Stay Productive, Redirect

Stuck on one task? Switch tracks, don’t stop.

Ever find yourself staring at your computer screen, unable to write that important email or code that feature you’ve been working on? Your brain feels foggy, your focus is scattered, and you’re starting to feel frustrated with your lack of progress. We’ve all been there, but here’s a secret: productivity doesn’t have to look the same all the time.

Think of productivity like a river. When a river encounters a boulder, it doesn’t stop flowing – it finds a new path around the obstacle. Our productivity can work the same way. When we can’t seem to make progress in one direction, we can redirect our energy to flow in another direction.

For example, if I’m struggling to write code for a complex feature, instead of forcing myself to keep staring at the screen, I might switch to organizing my desk, answering emails, or taking my dog for a walk. I’m still being productive, just in a different way. Or if I can’t focus on reading, I might switch to stretching while listening to a podcast. Same goal of learning, different approach.

Here’s a simple way to redirect your productivity when you’re stuck:

• Stop and acknowledge that you’re stuck. It’s okay, it happens to everyone. Take a deep breath.
• Look around for other valuable tasks you can do instead. These could be smaller tasks from your to-do list or different aspects of your current project.
• Choose something that uses different mental muscles. If you can’t focus on analytical tasks, try organizational ones. If creative work isn’t flowing, switch to routine tasks.
• Give yourself permission to be productive in this different way. Remember, progress is progress, no matter what form it takes.

It’s like working out at the gym. If your arms are too tired for more pushups, you might work on your legs instead. You’re still working toward your fitness goals, just through a different exercise.

The beauty of this approach is that often, while you’re being productive in a different way, your mind gets the break it needs from the original task. When you return to it later, you might find that the boulder blocking your path has somehow become smaller and more manageable or even disappeared entirely.

Next time you feel stuck and unproductive, remember, don’t try to force your way through the boulder. Be like the river and find another path. Your productivity doesn’t have to stop, it just needs to flow in a new direction.

What different forms of productivity have you discovered when your original plans weren’t working out?