Regain Your Mental Momentum

This week I'll share some tips on how to stay productive even when you're under the weather.

It’s tough to get things done when you’re not feeling well. Simple things can suddenly feel impossible.

The more unproductive we become, the more powerless we feel. And the more powerless we feel, the more unproductive we become.

It’s a vicious cycle!

Gaining mental momentum is the key to regaining our productivity. It’s about building momentum little by little, step by step. It may not be a dramatic change at first, but every small victory counts.

One way to start gaining mental momentum is by opting for smaller Pomodoro sessions. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that breaks work into intervals, usually 25 minutes, followed by a short break. But when you’re feeling overwhelmed and powerless, even 25 minutes can feel like too much. So start with smaller intervals - maybe 10 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. As you gain confidence and energy, you can gradually increase the duration of your sessions.

Another baby step worth taking is eating smaller frogs. I’m referring to a concept called Eat the Frog. It’s essentially tackling the most important or challenging task first thing in the morning, so you get it out of the way and set the tone for a productive day. But when you’re feeling overwhelmed, even the thought of tackling a big task can be paralyzing. So instead, break it down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Take it one bite at a time and before you know it, you’ll have devoured that frog like a champ.

In my own journey, I’m taking these baby steps to regain my mental momentum. My sleep schedule got messed up lately, resulting in an extremely low energy level. But I refuse to stay in a state of powerlessness. So I’m starting small - dedicating shorter periods of time to work, doing what I can with the energy I have, and gradually building up my momentum.

This shorter-than-usual post serves as my own baby step in keeping a weekly update schedule for the newsletter. It’s a reminder to myself and to anyone else feeling powerless that we have the power to change our mindset and regain our productivity. It won’t always be easy, and progress may be slow, but with determination and perseverance, we can break free from the cycle of powerlessness and pave our way to success. So let’s take those baby steps, one at a time, and regain our mental momentum. 💪