March Blog 2020: Uncertain Times call for Productive Measures

​We are deep within uncertain times to say the least. Like me, you may feel unsettled, anxious, constantly on the watch for the next development. You might be in self-isolation or locked down, you’re likely out of routine, possibly jobless, or even ill. How do we cope with this reshaping of our lives, and how can we make the most of it? I’ve got a few ideas for you, especially those toying with the idea of starting writing careers.

How are you feeling? Jacinda's got my back!

​I’ll be blunt: I’m a bit of a hyper-aware mess. It’s clear, if you’ve got a keen eye: I bite my nails when stressed, my face is a blotchy mess, and I can’t stick to one task for longer than twenty minutes, and that’s at a stretch! Plus, at the time of publishing I've just been diagnosed with Shingles, so I wasn't as 'on top of things' as I thought.
​I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Just last week our Prime Minister took the unprecedented step of addressing the nation on TV. Sure, we see Jacinda Ardern quite a lot at the moment, giving press conferences almost daily, travelling from place to place to check on progress and what our country needs to be prepared for this Covid19 monster, but a direct address is rare. The last I remember happened after the March 15th Christchurch Mosque Attacks almost this time last year. She looked us straight down the camera and assured us she’s looking out for our wellbeing. Unlike some other political leaders across the world, I believe her. She’s not in this for her own gain, political or otherwise. She spends a lot of time away from her fiancé and her own bubba on the quest to slow this pandemic down and soften the blow on our small country, and we know: Jacinda’s got this.
(Side note, I feel like our Prime Minister is part of our extended family, hence the first name basis. Our previous heads have had nicknames in our house – John Key = Jonkey, Bill English = Binglish. Jacinda is Jacinda because she’s guided us through some of our toughest, most personally challenging and desperate times. She’s not afraid to put herself out there. She’s visible, she’s kind, she’s relatable, and at times, hilarious *queue the East Coast Wave!).
So if Jacinda’s got us as a whole, how can I make better use of the time I’m left with? Not by obsessively checking news headlines, that’s for sure. And what about all those people that are now jobless, in isolation, or otherwise at a loss for what to do?
First of all, back up, and take a good deep breath of some clean, clear air. Take another for good measure. Now, read on…

"Having something productive to work on takes my mind off 'real world' stresses and recharges my batteries." - Emily Larkins.

So how do we bust those worries for a bit?

Some of you out there will have been toying with writing, or the idea of writing. It doesn’t matter if you’re serious about a career at it, or just enjoy it, this applies to anyone. You might enjoy poetry, writing short stories, non-fiction, fiction, journaling, screen-writing, anything! You might have written before, or this might be a fresh start for you. It doesn’t matter. This post is about the intent, and that might relate to something other than writing too. My key point here is stepping away from mass panic buying and toward something, anything productive that settles your mind. Cue quote from Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Take hold of your future and make it work for you!
So…
What can you do to switch from Covid19 jitters to a productive mind set? (The highlighted sections in this post include links to some of my blog posts and resources that you might find helpful!):

1. Firstly, decide what you want to do. If you’re unsure, grab a sheet of paper (or similar) and throw ideas down onto it. Mine would look something like: writing (new to writing? Start here!), drawing, painting, crochet, sewing (I’ve got a great idea for Easter Bunnies for my nieces and nephews!), reading (try these!), veggie garden…
2. Next, grab a highlighter, or put rings around the ideas that excite you. The Easter bunnies would be my first choice. If you’re looking at something that could provide income, give those an extra ring.
3. Now you’re going to set a goal and make a plan. It doesn’t need to be complicated or even tidy, the point is to set down your intent. You might require materials, you might need to write out a procedure or even create a business plan. You might want to dedicate a block of time per day to your project, or even keep regular work hours. When this is done, put it somewhere visible to remind yourself of your intent.
4. Create a workspace. Dedicate an area to your project so you can come and go from it as you like. You may be lucky and already have office space, you may be able to carve out a corner of the dining room, living room, or your bedroom. I find it best if I don’t have to unpack and pack up every time I want to work – that puts me off and I don’t end up doing any!
5. Now, some sage advice: don’t overdo it! That’s a sure way to get sick of something really quick. Set your time, and stick to it. I give myself a minimum and a maximum and aim for somewhere in between. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet your minimum one day, balance it out the next, likewise if you go over another day because you had to complete a step. Be productive, but not obsessed or unhealthy about it. Good old moderation will see you through.

Some extra tips: timetables, calendars, allocating blocks of time (click here to see tips I use) ​to certain tasks, monitoring progress, sharing with others – any or all of these things could be useful to you. I’ll suggest journaling as a healthy way to monitor how you’re feeling. I’ve got a Quick Tip blog post on Journaling that might help – it’s quick and easy and only takes around ten minutes a week to work through.
And remember to breathe!

​So, it’s time to get your project on! It’ll keep you in a routine, keep your mind occupied on something meaningful, and potentially create some income. Now grab that paper, and let me know how you’re going in the comments. If you need a hand or advice, feel free to drop me a comment in the box or hunt me down on social media. Here are my links.
 
Until we catch up next time,
Emily.

P.S. Get in touch through the comments section if you'd like more tipes or ideas, or if you have some to share with others. Together, we'll get through this!