Even the most productive people tend to experience midweek slump once in a while and are unable to meet their goals and deadlines. Today’s WorthWorkin4Wednesday installment touches upon how we can beat the dreaded productivity slump through small acts of self-care.

There is simply something about the middle of the week when you feel that you are in a rut and can’t seem to shake off that weird vibe of monotony and tiredness. And this feeling does not help at all when you have a looming deadline, some commitments and projects, or a pile of chores waiting for you, and need to make some serious progress.

So why do we tend to experience this weird vibe and mental trap? To iterate, it is exactly what I have said above: monotony and tiredness rob us from energy, motivation and joy. Many times, we would be able to push ourselves through and forward, but there would be days when no matter how hard you try, you wouldn’t be able to climb out of that rut. So how to go about those days and overcome your productivity slump?

Here are five things I try and recommend:

Embrace Your Productivity Slump

There is no point fighting something natural and instinctive. As human beings, we have our flaws. And that’s OK! That’s how we are meant to be!

We are not machines which are designed for optimal and consistent performance, that can just get switched on, stay on and keep going irrespective of what’s going around us.

We are humans. We have our good days and bad ones. There will be delays, breakdowns, performance and productivity slumps.

Find Your Joy

There are times when the dreary ordinariness  and predictability of routine leads to a productivity slump. So, try to plan something enjoyable during your breaks or after work.

Considering it is the middle of the week, it doesn’t have to be an activity late into the evening or at night! Grab a cup of coffee and watch an episode of your favorite comedy series, read a book, listen to some music. Go out for a walk just to clear your head.

Have a Breather

Having strict deadlines and tasks can also overwhelm us. Even if you are used to performing at an optimal level, it doesn’t mean that you should do that all the time. Otherwise, you would end up feeling pressurized and burnt out. So, try to negotiate deadlines or pace tasks in a way that you have small breathers in between. It can be allowing yourself two hours of “me time” in the middle of the week, sleeping in an extra hour, taking a break and connecting with an old friend.

Change Your Location

Working in the same confined space for long can get predictable, uninspiring and boring. So, if you find your creative juices running low, try to change your work location. Move to a different room. Work on a different desk. Or, try going to a café and working there.

Practice Mindfulness Everyday

No matter how busy you are, take a few minutes during your day to practice mindfulness or meditation. Leave the worries about a deadline for a few minutes and connect with your inner self. Then ask yourself as to what you really want.
When feeling stuck and conflicted, ask yourself whether you merely want to get over with a task or you want to get it done in a meaningful way? These practices can help reduce stress and increase focus and creativity.

Remember…

Midweek productivity slumps are a reminder that we are not machines and not meant to run at an optimal level. It’s normal to experience ups and downs in our productivity level from time to time. What is important is to accept the slump and work around it. You can try What is important is to be kind to ourselves.