About this time every year, there is a small calm before the storm.
We begin to procrastinate our impending finals or end-of-the-year quotas, and no amount of Christmas cheer is enough to snap us out of it.
What used to flow now scares us. We’re stuck and blocked, but deadlines are approaching, and things still need to get done.
Ali Abdaal, a Doctor turned successful entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author shares how to overcome the drudges of Procrastination and how to feel good while doing it in his book Feel Good Productivity,
I came across Abdaal’s work within the past year as I settled into the second semester of my first year at college and realized that, at certain times, the rush and demand were much more than I anticipated.
After thorough research into the science and best practices for productivity, Abdall compiled his work into one text and segmented it into three parts:
Energise
Unblock
Sustain
The theory here is simple: If you can feel energized by your work, you are more likely to do it. The question then becomes, how do you unblock yourself and tap into this energy? And furthermore, if you do manage to do this, how do you sustain it and make it work for you always?
Here are my biggest takeaways from his findings and recommendations:
Energise. Artificially insert play into your work whenever you can, increase your sense of power in each project, and perhaps even have a few people come along for the ride.
Incorporating the spirit of adventure, finding the fun, and sometimes even lowering the stakes all help make your work “seem” more fun and, therefore, more life-giving.
Taking on a learner's mindset or wanting to teach others how to do something often assists in motivating one to work again with fresh perspectives.
In addition to this, humans are social creatures, and having accountability partners or people doing the same thing alongside you is all manners to boost you through to the other side.
Try this out: maybe listen to your favorite playlist while you work this time. Ask someone if you could teach them what you're learning or set a partner study session for later today.
Unblock. We procrastinate because we “feel” like we can’t do whatever is at hand. But why do we feel that sway? The biggest “Emotional Blockers,” as Abdaal refers to them, are Uncertainty, Fear, and Inertia.
The first seems obvious, but I've noticed it everywhere after reading it. I've been putting most things off because I don't know what they consist of or require of me. A simple way to get past this is to ask questions and clarify what is happening. Maybe that massive paper isn't as awful as you think; you just don't know what you want to write about. Start by selecting a topic you love, and you'll notice that the paper becomes easier after that.
The second, Fear, is the worst, but a good thing to remember is that becoming more courageous doesn't always mean you are any less fearful. A sentiment echoed in Franklin D. Roosevelt's wise words:
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”
Essentially, while fear itself may be a big thing to handle, start by understanding what you are scared of and working towards increasing your courage. You'll see that the fear decreases on its own accord.
And finally, Inertia, the costs of getting over the starting line. This one is the simplest to manage. Start small. Start simple. Reduce frictions that are slowing you down from getting things going. Then just start. Do something—even five minutes on a project is progress. When you do, track your progress; the tiny milestones will keep you going. And lastly, cut yourself some grace when you miss a day. Just get back it again the next.
James Clears is a big proponent of this in his best-seller Atomic Habits, where he writes, " Never miss twice.”
Sustain. Finally, find ways to conserve your newfound energy, recharge when needed, and align your longer lifetime purposes with your daily work.
Burnout is a destroyer of productivity, and most times, we get burned out not because of the work itself but because we are so busy involved in countless other things. Learn to say no and instead “Protect Your Yes.”
Next, go on a walk and touch some grass. Metaphorically, and I would say literally as well. Turns out nature is good for you, and that's backed by evidence. Abdaal discusses the benefits of engaging with nature, even if only through a screen or headphones, still produce helpful results when you are wound up. Next time you're feeling stressed, the sound of birds, maybe some rain, and most definitely a walk in nature will assist in both boosting your mood and getting you energized to work.
Sometimes, try doing nothing, too. Our bodies and minds need time to do everything, which includes doing nothing. Resting looks different for each of us. Ensure the way you rest truly is recharging and not some mindless manner of passing the time.
And finally, wherever you can, align your work with your grander life purpose. Yes, sometimes, we just need to do things because they need to be done. But realigning what you're doing today with where you're going exponentially helps provide you with peace. And thats good news when it comes to being productive. This may require some reassessment and perhaps even shifts in your schedule, but aim to do what you do in light of who you want or could be.
—
I hope you apply these takeaways and see their fruit in your lives as the year winds down to a close.
Next time you procrastinate, feel unmotivated, or are perhaps not being productive, take a short self-analysis and measure where you need to put one of the Energise, Unblock, or Sustain methods to work.
Making The Most Of Being Curious
- Daniel J. Cuesta
Comments