I’m Falling Behind at Work

by Rakshitha Arni Ravishankar, Associate Multiplatform Editor

Have you ever been in a slump that you just couldn't get out of? Well, I’ve been feeling that way for the past couple of weeks.

Last Monday, I intended to edit an article but stared at it instead. For hours. By Wednesday, I still hadn’t written my weekly to-do list. By Friday, I felt entirely unaccomplished. I even spent Sunday going through my emails, apologizing to people I hadn’t replied to.

I know that this feeling is neither new nor permanent. Over the years, I’ve learned that a creative slump is just a phase — one that eventually passes. We all experience moments in which seemingly effortless things are a struggle. Getting up on time. Finishing that one simple task. Staying motivated enough to just make it through the day. None of this makes us unproductive. It makes us human.

Now, when I feel this way, I try to remind myself that my mind and body are telling me to pause — to think about what my goals really mean to me and find new ways to get moving. A creative slump is an opportunity to get curious, turn inward, and learn something new about ourselves and what drives us. It’s an opportunity to show and extend compassion and grace to ourselves.

In my own life, here’s what I plan to do:

• Sleep more and fix my body clock.
• Do one or two things I enjoy outside of work. (For instance, curate playlists or read a book.) ?
• Reach out to close friends and colleagues to talk about what I’m feeling.
• Create safe spaces in which I can be myself and brainstorm ways to stay productive without burning out.?

I recognize that these strategies are easy to list but much more challenging to put into practice. So, to help you and myself, I’ve put together some advice from our experts. Use their guidance to navigate those difficult periods when you feel like you’re falling behind.?

Recommended Reads

Is It Time to Rethink Your Productivity?

Rethink your to-do list and step away when it’s time for a break.

Read the full article here.

How to Stop Scrolling and Focus at Work

It’s easy to be distracted when we’re working, especially by our phones.?Here are some tips to get work done.

Read the full article here.

You Don’t Have to Be the Best at Everything

How can you overcome the anxious achiever in your head?

Read the full article here.

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