Staying Productive at Work During a Crisis
Many people will tell you that it’s okay not to be very productive since we’re all dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, and you may have bursts of productivity that come and go each day. It’s completely understandable. We all have our own ways of getting through difficult times; however, if you’re looking for ways to help boost your productivity at work (or at home) right now, we have a few ideas:
Be kind to yourself.
If you’re not being as productive as you would like, you may start comparing yourself to others and being harsh with yourself, but doing that won’t help you. In fact, it will likely make you less productive.
Focus on your workspace
Are you working from home? Take a bit of time to truly create a workspace for yourself that feels separate from the rest of your home, even if you can’t have an entire room for an office. Doing so will help reduce distractions, but it’ll also help prevent you from feeling that you’re living at work instead of working from home. If you’re not working from home, take a few minutes to declutter your workspace.
Take a social media break.
People on social media usually post the highlights of their days, not their low moments, which means that you may have the tendency to compare your highs and lows only to their highs. That doesn’t create an accurate picture of you or them, so take a break from social media if it’s making you feel guilty about your productivity.
Remember that your way of getting through this crisis isn’t necessarily going to be the same as someone else’s, and you shouldn’t expect yourself to operate on the same level as you did before COVID-19. If you want to increase your productivity a bit, try these methods, but don’t be afraid to reach out for help if needed.
SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, offers a free helpline: 1-800-662-HELP
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available at 1-800-273-8255
