It has been a long time since I’ve posted a blog post. My life has been filled with writing for clients as I get a better sense of what freelance writing consists of. If you want to hear more background on my writing journey, subscribe to my email list! So, life has been busy between balancing school and gaining clients. I’m definitely filling my plate, but when have I never! Recently, I became extremely overwhelmed with everything I had to do and I was lucky to have my partner around to ground me. His advice? Very simple, yet effective. He said, “Create a plan, attack it, and don’t overthink it.” I love this concept because it strips away the stress and details that often fill my head. I wanted to talk more in-depth about how I’ve incorporated this effective motto into my life. Here’s a brief guide on how to be productive without stress!
Take away stress by creating a plan
I am a big fan of organizing. Whether it be through to-do lists, marking down calendar dates, or creating Excel sheets, organizing helps me gain a sense of control of my situation. I would say that creating to-do lists has been my top time management tactic. As I mentioned in a previous organization post, I like to make multiple to-do lists as a way to better categorize my time and prevent anxiety.
For example, rather than writing an incredibly long list, which can easily stress out any average person, I choose to make to-do lists specifically for freelance writing, one for school, and another for other adult responsibilities. By breaking down all of my duties, I can look at things in smaller increments rather than seeing the mounting pile. I like to think of an extra-long to-do list as similar to a syllabus for school. When you look at all the things you have to do for the class i.e. essays, projects, exams, quizzes, it can all get pretty loud. So, if I can find a way to make my to-do lists the complete opposite of a syllabus, I think that is the better route to go. Pro-tip: Creating a plan is a great way to be productive without additional stress.
Best measure to be productive: Attack the plan
Once you make the plan, it makes sense to start knocking off item after item. I’m pretty good at getting things done, but sometimes even getting two things crossed off my list, can be challenging. What I recommend is to attack each item in measurable steps. Some people can spend hours doing homework and studying. I can’t do that. In fact, most adults only have an attention span of 20 minutes. With that knowledge, I like to spread out my activities in 15-30 minute increments.
If I feel good about my attention span, I may take more time to focus on a subject, but typically I find that it becomes less productive for me to do so. So, I like to attack my plans in a timeframe that makes sense for me.
Perfect for stress-relief: Don’t overthink it
Okay… This is a tough one for me. I have a tendency to overthink everything I do. Maybe it’s the perfectionist in me, but it’s really easy for me to get lost in the details. Whether that be the specific elements of a writing piece or solving a statistics problem, overthinking plays a role in my stress. After my partner recommended that I stop overthinking everything and just do what I need to do, I took a step back to reflect.
I needed to find a way to maximize my time while being effective in the work that I do. The next day, I went hardcore with my partner’s motto and it made all the difference. Whenever an extra thought popped up in my brain, I waved it along and kept on doing my thing. I wasn’t about to let gallons of thoughts drain out my mind. Not today, sir! Tip: Being productive without stress sometimes means quieting your mind.
How did it go?
Surprisingly, working through my day with the concept, create a plan, attack it, and don’t overthink it, actually worked for me. In a way, it helped me narrow my focus down to my priorities for the day and reduce my stress. In fact, I don’t think I felt an ounce of fear or concern that day.
As humans, we tend to overcomplicate things and as an individual, I sure as heck know that I make things more challenging than they have to be. Just think that we can give ourselves peace of mind by utilizing a simple plan. But I know that it’s not always as cut and dry as create a plan and go. Sometimes our minds overanalyze and come up with hypothetical scenarios as a form of survival.
So how do you combat that? I like to reduce the noise by journaling. When I get out all of my thoughts on a page, it’s like emptying a glass of water. My mind isn’t full of thoughts floating around and the ideas become concrete once they reach the paper. It’s extremely freeing. If journaling isn’t for you, you can try other methods to clear your mind. For example, meditation, listening to music or talking out your ideas.
Whatever you decide, the ultimate goal is to live your life in the best way that suits you. What are some techniques that you use to be productive without stress?
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Good luck with your journey,
Harumi
I like this strategy! Planning and organizing is an attribute of a human, being a professional it should be there otherwise things will definitely get messed up! Execution is one of the most crucial part of any plan, since it covers huge efforts accurate measurements as per your defined goals! Even I don’t believe in Overthinking, such thoughts always pushes back the efforts and produces unwanted vibes! I’ve enjoyed the post and the way you’ve briefed about the strategy, it’s interesting!
Thank you, Biren. Thoughts have a way of flooding our minds, even when we don’t want them to. That’s what makes the human mind so amazing, complex, and overwhelming. But yes, I’m trying to apply this method more to my life. Simple, but effective.
Oh, how I needed this post! I truly have felt like I cannot be productive without feeling stressed. That overwhelmed feeling always seems to creep up on me eventually. I like how your partner simply tells you to create a plan and tackle it, without overthinking it. Honestly, as a major overthinker, that is probably the majority of my problem. I tend to THINK about how much I have to do and get stressed before I even begin. I read once that the longer you think about something, the longer you put yourself through it when in reality, it could be a quick task. Nevertheless, I still find myself living in my head so I will actively try to follow this advice next time I need it! I am thrilled it worked for you. Simple is a much better route. Thanks for sharing!
Brianna – http://www.briannastrykerwrites.com
Thanks for this lovely comment, Bri! I’m totally an overthinker too. I guess it’s just part of our personality. But we can learn to find ways to better cope with our circumstances. I’m still learning how to apply this mentality to my new working schedule and school life. But hey, one step at a time!