Your brain plays a central and critical role in your productivity. However, your brain can be your greatest friend or foe. It can help you meet take on hardest task and meet toughest deadlines. Likewise, the brain also has the tendency to feel panicked and become overwhelmed when faced with too much work or a complicated task.

Some reasons why your brain may experience panic and overwhelm when faced with difficult or excessive work can be attributed to the complex interplay of psychological, emotional, and cognitive elements. Understanding the triggers and implementing coping strategies can help you manage and reduce feelings of panic and overwhelm in the face of a heavy workload. Consider implementing the following strategies:

Emotionally Regulate Yourself

Our emotions and how we feel about things control how we carry ourselves around the day and perform our tasks. So emotional regulating ourselves plays an important role in how we function and do our work. Thus, negative emotions or lack of motivation can derail progress and negatively impact your productivity. It is therefore very important to emotionally ground yourself before you start a task that seems unpleasant or complex.

So how do you emotionally regulate yourself when you are feeling out of sort. This means talking to your brain, reasoning with it, trying to understand how it feels. Why is it behaving that way: unmotivated, tired, confused, and stressed? Your brain at times like these behaves like a child that is, simply being difficult.  This inner dialogue is like you trying to understand what that child is feeling at a given moment. Why is it being petulant, unruly, and difficult?

This means paying attention to how you are feeling at that moment: You feeling intimidated, or lost about because of any of the following reasons:

The task looks complicated.
You are tired.
You have very little time at hand.
You need guidance or assistance.

Once you are able to understand the reasons behind your brain’s inhibitions, panic and demotivation, you would able to address and overcome the root causes and tap into your productivity.
       

Create a Self-Reward System 

Getting rewarded for your efforts amplifies up your productivity.  But receiving constant criticism and negative vibes from others constantly brings down your productivity drastically. Likewise, constant self-criticism and doubts negatively impact your creativity.

On the other hand creating a reward system for your brain is a great way to enhance motivation and productivity. The brain’s reward system is closely tied to the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reinforcement. That’s why instead of looking for validation from outside, you can create a self-reward system to acknowledge your achievements.

Therefore, it is worthwhile to develop a list of rewards that you find personally motivating. These can be simple pleasures or activities you enjoy. However, do ensure that the rewards are proportional to the effort and significance of the task. For instance, set time limits for tasks and reward yourself with a break or a small treat when you successfully complete a task within the designated time. Furthermore, on the achievement of a bigger milestone, you can reward yourself with a day of self-care and pampering, ordering your favorite meal, indulging in retail therapy, or taking a mini vacation. Remember that the key to a successful reward system is to make it personalized and aligned with your values and preferences.

Cultivate a Positive, Growth-Oriented Mindset

What distinguishes positive people from negative ones is the mindset. A powerful positive mindset can significantly impact your ability to tackle hard tasks with ease. But if you are not born with a positive mindset then you have to cultivate one through positivity, adaptability, resilience, developing key principles and sticking to them. One way to do so is through powerful affirmations like the following:
I trust in my abilities and know that I have the skills and knowledge to overcome challenges.
I view difficult tasks as opportunities to learn and grow. Challenges are stepping stones to success.
I am solution-oriented. Instead of dwelling on problems, I focus my energy on finding creative solutions.
I surround myself with a supportive environment that encourages and uplifts me. I am not alone in facing challenges.

Remember, building a positive mindset is an ongoing practice. Consistently reinforcing these affirmations and principles can gradually shape your mindset and make facing hard tasks feel more manageable and rewarding.

To Sum Up

Understanding how your brain functions and taking steps to support its health and well-being can significantly impact your productivity. Strategies such as emotionally regulating yourself, understanding the source of your demotivation, and creating a reward system and creating a powerful mindset, can help optimize your brain’s performance.