How not to blame yourself when you're unproductive

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Feelings of guilt only interfere with life and create unnecessary stress. Here's how to get rid of it.

You've probably heard tons of tips on how to become healthier, more productive, and motivated. It is imperative to drink 2 liters of water a day, eat vegetables and fruits, read classics and non-fiction, get up at four in the morning, meditate and train at least three times a week.

But few people manage to follow all this. Life is too unpredictable to stick to a perfect daily routine. And when we go to bed late over and over again, procrastinate, or skip workouts, we blame ourselves for not being productive.

If we know how to behave correctly so that the days are as effective as possible, but do not follow this knowledge, it seems to us that we are losing something: time, money, opportunities. This is a natural feeling, but harmful: it creates tension that worsens our condition and prevents us from getting better.

Fortunately, there is a way to get rid of guilt. To do this, you need to complete only three steps.

1. Realize that no one is perfect

We are all different, but no one behaves flawlessly every second. Even the most productive and successful people in the world often allow themselves to skip a trip to the gym, lie in bed until lunch, or watch an entire sitcom season in one gulp.

Moreover, if you collect all the productivity tips in the world, it becomes clear that following them is unrealistic. Many of them contradict each other, and there is not enough time in a day for all the actions that they propose to perform. Therefore, they need to be filtered: select only those that seem appropriate and important.

2. Accept that you don't have to be perfect

To be perfect is not only impossible, but also unnecessary. The advice you come across on social media or on a blog is not so much a guide to action as a push in the right direction. It doesn't have to be followed exactly.

For example, if you find out that you need to train three times a week, but you only have time for one lesson, that's okay. Maybe later you can increase the number of trips to the gym, but even in the current situation, you will become healthier and stronger every week.

3. Concentrate on the present

One of the main sources of guilt is the chasm between who we are and who we want to be. We think about the lifestyle we are striving for and understand that it will take a huge amount of effort and time to get closer to it. It's scary and demotivating.

And that's not the best way to look at things. Of course, it would be great if we were flawless creatures, wise, patient, with a reserve of strength and time. But in reality, this is not the case.

We are just human beings, each with our own strengths and weaknesses.

Instead of asking the question, "How can I become the perfect version of myself?" Think, "What can I do to improve my results in this area?" The important thing is that you are trying to get better right now. And not that you have not yet achieved some goal that you have invented for yourself.

Here are some rules to follow to avoid starting to blame yourself again:

• Pick a few of the most important goals (or even one) and accept the idea that it's okay to miss things.
• Stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone has their own unique path, abilities and conditions. It only matters how much better you get.
• Divide tips into necessary and those that would be a plus. Concentrate on following only the first, and follow the rest whenever possible.
• Understand that guilt is unnecessary. It can be motivating, but side effects like mental stress aren't worth it. Better to look elsewhere for motivation.