Getting Back On Track – TPW298

Even those of us who purposefully set up productive systems and practice good habits struggle sometimes with getting off track. We are human, after all. (That’s part of why I ask this question of every guest, "What do you do to get back on track on a day when everything gets away from you?")

Getting back on track when your productivity slips

In this episode we discuss getting back on track after you've fallen off the productivity wagon, including helpful suggestions from past guests.

What causes us to get off track?

Any event out of the ordinary can throw us off our stride and interrupt our usual routine. For example, an illness occurring in yourself, a family member, or a friend. Even physical changes in our body can change our routine, such as a pregnancy or perimenopause. Big events in our lives such as weddings, divorces, graduations, the birth of a new baby, etc., can throw us off track too. These kinds of events can add new responsibilities and commitments to our lives which can disrupt our routines. Sometimes emotional events, such as a child leaving home or situations within your family can cause you to abandon your usual habits. And finally, unexpected bad news or the loss of a job (or starting a new job) can also greatly affect us.

What can we do to get back on track?

Give yourself grace

A day or week or month of not getting stuff done isn’t a negative reflection on who you are as a person or your value. As Puja Madan (TPW - 119 Balancing Time & Energy) reminded us, “A bad day does not mean a bad life.”  What you do matters, but you are not what you do. Productivity itself isn't an end goal. It's a means to an end, a way for you to get a life that matters and achieve your goals. Being productive and getting things done is what gets us there.

Take care of yourself

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and like things are out of control, self-care might seem like a waste of time, but it’s crucial. You've often heard that you can't take care of anyone or anything until you take care of yourself. This is true!

Get some rest - many of our guests have said when they’re in this situation one of the things they do is take a nap, or go to bed early. It’s nearly impossible to evaluate the situation rationally, let alone come up with good solutions, when you’re exhausted.

* In episode TWP158-Ruthless Prioritization, Michelle Pfennighaus stated that she has realized how important how she eats is to how she feels, so eating right and getting enough sleep are top priorities for her. 

* In episode TPW269-Boundaries, Helen Wright shared her tool of taking a “well-being day”. This started when she was feeling really run-down one day after not having taken a vacation for a while. She took a day off, sat in a cafe and read a book, got a pedicure, and went shopping. Basically, she did things she used to do before having kids and had some "me time" to re-charge her batteries. 

* In episode TWP152-Making Time for What Matters, Sonia Harris states that she gives herself permission to not worry about what she was supposed to be doing if her day goes off track. Life happens to all of us, and we have to keep that in mind. Instead of filling every moment with back-to-back commitments, we can simplify and learn to say no when it's appropriate; this ...