5 Tips To Get Stuff Done While Feeling Like Crap
Hi Musers. For those of you who looked in hoping to read the next part of my series reviewing the Obese to Beast and Coco Chanou YouTube video, don’t worry. I’ll be continuing it on Thursday. Today, though, we’re going to talk about how to get stuff done while feeling like crap.
I won’t lie; I’ve felt like crap lately. I am currently off all ant-depressant medication which has put my mood in the toilet. I’m still recovering from the really bad cold/chest infection which seems to have swept the country. Finally, I appear to have become really dehydrated and stay that way no matter how much I drink. What I mean by this is that my mouth is painfully dry all the time and sprouting ulcers like daisies. My throat dries out after speaking for less than 20 seconds, and I end up having a coughing fit. I am unbelievably dry downstairs (TMI, I know!), making me sore, unbearably itchy, and prone to splitting skin.
Needless to say, physically, mentally and emotionally, I don’t feel up to getting much done. Sadly, there is no pause button for life when shit like this goes down. Although Mike helps out a lot, there are things he can’t do for me. Also, I don’t want him to have to do everything. He has anxiety problems and works full time, so that isn’t fair. Honestly? I feel like enough of a loser as it is; I don’t need to add guilt about doing nothing to it.
So I have to have a plan—a way to guarantee I get stuff done while feeling like crap. Some days what I achieve may seem like nothing to the outside world. You put two things away? That was your achievement for the whole day, seriously? Well, they can mock, but anyone who has ever felt this way knows getting off the couch is a huge challenge on its own. I’m happy with doing anything, however small.
Before We Begin
I want to start with a warning! The most important thing for us all to learn is to listen to our bodies. If we learn to trust what they are telling us, we can give them what they need. So, if they’re screaming that they need rest and time to recover, we need to listen. I have rested a lot over the last couple of weeks. I’ve been forced to take time off work, and some days, I’ve done almost nothing but sleep. But I’m fine with that because that’s what my body needed to recover.
You need to listen to your body and do what it needs you to. This list is for times you might feel a bit under the weather or a bit down, and you want to get a couple of things done. DO NOT use it to push your body past its limits.
Promise? Ok, let’s go. Tips to get stuff done while feeling like crap 👍
Make A List
The first step to getting anywhere is to establish where you are now. This part should be easy. You can do it on a laptop, tablet, phone, or even on a notepad if you’re old school. You can do it lying down, and it should take less than five minutes.
It’s very simple, think about all those jobs that are preying on your mind and put them down on paper. All of them, don’t leave anything out. If possible, jot down an estimate of how long each one will take too. Depending on how organised you like to be, that might be it. Job done!
If you’re a bit more like me, though, you might want to reorganise or even colour code your list in order of importance. I list them from top priority all the way down to if I have time and I’m bored.
However you choose to structure your list, you should feel better for two reasons. Firstly, you achieved something! It’s may not be a big something, but it counts, dammit! You’re awesome 🤩
Secondly, it gets the list out of your head and down on paper. I don’t know about you, but I find that alone helps calm me. Looking at the list, I mentally realise I don’t have as much to do as I thought and that many of the items will take a few minutes tops. The big task monster now seems a little less scary.
Rest
Seriously, if you’re feeling crappy, you need to conserve your energy stores as much as possible. Your list is made, so browse social media, read a book, listen to music, or even take a nap.
Pick A Task
Once you’ve rested, or at a time you’ve chosen, pick a task you want to complete. I suggest for this first task that you pick one that will take 10 minutes or less. This is something I learned from writer Shaunta Grimes. Generally, if you set yourself a task that takes less than 10 minutes to complete, it becomes easier to do it than avoid doing it.
If you’ve sprung into action, well done you! You’ve got one thing off your list so you can scratch it off and bask in the feelings of satisfaction. You accomplished something on A day where that was the last thing you felt like doing; well done!
How to do more, though? What if your motivation is failing now?
Start Your Own Rewards Program
So many big businesses offer rewards because they know it will cost them next to nothing and will reap the rewards for them rather than you. So yeah, you get a free coffee, but you’ve already bought 6 or 9 coffees first. Coffees you may not have bought with them.
I’m not suggesting you print yourself a card and buy a stamper or anything; I’m just suggesting you understand the concept that rewards motivate us. So, if you’re struggling to do something, why not promise yourself a reward for once it’s done? It can be anything as long as it will motivate you enough to get you moving. Here are some examples:
- Once I’ve put half my laundry away, I can order in/go out for a salted caramel frostino
- First, I need to write my latest blog post for 10 minutes, and then I can watch the latest episode of the show I’m binge-watching.
- Ringing my bestie for a catch-up would be fun. I can do it as soon as I run the hoover around the living room.
- I’m so tired; I’ll take a soothing bath with my favourite bath oil once I’ve walked the dog and gotten some fresh air myself.
Continue The Momentum
By now, with the quick first task and the reward thrown in for the second, hopefully, you’ll have completed at least two tasks now. Well done! When you’re feeling run down and depressed, this feels the same as climbing Everest. If you’ve done as much as you feel you can for now, then that is fabulous. Rest up and start with your list again tomorrow or whenever you feel up to it.
If you still have energy, though, it’s time to build momentum. After all, you’ve completed two tasks, three including the list, and they were no biggie, right? Take another glance down the list and look for another task you feel up to completing.
Once you’ve done that, take a rest and see if there’s another task you can manage. I would suggest you stop at four unless they are unbelievably small. If you’re not feeling rundown, physically or emotionally, then don’t push yourself too much.
If you haven’t had the energy to do any extra tasks, don’t fret. You did great to accomplish a couple of things. Now go rest, have a nice hot beverage, and relax. You’re all done for the day.
Stay On A Roll
Shaunta’s Grimes’ 10 minutes a day applies to her writing. Once she sits down, she often finds she writes for far longer. These tips aren’t specifically related to writing, but it’s the same idea. I suggest that we keep using the list, and adding to it, for as long as you need it. When you feel better, you shouldn’t need it as much, but I am a huge list fan so feel free to hang onto it if it works for you 😃
While I’m ill, I see this strategy like the paper chains we all made when we were kids. Each day, I create a new link in the chain, and while one link looks like nothing, you’re starting to see something after a week!
What Are Your Tips?
Ok, Musers, that’s how I cope and manage to get stuff done while feeling like crap. How do you do it? Do you keep pushing yourself to do as much as usual? Or do you let everything else wait and decide you’ll deal with it when you get better?
Let me know in the comments 👇
