your device that feels calm but productive. Grab a stuffed animal, wear a silky scarf or fuzzy socks, knead bread dough, snuggle a puppy. Physical calm can create a strong path to mental clarity.
#5. Take some emotional vitamins.
During this marathon of a crisis, we all need milestones. They break up the seemingly endless stream of cope and compromise to make room for innovation. Celebrate every tiny success. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family to be generous and frequent with their encouragement. Be on a continual hunt for what I call “emotional vitamins”—daily doses of encouragement to bolster your psychological immune system—and let them lead you to the persistence and resilience you need to succeed.
As I’ve been saying to colleagues, “This isn’t going to be a season. This is going to be an era.” That’s no reason to fear, but it is reason to change. The adaptations we make now pave the way for our ability to thrive. Amazing innovations will come from the challenges we face together, so take daily steps to keep your focus and momentum strong.