Content Task: Productivity and Mental Illness

Author Bio: Monica Montero is a Mental Health Coach at Appleberry. She has
been practicing counseling as a profession since 2014. She is passionate about
self-care that targets both the physical and emotional needs of individuals, and
focuses on the well-being of her clients.
Topic/Inspiration: Why are other people with mental illness being productive!! I
thought were in this together stop being better than me!!
Article Title: 4 Psychological Tricks to Make it Through One Workday

Get your work done! Are you or someone you know struggling with mental
illness? Don't let it get in the way of your productivity! This handy to-do list will
help you stay on top of your game, covering topics from battling crippling
depression to surviving a manic episode. With a cover that doubles as a mask
for intense anxiety attacks, and tear-out tabs for those days when you just can't
get out of bed, this article is here for you! Whether seeking support for yourself or
helping a loved one in need, this is perfect for anyone who needs to get things
done and refuses to let anything stop them.

In the midst of going through the ups and downs of a mental illness diagnosis, it
can be hard to keep up with everyday tasks. It’s not always easy to remember
important things to do such as “eat,” “sleep,” and “work” However, learning
how to prioritize your time wisely and focusing on the tasks at hand in a
balanced way, it won’t be a struggle to stay afloat. Despite how hard life can
be, it’s always important to learn how to focus on the tasks of everyday life.

While there is not magic potion to make work disappear, there are tricks that
can help you sail through even just one workday. When it comes to working,
people will take a lot of approaches and techniques. Or if you suddenly glance
at your clock and realize that you’re halfway through the day without
accomplishing anything, here’s some good news for you. These are just some
quick and easy things to do when you want to be productive but your mind is
telling you NO.

1. Create Some Structure

- When we talk about structure, this pertains to creating healthy

boundaries between work, home, and play. Structure also calls for
planning out your day, such as; setting realistic goals you wish to
accomplish for the day, or writing down a to-do list to help in organizing
your mind. However, as much as we want to accomplish everything for
the day, try not to over-schedule. Having three to four items on your to-do
list may help, plus you’ll have a great feeling of accomplishment at the
end of the day.
- Last year, during the hype of the second year of the pandemic, I bought
a Habit Tracker. In here, I write down all the things I want to do each day,
 and shade the box beside it after accomplishing it. Do I only include only
work tasks? Nope! Part of my to-do list is also to play with my Nintendo
Switch, listen to any podcast, and journaling. You might also be
wondering, do I complete all tasks in a day? No, because whatever I
didn’t accomplish today, can always be accomplished tomorrow
(except if it is urgent!).

2. Start with the Harder or More Important Tasks First

- Usually, we like doing the easier or simpler tasks at hand first. But honestly,
its not the most productive way to get things done. A lot of stress is
placed on the harder tasks, rather than the smaller ones, so completing
the harder ones first makes you feel more productive afterwards. If you
feel overwhelmed with the many tasks, or the amount of responsibility on
you, think that you cannot do everything in one day, so accomplish the
most important ones first.
- When I was younger I would think that working on the homework of easier
subjects would be faster than solving Math equations. I used to get very
stressed when I would start the Math homework after completing the
other subjects. It made me feel like the day became longer all because I
couldn’t solve a certain problem. Looking back, it didn’t work. So now, I
try to focus on harder tasks first before the easy ones. Because honestly,
solving any Math equations would be more fulfilling than anything easier
than that.

3. Make Time for Healthy Practices

- Part of creating healthy boundaries, calls for creating healthy practices.

Make sure you have time to eat well, sleep well, drink water, and work
out. Keep your mind and body in tiptop shape so that you can be more
productive at work. Aside from this, it helps to have healthy relationships
too! Your friends and family work as your support system, and an
instrument for recovery.
- Usually, I like to wake up at 5:30 am so that I can find time for personal
activities such as working out, daily devotions, and drinking my coffee. I
find it more relaxing and less stressful because no one is usually up at that
time here at home. In between breaks, I like messaging my friends or
talking with my parents.

4. Take a Break and Relax

- Lastly, you can’t get through the day without a break or even taking time
to relax. I know that we can’t always spend the day doing only this. That’s
why we have to make time for it aside from our productive time. One
way or another, rest helps us keep stress at bay. Try some quick
 meditation, or some moments of mindfulness. If that’s not your type of
rest, find anything that you consider as something relaxing.
- Personally, I like popping up a quick 5 minute yoga sesh during breaks or
before I start work. Or sometimes, instead of taking the full 1hour lunch
time, I spend 30 minutes for eating and the other 30 minutes for fun, AKA
sleep, watch a quick TV show on Netflix, make Tiktok videos, prepare my
breakfast for the next day, or read.

To tell you honestly, it’s always hard to stay productive when you’re in your own
head. Even the best of us will struggle with mental illness at some point or
another. It can be difficult to find the right balance between dealing with your
personal struggles, and at the same time keeping yourself productive. But it’ll be
worth a shot to try! Let’s enjoy life again, and let’s try to not make our mental
health issues rule over our lives.
 1

References

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