4 Ways to Get Over a Long-Term Productivity Slump

Posted on February 10, 2011 by GuestPost
Categories: Productivity

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This is a guest post by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guest post guidelines.

While SimpleProductivityBlog has blogged about getting over occasional lapses in productivity over shorter periods of time, perhaps your productivity problem is more long-term. Have you experienced a time in your life when you remember being a completely different person, one who was real go-getter? All of a sudden do you find yourself in an anti-productive rut that lasts not just days or even weeks but maybe as long as months? First of all, remember that everyone goes through these productivity dry spells, and while the length of time spent being out of sorts can become disheartening, know that it will pass eventually. Here’s how to make the trial end sooner rather later.

1. Shake up your routine.

The reason we have routine in the first place is to maximize our productivity. But just as drinking enough caffeine ever day increases your tolerance and becomes ineffective, so too, does using the same scheduled structure day in and day out. There are plenty of ways you can change things up. Try different routines until you begin to feel that surge of productivity come roaring back.

2. Address the “big” problems.

When a lag in productivity becomes more than just a small problem with procrastination, you may have something else completely unrelated to your work performance that’s on your mind holding you back. We always want to blame external problems like distractions, but sometimes being in our heads too much can be the single greatest obstacle to performing well.

If you’re having relationship problems, talk about them with your partner or end it. If you’ve just lost a loved one, grieve openly with friends and family instead of keeping it all inside. We have a remarkable ability to get wrapped up in these sorts of issues and just ignore them. Dealing with the bigger problems in life can often get your productivity back in no time.

3. Reexamine your physical and emotional health.

I’ve never been much of a health nut, but for a long time, I never realized how important our general health and well-being is to our success at school or work or any other endeavor. Both the food we eat and the level of activity we engage in can greatly impact our ability to perform.

So if you’ve gotten into a deep rut, consider making adjustments to your diet and exercise regimen, see your doctor for a routine check-up, and make an effort to prioritize relaxation.

4. Reach out to others.

In addition to physical and emotional health, social health is something that is often taken for granted. When you’ve been feeling sluggish for a long period of time, actively engage with friends and family. Plan fun activities or dinner parties. While it does seem a bit on the hokey side, scientists are just now discovering how important a social life is to our overall well-being.

Productivity slumps come in all shapes and sizes. Some are just a day or two long, and others descend like massive thunderstorms, blotting out all that sense of accomplishment you once knew so well. If you take a step back and determine what sorts of changes you can make in different areas of your life, you’d be surprised by how easy it is to get back to your normal, reasonably productive self.

This guest post is contributed by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree.

Photo by //amy//

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