SELF CARE | LIFESTYLE | ANTI PRODUCTIVITY
The Anti Productivity Checklist
For the tired, unmotivated days
Full disclosure: I go down the self-help rabbit hole sometimes. Come January every year, I pick up a new self-help book, retain fragments, then go back to good ol’ classics by February.
Austen, Wilde, Tolstoy — authors who keenly observed life and its lovely ironies — taught me more than the self-help industry ever could, thank you very much.
There’s a rare self-help book that has felt life-changing — such as Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, which I wrote an article on.
While I have nothing against the pursuit of productivity, we need to have a conversation about relaxing.
Workers of the World, Hustle!
I know burnout, just as I know my first job gave me some form of PTSD. The role entailed a rigorous 60 hour workweek, and sometimes, 80 hour ones.
After weathering a nasty bout of flu that left me bedridden for a month — I am convinced my immunity was lowered by the stress — I quit.
Burnout is a global pandemic. Here’s an excerpt from a Forbes article in mid-2022:
A new study by Asana, looked at over 10,000 knowledge workers across seven countries, and found approximately 70% of people experienced burnout in the last year. 40% of workers believe burnout is an inevitable part of success.
With the current climate of economic downturn, layoffs, and general-bleakness, workers are even worse off this past one year.
I wonder what is more concerning: the 70% statistic of people who are burned out, or the 40% who believe that harming yourself through constant stress is essential to succeed?
It doesn’t end in the workplace either. A lot of popular wisdom goes “Work on your side hustle!”, “Keep grinding!”, “No rest for the wicked!” and makes us feel worse about ourselves.
The Mindset Shift
Unlearning hustle culture is no cakewalk. At the peak of my depression (back in 2020), my chief source of guilt was my inability to be productive. It wasn’t enough that I was surviving and also doing a great job in the workplace.
There was a constant tussle between my hustle-indoctrinated self and my survival-mode self.
Why aren’t you exercising? I can barely move.
Why are you sleeping late? Because I’m tired from dealing with all the overwhelming emotions.
Why aren’t you working on advancing your career? I don’t know where to begin!
My lovely therapist came into my life and gently, firmly made me unlearn all the “shoulds” I had in my head. There are no shoulds, she said. Besides, you are dealing with severe depression right now, isn’t it enough that you’re surviving?
My answer then was no, it isn’t enough! Are you crazy, woman? I’m not being productive! Isn’t that the purpose of my existence?
Three years later, I definitely haven’t unlearned all the shoulds, but I have for the most part overcome depression.
I still see the benefits of hustling to accomplish goals. Building self-discipline is tough and makes you resilient.
I’ve found a delicate balance that works for me.
The Checklist
I created this checklist on a hot day when I was groggy from antidepressants and overwork. I could barely function, and I just wanted to feel better.
I hope a few of these helps you too!
- Accept that you are unable to function.
- Take a day off of work (in any form). If one day feels like too much, take half a day off. Or even a couple of hours.
- Pick up the phone and talk to someone who makes you belly-laugh. Or at least someone who is kind and supportive. Even if it is for five minutes.
- Take a slow walk. Preferably outdoors. I sometimes walk barefoot on grass to feel more grounded in the present moment.
- Lie back and watch the sky and the stars or the clouds glide by (there’s something comforting in contemplating how tiny we are in the grand scheme of things).
- Spend time with a pet. My cats are my solace in times of trouble.
- Make yourself a cup of your favourite tea (or coffee, depending where you’re from). My favourite is peppermint tea.
- Stretch for a bit. It could be at the table, or in bed, or outdoors.
- Give yourself a little massage!
- On a related note, if you’re suffering from lower back pain, here’s a magical way of relieving it that I’ve been practicing for the past 5 years.
- Read a book or watch a movie. It’s best if it is something you actually feel like reading or watching. Sometimes you want to feel better. Sometimes you’re sad underneath the numbness, so you pick up a sad book. Sometimes you feel powerless, so you watch something that makes you feel like a badass. Just remember: chase a feeling that feels right, and safe for you.
- Draw yourself a bath. Bubble baths have healing powers. The ancient Romans knew this; if you’ve read about the city of Bath in England, you’ll see that the quaint town still celebrates the benefits of a good soak. (I had visited recently. I learned in a walking tour that many doctors in Bath prescribe thermal spas for rheumatic issues, in addition to allopathic treatments.)
- Make art! Drawing, doodling, painting or other art forms like knitting or clay modelling can feel purposeful and therapeutic.
- If you’re feeling irritable and restless, try screaming into a pillow or kicking/punching something (an inanimate object, obviously!). I sometimes do this workout when I need to release my anger. But do release your anger in a safe space for you.
- Do your makeup yourself/following a makeup tutorial. I love doing my makeup when I’m low and find the process incredibly calming.
- Spend time away from your phone. Devices can feel very addictive when you’re mentally exhausted. I find that locking my phone away in a cupboard is a surprisingly easy hack to reduce consumption.
- Clean/organise something. I move away from mental work when I feel depleted and wash dishes, or declutter my workspace.
- Journal. Naming how you’re feeling and acknowledging the exhaustion is an important step towards recovery. I mentioned this last though because often when I’m exhausted the last thing I feel like doing is writing about it.
Closing Thoughts
I’ve observed that the more we run away from our needs and feelings, the more they tend to pursue us. Once we acknowledge exhaustion, it’ll linger awhile while you replenish body and soul.
Then it’ll glide away, and you can get back to your day. Unless you’re working 60 hour workweeks, in which case I feel for you ❤ but the exhaustion won’t simply slip away without a long term solution :(
Disclaimer: This article was written for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician.
