For much of the last year I have been super focused on being productive. I have been designing my days, blocking out time for tasks, sticking to my schedule and not multi-tasking (a real productivity killer).
But guess what? Some days, I suck at that! Some days I sit at my desk and flit around my email accounts and allow myself to be sucked into someone else’s schedule of work. I answer those emails like my life depended on it and even if the person on the other end does not need to hear back from me within 5 minutes. Of course, when it comes to Customer Service, answering an email quickly is absolutely what you should do, but not every email falls into that category. Email is my vice. It is where I go to procrastinate, or avoid doing real work. What about you? Do you have a way you make it look like you’re working hard, when what you are really doing is, treading water?
If you have read any of my previous blog posts or my monthly student messages, you may be shocked to hear me say this. You may have thought I was some sort of productivity queen, sitting on top of her throne of completed tasks. Instead, I stand here in front of you declaring the absolute truth of it; that is not me at all, at least not all the time.
Yes, I do work hard and I do, do, the things I write about here and elsewhere, most of the time. Most days my approach to my work serves me well, keeps me motivated and on-task and allows me to kick back at the end of the day and feel good about what I have achieved. That is why I recommend you do these things too.
But there are days when I just don’t have it in me to be that person. Like you, I juggle a lot. I get up super early, exercise, run around after teenagers, manage several businesses and have a big house on a lot of land, that requires a lot of work. I love spending time with my husband and have way too many hobbies. Like you, I have a ton of stuff to do and sometimes I don’t want to do any of it, including the work I am passionate about. And guess what? That is ok! You can bust out and have a bad day every now and again. What will save you though, is knowing how to get back on track the next day. Where lazy, unproductive days will ruin you, is when you start stacking them up, one after the other.
I think it is a bit like being a super, healthy eater, most of the time. Sometimes you are going to break the rules and grab that chocolate bar, or find yourself staring at your inbox waiting for an email to come in, just so you can answer it, instead of working on that proposal. Some days you will find that you have walked away from your desk altogether and are outside staring at the trees, or sitting in front of the washing machine waiting for the load to finish (Me!).
My message to you is have strategies in place to keep you organised and productive but please, don’t beat yourself up about falling off the wagon every now and again. It’s ok to achieve nothing, some days.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christine Ligthart is a lead Tutor with the Academy and Founder of I Do Crew which specialises in offering On the Day Wedding Coordination. Christine is passionate about creative small business and helping others to achieve success. At home you will find Christine hanging out with her family, listening to old records and loving life on the farm. www.idocrew.com.au
