We know what it feels like: the dreaded “rut.” You can hardly get out of bed; minutes drag on as nothing progresses. The last couple of years have had a pretty substantial impact on all aspects of life all around the world. Generally, people seem to be more tired, more impatient, and less motivated.
Occasional ruts are to be expected. Productivity ebbs and flows with the seasons because we’re not robots after all. But what if your rut is lasting longer than a few weeks or months, and it’s starting to get in the way of completing your desired goals:?
It might be time to look at some ways to refresh yourself.
While working is rarely fun, some solutions make it feel more enjoyable and get you out of the feeling of monotony.
Work Outside
If you work remotely or have some flexibility within your workday, take your work outside! Sitting outside a cafe or even at your local park can be the change of scenery you need to boost you back up to speed.
Getting sunshine, listening to people enjoy their day, hearing birds chirping, and seeing nature thriving are all elements known to improve mood and, thus, improve productivity.
If you’re worried about how to juice up your equipment during your outdoorsy day, don’t be—you can find the best portable power station and power all your devices for an entire work day.
Fancify Your Workspace
We live 365 days a year, which breaks down to 8,760 hours a year. For a typical work week of 40 hours, that’s 2,080 hours a year—that’s almost 25% of our year spent at work! With that knowledge, whether you work from home or go into an office, you have to make your workspace somewhere you like to be every day.
It doesn’t have to be an Instagram-worthy renovation; it can be moderately simple to add a little flavor to your workspace. Something as simple as adding a plant to your desk can make you more attentive and focused.
Put up some photos; buy a cute laptop stand. Apply peel-and-stick wallpaper to the tabletop or the wall in front of you, or install some small shelves with command strips—we can go on, but you get the idea. The possibilities are endless, and the concept is clear: we spend at least a quarter of our lives at work, so it should feel as pleasant as coming home.
Make a List and Take Action!
Jumping head first into the big, looming project you’re avoiding would be great—if you could get yourself to start. When big projects are leering ahead, and you can’t find the motivation to move forward, it’s best to start small.
Create a list of all the tasks you would like to complete for the day. Don’t worry: the goal isn’t to complete all of them today but to organize them from easiest to hardest.
Completing smaller tasks first will play a trick on your brain, making you feel accomplished, more capable, and better equipped to tackle the bigger projects of the day!
Conclusion
When you’re stuck in a rut, getting anything done can feel overwhelming. With these tips, you can oust yourself from that productivity rut and get the wheels going again.
