Recently my life changed a whole lot, not for the bad and there were no traumatic circumstances that lead to several far fetched epiphanies about how I should be more spiritual, stop wearing shoes and chant. It was the regular life scenario – I got married, moved countries and now have to live with the fact that Vegemite is US$8 per jar #firstworldproblems. I have always prided myself on being organised, a self-starter and motivated but recently… ZIP!
At first I attributed this to just needing a rest. So I rested and then I rested some more, forget ‘Netflix and chill’, I made ‘Netflix and vegetative state’ a thing! Pretty soon I began to realise that this wasn’t going away and that I had lost my motivation to be productive. I had never not been employed but moving countries throws a major spanner in the works when it comes to retaining your employment – who would have thunk it? I had lost my purpose to get up in the morning, to start my day and to be a functioning member of society. Pretty sad that this was ‘my purpose’ but I enjoy working or for want of a better word, I enjoy achieving.
Step 1: Admit you have a problem
They say the first step of recovery is to admit you have a problem. I admitted it – ‘My name is Nicole and I’m unmotivated’ – cue standard monotone response. ‘But how do I fix this’, my thirty year old brain whined? Read a series of self help books? Maybe join a support network for couch potatoes? NOPE! Like so many of my generation before me, I dared to utter the words, ‘There’s got to be an app for that’ and don’t ya know it, there was! PRODUCTIVE – I was back (in app form at least but it’s a start – don’t judge!) and all for the low, low price of a free download with optional in app purchase!
Step 2: Putting faith in a power greater than I
Productive – the app claims to help build good habits, have more control of your time and become more productive. It sounds juvenile but I needed something to hold me accountable, if that something rewards me with the sweet chirp of a digital bell (what up Pavlov?) and the ability to review my achievements at the end of the day – so be it! The apps design is pleasing to view with customisable habits (to a point in the free app, however I paid a small fee for unlimited habits), scheduling and handy reminders. It was exactly what I needed to draw me out of my Netflix fueled slump.
If you believe you achieve
I put everything in here to reward myself, from waking up on time, to daily exercise, hanging out the washing, bringing in the washing, cooking dinner and doing groceries (for the record – have never been motivated to do that – can’t stand slow walkers especially those with trolleys). And you know what? It worked! I have a purpose, I have a routine and am even being creative again (duh, Nicole you are writing this!). The best part about this is that I now feel that I am achieving more than I used to in a day and am considering full-time work from home as I have ingrained these good habits enough to know that I WILL get up and achieve even if I don’t have a specific place to be at a specific time.
Productive has turned out to be an incredible tool not only for a personal slump like mine but it has lead to professional motivation. It may also be of use to those that are in a professional slump or simply want to manage their professional time better, especially those who are in business for themselves or gunning for that corner office (or at least a nicer cube… like next to a window or away from the guy that brings tuna for lunch).
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Experienced and written by Nicole Atkins (Campaign Crusader)
Author: Ronsley Vaz
Ronsley is the founder & chief day dreamer at AMPLIFY. He is an author, speaker & serial entrepreneur.
He has a Masters’ degree in Software Engineering and an MBA in Psychology and Leadership. He is known as the creator of We Are Podcast – the first Podcasting Conference in the Southern Hemisphere, and the host of The Bond Appetit Podcast and Should I Start a Podcast. He has an audience of over 3 million in 133 countries.