In Uncertain Times, Practise Both Self-Care & Productivity
“Life keeps throwing me stones. And I keep finding the diamonds…”
― Ana Claudia Antunes
I’ve been writing a lot about how to make the best out of this pandemic.
I’m sure I’ll move on to other topics soon. For now, I can’t help it. As a writer, I write best about things that I care and think about.
And as of late, the effects of the pandemic are all-pervasive.
It’s almost tangible. You can see it in the mask-clad worried faces of the people around you, a fear so pungent exists you can almost taste it in the air.
This is a time of unprecedented uncertainty.
And in times of uncertainty, it is important to practise self-care, and to get something — anything, done.
Productivity helps establish order in chaos.
It restores a sense of normalcy. It’s a hope-bearing reminder that no matter how grim things get, this, too, shall pass.
And without self-care, it’s difficult to be truly productive.
Be Kind! Especially to Yourself
This enforced stay-home period is the perfect time to take a mental vacation.
I took the first week of the to unwind and nurture my neglected inner child. I wrote about the experience here.
Now, I’m not saying you should unleash the beast and go on a month-long cocaine bender in Bangkok — always indulge within reason!
Before we were blindsided by this epidemic, most of us have been working hard at our jobs.
This is the perfect time to take your foot off the pedal.
Now, the phrase “self-care” has some negative connections — especially to my manly guys out there.
Understand that self-care doesn’t have to be scented foot massages in a five-star Balinese resort. Self-care can be as simple as making sure you’re getting enough sleep.
It can be catching up on your reading. Finally finishing that book you’ve let gather dust on the shelf is oddly comforting.
It can be as simple as calling up a friend for a 15-minute chat, or cheeseburgers and beers at 4 pm in the afternoon simply because you want to.
Some people think self-care is a waste of time, that it interferes with productivity.
I beg to differ.
Taking good care of yourself paradoxically makes you more productive in the long run.
Self-Care + Awareness = Productivity
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
— Anne Lamott
Think of your body as a high-performance race car.
If you continuously drive like a madman and floor it tight all the time, you might win in the beginning.
You might lap some people and think that you’re getting ahead.
But life is not a sprint. It’s a marathon.
Sooner or later, going balls to the wall will lead to your engine catching fire and your wheels falling off.
Look, I get it.
Eagerness is a great trait. Enthusiasm beats apathy any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
As I got older and more experienced, however, I started to develop more awareness.
I became more aware of my needs and limitations.
To be truly productive, you have to recognize when you’re nearing your limit. That’s when it’s time to take a step back and rest.
Next comes the step that most people miss.
While you rest, actively observe yourself.
Take the time to reflect. Is your work something you truly want to do, or is there a deeper, underlying issue you’re using work as a convenient excuse to cover-up?
Questions like this help you develop self-awareness.
Entrepreneur Tai Lopez put it across very succinctly in this interview:
“The day that you admit you’re lost is the day you allow yourself to be found by people who can give you a tip.”
Tai advocates prudence — the ability to make the right decision.
Many people are in a rush, they take off in one direction without stopping to consider which way they’re going.
So they end up walking around the world just to get one mile ahead.
Instead of blindly rushing around like excited schoolboys, sometimes its better to take a step back and take some time to adjust your compass to your True North — then forge ahead.
This can help you save years of your life.
Remember, from time to time, give yourself some time to rest and observe.
In this way, self-care can paradoxically make you more productive in the long-run.
Your Takeaway — The Middle Way
“When fishermen cannot go to sea, they repair nets.” ― Nabil Sabio Azadi
In these troubled times, it’s tempting to do either one of two things:
- Do nothing, and hide your head in the sand until the madness blows over.
- Take on as much work as you can to avoid thinking about the present.
As you can see, both are suboptimal options.
The key to staying afloat in these uncertain times is striking a balance — by all means, take all the time you need to recharge and rejuvenate.
And once you’ve fully rested, take baby steps to get ahead.
You don’t have to hide at home binge-watching Netflix until the quarantine ends.
Neither do you have to be beside yourself with worry, frantically seeking self-improvement in a bid to numb yourself to the situation at hand.
Seek to strike a middle ground between self-care and productivity.
Indeed, practised correctly, taking better care of yourself leads to improved productivity. And improved productivity brings with it both external and internal rewards (money, feelings of achievement) that will help you better take care of yourself.
And that, my friends, is an elegant way to get through the pandemic.
Thank you for reading my story. :)