4 Things an Unproductive Week Can Teach You
I’ve had an unproductive week this week.
There, I said it.
Sure, I’ve gotten some stuff done. I’ve even felt busy. I got the work done I absolutely had to. But of all the things I wanted to accomplish? Very little of that was checked off my to-do list.
I got little sleep for a few nights, which screwed up my schedule for the day. Then I woke up with massive allergies that made me feel like a cold was coming on (it wasn’t). And then I had a few mornings of a Conjunctivitis scare after a swim in a local pool (it also wasn’t).
But whatever, it is what it is. I had an unproductive week and now I’m just making excuses.
Here’s the thing, though. An unproductive week can actually teach you something. In fact, here are 4 somethings it’ll teach you.
1. Acceptance
Acceptance is a beautiful thing. I can either sit here and dwell on how little I accomplished…or I can do something about it. I can spend the long weekend checking those items off my list I wanted to get done and make amends for an unproductive week.
(Also: it’s unproductive; it’s not shitty or crumby or bad. It is what it is: unproductive. Accept that.)
2. The importance of health
Like I mentioned earlier, I woke up a few days this week feeling sick – or on the verge of getting sick – and I didn’t get enough sleep for a few nights. For many people who become unproductive, stress can also be a key barrier.
As much as it’s an excuse to let these things completely derail my day, it really speaks to the importance of healthy actions on our productivity. Getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, exercising, and eating right aren’t only good for your body and mind…they’re good for your work ethic, too.
3. How to get reorganized
I felt busy this week, but also a bit unorganized. My days may have started off on the wrong foot with feeling unwell or tired, but what I should’ve done was been better about reorganizing to get them back on track.
For some of us, reorganization means the space around you: when your workspace/home is cluttered, your mind can feel cluttered. For others, creating a to-do list is a great way to get back on track. Break large goals into smaller, more attainable goals and you’ll be back on track in no time.
4. How to recharge and refocus
Sometimes there’s even a benefit to an unproductive day or week: it allows us recharge and refocus and find passion in whatever we’re doing again. So after you accept you’ve been unproductive, get on a healthier path, and get reorganized…it’s time to get refocused.
Find passion again in your work or in your life by remembering what you enjoy most about it. Get inspired by doing the things you enjoy the most and injecting the other tasks (that must get done) in there too.
Your unproductive day or week won’t be all for naught. Learn what you can from it, accept it, and move on to being more productive today, tomorrow, and next week.