How to stay productive during chaotic and distractive times?

We have all been there from time to time. These days and weeks when everything goes south...

For some, it can be losing a job, and for others, changing a country or having a baby and starting a family. 

What is similar to all these situations is that we, as high achievers, get out of our routines, and our productivity decreases. 

It's silly to think that this situation isn't going to happen in the future. The life itself is a chaotic thing. It's impossible to predict everything and be prepared for everything. 

But you can try 🙂 

Here are the tools & routines that keep me productive:

Even when the things around me are chaotic, unpredictable, and unstable…

I'm talking about the situation when I don't know where I'm gonna live in the next week, which country I will go to, and how many distractions I will have that will prevent me from working on my projects. 

Situations where working becomes harder and to focus nearly impossible.

1. Have an emergency fund. 

When chaos comes to your life, there is nothing more calmer than knowing that you have money for a few months that can keep your life as usual. 

Everyone talks about this simple life hack from a financial perspective and investment safety (you don't need to sell your assets if you have an emergency fund when your income gets damaged).

I'm talking more from a psychological perspective - a feeling of safety that will give you space to think about the best next steps. 

2. Write down all your tasks.

It's tough to rely on short-term memory as our brain capacity is limited. 

Having a habit of writing down all your tasks inside the special app or your weekly diary will save you from a disaster. 

Because when your brain is foggy. When you have an unpredictable schedule, you still know what you need to do for your goals - it's written. 

3. Priorities your tasks.

Writing your tasks isn't enough. I also prioritize them as much as I can to know what I should focus on. I’m not starting my working day without knowing what my priorities are.

It's especially important in challenging times because our brain is designed to "run away" towards easy tasks and avoid complicated things that require high cognitive ability. 

When it's written what is important, you will have more awareness when you are running away from important things in your project. 

4. Become more adaptive.

I can work in:

• Airplane

• Coffee shop

• In the park

It doesn't matter where…

Of course... Not any task you can do in a noisy environment with an uncomfortable desk and chair. This is why prioritizing is crucial so you can choose from the start what you will do in a not-perfect working environment.

This way, you will still push your project to your goals. Even when everything isn’t perfect around you.

5. Have a short morning routine. 

The morning routine is like a stabilizer of our brain and life. A good morning routine can give you productive momentum for the whole day, week, and month.

Why? It helps to prepare your body and brain for your day. 

My morning routine includes: 

• Short meditation

• Morning supplements & shake

• A short session of exercise

• Cold shower 

• Short walk

• Breakfast

It doesn't matter where I am. How chaotic my life can be. If I'm succeeding in doing this routine (that takes 1 hour). I can come back to a normal, productive state and keep working. 

There is a reason why soldiers first make their beds…

6. Take care of your sleep.

If I'm sleeping less than 7 hours per night. I can forget about a productive day. I will not have the energy and creativity for my craft at all. 

I've been an Oura ring member for the last 3 years. Their tracking technology helps me be more aware of what happens during my sleep and keeps me active and engaged during the day.

I recommend having some technological help to keep your sleep on track. 

7. Work with people. 

Working alone without any communication is hard. When you work in a team or at least you have freelancers waiting for your response - it can keep you in productive shape. 

It keeps the flow of work in your life. Having a simple catch-up Zoom meeting during chaotic times can bring back your energy towards your goals. 

8. Create "automatic events" in your project.

Things are supposed to happen in your project also without you.

• Automatic emails to your subscribers.

• Daily advertising of your offers. 

• Engagement with your free content.

• Communication with support team.

People should interact with your project every day. 

This way, it will create a movement even when you are not in your best shape.

Any interaction is great.

• Newsletter replies.

• Questions that you should answer.

• And of course… Sales.

Money is the blood of your project. Communication with your audience through emails, posts, and answers to questions - it’s the air. 

In hard times, it's essential to have feedback from the world that your project is still running. These events can create momentum that will help you keep going.

9. Have a bold WHY.

Without a strong internal "why" for your actions. Everything above is insignificant. 

It doesn't matter how many tasks you will write in your to-do list if you don't care about these tasks from the start. 

Even money can stop being a motivator. 

Think deeper about why you are doing your project at all. Because knowing it. Will give you the light in your darkest days.

Take care,

Alex