So, I am excited to announce that I am seven months pregnant! It’s been an incredible journey thus far, and has shown me a lot about healthy living, purposeful growth, and creative productivity.
Sadly, this blog has dropped off of my weekly to-do list since becoming pregnant. It’s something I miss terribly, but is also something I have had to re-prioritize given all of the baby to-do’s (and the changes in my level of energy these last six months)!
All that to say, I have a new perspective on productivity that I think can apply to you even if you aren’t pregnant. If you’ve had a recent change in your priorities for any reason – new job, different health situation, a new chapter in your life – I hope these ten strategies are helpful to you!
Here are ten strategies that show you to be productive when entering a new chapter in your life:
1. Reset expectations. When presented with any life-altering change, reassess expectations for yourself. Early in pregnancy, I expected to maintain my level of current productivity AND add on all of the things that come with preparing for a new baby. Not only was this unrealistic, but it made me even less productive! Trying to do too much made me too exhausted to get the essential, high-priory things done. Setting different, realistic expectations is key to productivity as you enter a new chapter of your life.
2. Make a new priority list. Steven Covey, in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, talks about how best to prioritize. He says: think of all of you to-do items as rocks that you are trying to fit in a jar. The rocks are different shapes and sizes, depending on priority. The highest priority items are the biggest rocks. In order to fit as much in the jar as possible, Covey recommends that you fit the big rocks into your jar first to make sure they get done. The little rocks then can nestle within the big rocks. Similarly, it’s important to assess your priorities and make sure that those high priority items are met first before anything else.
3. Forgive yourself. You may not get it right the first, second or even third time! That’s ok. When you are entering a new chapter, it’s important to be gentle with yourself. Forgive yourself for not being as productive as you like. The transition to a new chapter is as task in and of itself.
4. Be ok with rest. Rest and relaxation, especially as you enter into a new life chapter, is incredibly important. I have found, especially in this third trimester, that when I rest, I am happier, healthier, and – yes – get more things done! If you don’t stop to rest and recharge, you can easily get burnt out… not the best way to begin a new chapter.
5. Eat healthfully and exercise. Transitioning into a new chapter in life can add extra stress on your body. One of the best ways to deal with stress? Create an environment where your body can thrive. If you exercise and fill your body with nutritious foods, you will be more prepared physically to take on the next step. Not sure where to start? Check out my blog on my food philosophy.
6. Make a checklist. This seems incredibly simple, but I have to say that creating a checklist has given me more opportunities to be productive. Why? Because I can SEE what I have to do, I can then plan how best to do it. Atul Gawande in his book Complications introduces the simplicity and effectiveness of checklists – even for physicians! He expounds on that idea in his book the Checklist Manifesto.
7. Find support. Enjoying a supportive community around you to celebrate with you AND help take on the burden of a new chapter is key. Knowing that you aren’t making the change alone can not only mitigate stress, but it can also add to the joyousness of the time.
8. Eat that frog. Learn the time of day you are most productive and get your toughest stuff done then. A wonderful colleague of mine gave me a book by Brian Tracy: Eat That Frog! . The title is based on a clever quote from Mark Twain: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” In his book, Mr. Tracy advises you tackle your “frogs,” those ugly items that haunt your to-do list, first thing (or when you are going to be most productive).
9. Outsource or delegate when you can. Remember that support system you have? Use it! Accepting help from your supportive community not only helps with your productivity, but it brings you closer to the people in that community.
10. Enjoy the time. It’s a new chapter. Remember to sit back and recognize that this transition is a special and exciting time.
What strategies do you use to be more productive when entering a new chapter in your life?
© 2017 Caitlin W Howe, LLC
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