Getting shit done on a low energy day
Get yourself into the right headspace and surroundings
Everyone’s different, and it’s really important to figure out what exactly you need to get yourself being productive.
One of my major issues when it comes to being productive is the fact that I cannot function without constant stimuli. So whenever I need to get something done, I’ll put on an interesting podcast, audiobook, or Youtube video. That way it’s easier to put down whatever I’m doing, since I want to be able to pay attention to what I’m hearing. It also provides the extra stimuli I need when I’m doing something boring like cleaning my room or doing laundry.
Every time I need to study or do homework, I clean my room first. I’ve noticed that when my surroundings are messy, it’s really hard to get focused on what I’m doing. I’ll get distracted by thinking about needing to clean my room or fold my clothes. So, I usually spend 20-30 minutes straightening up before I try to actually sit down.
This also means taking care of yourself first. Eat, take a shower, fill up your water bottle. If you’re not taking care of yourself, getting anything done is super hard. So make sure that your needs are taken care of before you get down to business.
Also, everyone is productive at a different time. I can’t even think about getting anything major done until at least four o’clock. It can take a while to work it out, but try to plan your to-do’s when you’re most energetic.
This one’s super obvious, but it really helps! I keep all my due dates in my planner, but I don’t actually plan what I’m getting done until that day, because I don’t know how productive I’ll be feeling.
The first things on my list are things that I need to do for myself, like showering or making something to eat. It might seem odd to write it down, but I have a lot of trouble with self care, and having it on my to-do’s is a good way to remind myself. Because of my PTSD, doing simple things like showering or cooking can be triggering. But if I treat it like a chore, it’s a lot less intimidating.
I usually start with the most urgent issues, things that absolutely have to be done that day. If I’m feeling super focused, I might add a few things extra that I should do, but can still do at a later date. Don’t overload yourself. If you have a giant to-do list that day, try only writing two of three things down at a time. That way, you won’t get overwhelmed by the massive amount of stuff you have to get done.
I also use that time to make sure that I have everything that needs to be done written down for the next week or two. I’ll go through my emails, school & work schedule, and check that everything’s there.
Don’t start with the smallest thing, start with the easiest thing
Cleaning my bathroom can take me half an hour, but It’s still way easier to me than shooting a five minute email to someone. I can procrastinate hitting that send button for weeks.
The whole “start with the smallest thing” has never worked for me. The smallest thing might take the least amount of time, but it might take way more energy than the other things on my list. If I start off with something that I know is exhausting, I won’t end up getting anything done.
So basically, start with the thing that you know you can get done. Not the thing that’s causing you anxiety, or you know is a major energy drain, even if it only takes five minutes. Also, you should overestimate your time. If something takes me one hour to do, I’ll give myself two or three hours to do it. That way, I don’t feel like I’m pressuring myself to get something done quickly.
When I’m having a really low energy day, I’ll time myself. For example, I’m going to sit down and work on my homework for two hours. But after that, I’ll give myself an hour long break.
I honestly think using a timer is the easiest way to get things done, especially when I have a massive break as an incentive to stay focused. Two hours is a long time, and for some people it might only be 15, 30, or 45 minutes. That’s okay! The most important part is knowing your limits, and how long you can stay focused on something before you need a break. When I push myself too hard and don’t take breaks (or long enough ones), I end up crashing, and not getting hardly anything done.
It also helps if you’re the type of person to get sucked into something and have a hard time watching the time. Even if you’re focused, you still need to take breaks!
Don’t Plan to Be Productive at the End of the Day
The whole reason for this post is that productivity can be exhausting. It takes time to relax after that. So, make sure that if you’re working late, that you have an hour or two for some rest before going to bed.
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