We are in unprecedented times. My creative community, the Rising Tide Society and my project management platform Honeybook asked if I could share how I am making it through as a self-employed creative in this time of uncertainty. Is it possible to turn panic into times of productivity? Yes, sis!

 

 

Here is some encouragement and life hacks to do yo thang during COVID-19:

1. It’s okay to not be okay

First, I just want to affirm you and let you know that you are seen if you do feel like you’re in a state of panic. Let me remind you: it’s okay to not be okay. These are unprecedented times so if you feel like your body is in this fight-or-flight mode or in a time of anxiety or you don’t know why you feel this way… just know that your body is wired biologically to try to survive so where there is a threat, your body might be either showing up or just reacting in different ways that look like panic. Know that you are seen, know that you are normal, thank your body and your mind for reacting this way. It’s okay to not be okay.

2. What gives you life? Work from overflow not obligation

I want you to ask yourself what will make me feel good? What gives me life? Because it’s those things that will help us in this time. For me, I am basically a plant and/or a toddler: you just need to give me sun, water, and also to feed me most of the time I’m just cranky because I’m hangry or need a nap. Usually, it’s those things that really fill me up so ask yourselves, “What will make me feel good right now?” Make that a priority to do. Truly, (unless you’re in the medical field or public service #blessyou) a lot of our creative businesses aren’t life-or-death right now. So I want you to go outside on your social-distance walk (wear a mask yo!), or have a dance party (music is a psychologically-proven mood booster!). I have dance parties on Instagram all the time so if that’ll make you feel good, do that. Why? Because I want you to work from overflow and not obligation.

We are doing so much right now caring for the vulnerable, caring for ourselves, for our family, that often times we will be like a vase that is poured out but then eventually, it’s going to be empty. Friends, I want you to be an upright vase, to have so much water and goodness flowing in, that it just like spills out. Do those things that fill you up first and then we can get into the productive work of working on our businesses. Make yourself a cup of tea. Take a nap. Fill yourself up first them move on to step 3. 

3. Abundance Mindset + Practical Tips

I want us to realize that it is a huge privilege that we get to be productive at these times truly not a lot of people have jobs where they can work from home (#econmoicdesparity). Not a lot of people have these kinds of remote businesses so know that we get to do this. Another thing is to work from a mindset of abundance. For me I have to remind myself when I start work that there is enough, I have enough, and I am enough. It’s this kind of gratitude that will overflow into goodness as we run our businesses. 

With that crunchy disclaimer here are my 3 productivity hacks:

Passion Planner

One of the things that has helped me hone in on my business and personal goals is the Passion Planner. It walks you through an exercise to brain dump all the things that you want to get accomplished whether it’s in your lifetime or within the next three years or in one year or in the next three months. So you kind of just set a timer for two minutes and spit all of that out and then you pull out and circle one from each category and then you take that one thing and you break it down into months and into weeks and days and even 30-minute segments. You don’t need the physical journal (but here is 10% off if you do!), but this women-run, California-based company is very generous and has given their PDFs online for free: passionplanner.com/free-downloads 

Phone a friend

Earlier this week my friend and I had a co-working date over FaceTime. We had it on our work calendar as a one-hour meeting. In the beginning, we say, “hey in this next hour I’m going to do ___________”, putting a really specific, achievable task in the blank. And then we just put ourselves on mute and it was like having a co-worker who shared an office. We glanced over every now and then (showering friends with compliments/encouragements is always welcome). It’s having that accountability partner almost sitting next to you will help you stay focused so you’re not procrasti-cleaning or procrasti-baking or procrasti-ukuleleing.  

Put Pretty

It is a true gift that if we want to be in athleisure or pajamas for the work day, we can do that. I really encourage you to mix it up a little bit. I’ve been reading a biography on Fred Rogers (of Mister Roger’s Neighborhood) and it touches a lot on early childhood psychology and development. They highlight in the book that transitions are so important. It was intentional when Mr. Roger’s did his signature of changing from his suit into his sweater and from his dress shoes into his kicks. It helped show the kiddo viewers he was ready to relax and be a friendly neighbor. Let’s use that psychology to turn it up! Get dressed for work, shower, do your hair just so you feel like you’re getting ready. Others under shelter in place orders will go outside and walk up and down the street and walk back into the house as a reset that he has walked into work. 

Also, mix it up with your home office. My cousin and I took the best room in the apartment and broke it down from being a bedroom into an office to give us extra space and extra good light. Maybe you’re working from the living room one day and maybe you’re working from the kitchen another day. Perhaps you mix it up by putting fresh flowers on your table. Putting pretty on mentally and environmentally can inspire you to create this goodness that your business and that the world needs.

BONUS: turn productive energy into good 

If you have all this energy stored, turn your panic into productivity that will help the planet. If you still have an urge to do something, use your creative minds to figure out how you can give back to this world. In this time of need whether it’s donating to your favorite cause, encouraging a friend who’s in the medical field, rallying your neighbors to do a grocery pick up or food share for those who can’t get out. If you’re in the Bay Area, my friend Jessica Blackshaw who heads up YCore, an organization that connects professional with projects at non-profits, put together a spreadsheet of how you can give back to non-profits in the Bay area at this time. See how you can contribute here.

Do something.
You are gifted.
You are seen.
And the world needs what you got.

 

---

Want more productivity hacks?  See Praise’s blog of her workflow of editing here. You can also peep the ComePlum Shop for PDFs and presets to make your digital life dynamite.