“Use Your Time Wisely” — The Pressure to be Productive During Lockdown
Many of us have dreamt of the day that we could finally work from home.
Get up when you want, wear what you want and use your commuting time for all the things you’ve been dying to do.
Every day I see a heap of content telling us to use our time wisely and be productive. Time to write that novel, redecorate the home, oh and, learn the guitar.
But the reality of working from home, maintaining a household, feeding children and partaking in online exercise classes, is already filling the day for a lot of people. Not to mention the hour or two assigned to general stress, worry or anxiety about our current situation.
The guilt and shame that goes with it
Being productive can be fantastic! I definitely get a warm, fuzzy feeling at the end of the day when I can see the tasks on my to-do list have been neatly ticked off. But being constantly told to be productive (“we might not get this opportunity again!”) can be counterintuitive and add pressure to people’s lives.
It’s not just the pressure though. For many of us, it’s the guilt that comes with not having completed all those online courses and creative activities. This guilt can escalate into feelings of shame and self-doubt.
Remember that anything can be seen as an achievement
Like a gratitude list or bullet journal, take a moment at the end of the day (or during) to acknowledge and praise your achievements.
Did you cook dinner for the family? Read the next chapter in your book? Or go for a 15minute walk?
Be OK with just being
We’re going through a tricky time and it’s important to be kind to yourself. One day you may wish to take part in an online webinar or clean the kitchen, another you may wish to watch films, eat pizza and chill. You’re not defined by the activities you choose to do each day (just as you’re not expected to listen to every thought that comes to mind).
Comparison is the thief of joy
Resist the urge to scroll your social feeds and compare yourself to others. We hear it all the time, but during this time of uncertainty, it’s helpful to be reminded that we all have different ways of coping.
Celebrate small changes
What small changes are you going to keep up once this is over?
Have you started getting up 20 minutes earlier for a morning stretch? Or baking bread instead of buying it?
I’ll be taking an extra half an hour in the morning to sit down and have breakfast with my partner. And, that’s definitely worth celebrating.
Share what you’ll be keeping up in the comments below…
