Do you sometimes feel as though you have hit a wall with your work? It is easy to go from being productive to feeling stagnant, especially when projects are not moving towards their end goal fast enough. Also, it’s difficult in uncertain times to stay focused, motivated and productive. If this sounds familiar, don't worry: it happens to everyone!

A quick word on how we’re using "languishing." This is defined as the state of being stagnant, inactive, or dull. It's easy for this to happen if you're not careful! It can especially be hard to get back into your work routine after experiencing a spell of languishing. If you have been languishing for a long period of time, it can seem daunting to think about getting back into your normal groove again. We are here to help you get back into the swing of things.

In 2021, we wrote about languishing being the word of 2021, and how you could manage it. Well, 2022 is shaping up to be fairly similar to 2021, and languishing in our work is not going anywhere. In this blog post we are going to be looking at what you can do to get productive and get over—or at least deal with—languishing.

Become Productive With These 7 Steps, and Get Over the Languishing Feeling

The following tips will help you quickly return to the fast pace and great productivity that you were previously experiencing:

Tip 1: Clarify Why You Got Out of Your Groove in the First Place

What caused the change in your behavior? Sometimes it can be helpful to think about the reasons for your lack of productivity. Maybe you hit a roadblock that put you on an unproductive path, or maybe you didn't know how to get back on track after some time had passed. Whatever the reason may be, knowing why will help you identify what changes need to happen in order to reverse course.

Admit You Got Off Track

It’s easy to blame external sources for our lack of motivation and productivity. This isn’t to say that sometimes external problems don’t cause us to go off track. However, it is necessary to take accountability, because with accountability comes the drive to make positive change.

It is important to keep in mind that nobody is perfect. So, of course, there will be times when you feel burnt out and are languishing at work. While this is fine for a brief moment, it's important not to let things get too carried away, or else all the hard work that was previously accomplished may quickly disappear.

Essentially, you need to see where you are, where you were, and how you can get back on track. But how? Well, setting small goals is a great place to start.

Tip 2: Set Small Goals

Setting a long-term goal is great and all, but if this is a new behavior then don't set yourself up for failure by trying to become productive overnight! Instead, try setting smaller goals each week. For instance, your first week might entail cleaning out your inbox and making sure you have all the needed materials for upcoming projects. The second week might include catching up on emails and sending back overdue responses. The third week could be about advancing all of your previously mentioned projects. If you set small, realistic goals for yourself each week, then by the end of the month you'll have successfully returned to a productive schedule!

Track Your Progress

Part of successfully breaking down tasks into manageable chunks is to track your progress. This can help keep things moving forward even when you find yourself feeling a little tired of the whole process of getting back into shape again.

Taking note of how much time has passed is also important since everyone gets discouraged at some point. Knowing where you started from and how much more needs to be done can help get you out of languishing and back into productivity.

Tip 3: Break Down Tasks Into Manageable Chunks

There's nothing worse than trying to accomplish a huge goal that seems insurmountable at first glance. Simply start with one part and break it down into smaller pieces. Not only will this help you stay focused, but you're also more likely to feel successful when completing these mini-tasks in addition to surpassing your final goal!

Track Your Progress

Part of successfully breaking down tasks into manageable chunks is to track your progress. This can help keep things moving forward even when you find yourself feeling a little tired of the whole process of getting back into shape again.

Taking note of how much time has passed is also important since everyone gets discouraged at some point. Knowing where you started from and how much more needs to be done can help get you out of languishing and back into productivity.

Tip 4: Establish a Routine

Once you know what stimulates your productivity and how much you need to accomplish in a short time period, it will be easy to establish a routine. Of course, there will always be exceptions (like deadlines for specific projects), but in general, your productivity levels will increase when you're working at the same time and in the same environment each day. This can be based on whatever works best for you: early morning or night, light or dark, long uninterrupted blocks of time vs small and frequent breaks.

Tip 5: Find an Accountability Partner

Having someone else who is keeping tabs on your progress might seem like a bad thing initially. After all, if they're going to nag you then won't that just get on your nerves? While this might seem problematic at first glance, it's actually a great way to keep yourself on track.

The trick is that you need to keep this person in the loop and share your goals with them! Then when they ask how your progress is going, instead of telling them that you haven't done anything yet, tell them what good things you've accomplished since last time. This will ensure that you're always moving forward and making positive strides toward completing your tasks, even if the entire path hasn't been completed yet.

Remove Any Distractions That May Inhibit Your Productivity

Turn off any notifications on your computer while you’re working, refrain from browsing social media sites, or anything that might cause you to lose focus should be avoided in order to maintain good performance levels.

Work with an accountability partner to help keep your social media time during work down. By committing to a goal with your accountability partner you are more likely to stay off you’re your personal social media accounts, and so be more productive.

Tip 6: Be Flexible and Adaptable

Establishing a routine makes it easy for everything else to flow naturally. However, there may be times when life gets in the way and interrupts this well-oiled machine.

If such an event occurs where something unexpected pops up or makes you feel unproductive, don't let this get you down. Instead, think of it as a chance to try something new, or, as an opportunity to overcome your obstacles in a different way.

Tip 7: Give Yourself Enough Time

This is perhaps one of the most important tips when it comes to re-establishing your productivity levels. Always plan ahead and leave extra room in your schedule for problems that come up or situations that are outside of your control. By constantly starting projects early and giving yourself plenty of wiggle room, then even if everything else goes wrong you still have time to fix things!

Bonus Tip 8: Recognize Your Accomplishments Along the Way

There will be times when you feel like giving up, but don't let this stop you! Keep trying and soon enough you'll see yourself achieving more than ever before. Pat yourself on the back for all of your hard work!