1.
Staying Productive in
Stressful Times

2.
Staying productive can be a challenge at the best of times. Some of us
have trouble even becoming productive in the first place. When you are
stressed out or dealing with other problems in your life, it can almost feel
impossible to get things done. If you have felt stressed out and your
productivity has waned, then you should follow these tips:

3.
Confront Your Stress
You can't hide from your stress. You need to acknowledge it and do what you to
confront it. You might be able to stay productive in the short term, but if you don't
address your stress, it will eventually catch up to you.
#1

4.
Focus On What You Can Control
Sometimes your source of stress isn't something under your direct control. If this is the
case, your best bet is to take control of the things in your life that you can control. For
example, you can't control the stock market, but you can manage your spending and
investing habits.
#2

5.
Honor Your Productive Hours
Most of us perform better at certain hours. Some people get their best work done in
the morning, and some people are more productive at night. Figure out when you work
the best, and honor those hours. This productive time is doubly important when you
are dealing with stress, as your productive hours may be different than usual.
#3

6.
Ask For Help
Don't be afraid to reach out for help if you need it. You might want to reach out for help
with a project you are working on, or you might want to vent to a friend to relieve
stress. The scenario doesn't matter; what matters is feeling comfortable asking for
help when you need it.
#4

7.
Keep Things Simple
If you are struggling with some severe stress, then you should keep things simple. If
possible, try holding off the heavy lifting while you focus on simple tasks. It's also
essential that you focus on one task at a time. Multitasking saps your focus at the best
of times; it is an absolute productivity killer when you are already stressed.
#5

8.
Tune Out
If your stress comes from outside influences, it might be time to tune those out. You
don't have to bury your head in the sand, but you also don't need to watch your Twitter
feed or cable news for hours on end. Find a balance between staying informed and
staying sane.
#6

9.
Don't Beat Yourself Up
You are already going through a stressful situation, the last thing you need it to be
fighting with yourself. When things are tough, don't beat yourself up if you have a bad
day. You aren't going to bounce back from a lazy or unproductive day if you are too
busy beating yourself up over it.
#7

10.
Use Rewards Strategically
Everyone likes rewards. Most of the things we do are tied to some compensation.
When you are struggling to stay productive, it can help to use rewards strategically.
For example, if you have a crucial task that you need to do - create a reward for it. If
you finish X, you will reward yourself with Y.
#8

11.
Take One Step
Just get started! Getting started is the simplest step, and happens to be the most effective.
Sometimes when we are stressed, it feeds into our procrastination. When you take one single step
(make is something no-brainer levels of simple), that will often avalanche into you on taking another
action and so on.
#9

12.
TakeActionNow!
#1
Find a piece of paper, or use a notes app to jot down the things
that are stressing you out in life.
Take one simple action towards dealing with one single stressor that
you CAN control.
Look at your stressors and figure out which ones you can control and
which ones you can't.

13.
Additional Reading
The Ultimate Productivity Planner
The Productivity Project
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Productivity Hacks
Extreme Productivity

14.
Stay Productive
Visit
www.createyourhappy.org/mycourses
To enhance your happiness, goal setting and fulfillment!