How To Be Productive Even When You’re In The Midst Of Burnout

We’ve all been there. Burnt out, unfocused, and struggling to get through the day, but life goes on, and when your productivity lags during this period, it can be hard to get your body and mind on the same page. Rather than just letting your mind and body linger in the burnout space feeling zapped and exhausted, you can still be productive and creative! There are just a few things you can do to still remain productive, even when burnout looms large on the horizon. Productivity isn’t a type of luck, it’s something you work hard for every day!

When you’re in the middle of being burnt out or feeling completely zapped, it’s hard for your mind to hold on to all the tasks you have to do throughout the day. Starting by writing out a descriptive to-do list can help you hang on to all those tasks! Separate the tasks in order of how important they are. Instead of trying to figure out in the moment what requires the most attention from you throughout the day, labeling them ahead of time lets you simply jump in and get started with all those tasks. Your to-do list should be descriptive too. Don’t just pick a few things. Write them all down! Even if tasks are as simple as “pick up the towels in the bathroom,” they’ll help you get things done when you’re struggling in the middle of a burnout period.

In the middle of a harsh burnout session, it’s hard not to feel isolated in every area of your life. When you feel isolated, it’s tempting to isolate yourself further and push others away. Instead, reach out toothers during this time of burnout and feeling zapped! Rather than always relying on yourself and ending up more burnt out than when you started, relying on others relieves that stress and pressure and puts you in a position where you can feel less isolated.

Those sticker rewards aren’t just for kindergarten students! Creating a reward system for your tasks and to-do list allows you to reach your goals and still see progress. When you’re deep into a burnout session, it can be very difficult to see any results when it comes to reaching your goals. With a reward system, you get a physical reward for the work you’re doing so you can look back and see how you’ve progressed. In addition, when you’re in the middle of a burnout session, striving for those goals without a reward can seem impossible. Instead of just hoping for success, the reward system gives you something to work for.

Your body and mind work together in perfect harmony during a time in your life when you’re not burnt out. When you are, not only does your mind feel tired, exhausted, and hard to jumpstart, your body can end up being that way too. Taking care of your body means eating right, drinking plenty of water, and engaging with some self-care! Burnout often leaves you craving comfort food, anything that seems to give you back that sense of control. Eating a balanced meal and drinking plenty of water feeds your body well and helps your body and mind get back in sync. Don’t forget to get up and get moving! There’s a horrible feeling when it comes to burnout where you don’t want to move at all, but that same lack of movement can worsen the feelings of burnout and feeling zapped. When you start moving and grooving, your body and mind are back in sync!

Burnout leaves you feeling like there’s a mountain of tasks on your desk and no time to do them. One of the simplest ways to help quell the feelings of burnout and being zapped is to just take on fewer tasks. That’s often the last thing you want to do, but it can be incredibly healing and allow you to be even more productive! Instead of having yourself pulled in a million different directions, cutting down on the number of tasks you do lets you focus on each one in turn and do it to the best of your abilities.

Burnout happens to everyone at least once in their lives. Learning how to handle it well can help you stay productive while in the middle of a rough season of your life! Taking care of your body and simply taking on fewer tasks can give you a way to relax and focus on those tasks that really require your attention at the moment. Before you simply “give up” and hope that the burnout ends, stay productive by just engaging with a few different angles within your life!