Train Your Brain - Avoid Burnout and Get More Done
When my puppy was only a few months old, I tried to use his meals for obedience training. I thought I was a genius. I didn’t have to spend extra on treats or worry about him eating unhealthily.
However, after only a week of this constant pressure at meal times, he got frustrated. He stopped taking the food from my hand or completing any of my tasks I’d ask of him. I’d completely burnt out my poor dog.
Nowadays, I keep my training sessions with my pup short, sweet, and consistent. The latest trick he learned was shake. Every day we practiced five repetitions of shake. By the fourth day, he was offering his paw by verbal cue alone.
I realized that even though I hadn’t spent much total time teaching him to shake, he had learned it much faster than with my initial strategy. Because I had dedicated short bursts of time each day, I was already seeing results.
These same principles apply just as well to our writing goals and daily lives. So often I’ll want to see results or have a project completed all in one day. However, this is not a sustainable way to work. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day either.
An all or nothing mindset can lead to perfectionism, fear, and ultimately procrastination. But with less effort and deliberate planning, you can train your brain to be more productive.
1. Break Projects into Smaller Steps
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you have a large task ahead of you. To ease the stress (often a cause of procrastination and burnout) turn your big projects into a series of smaller projects. Breaking bigger goals and projects into smaller clearly defined tasks makes it easier to stay focused and accomplish more. You also receive the satisfaction of accomplishment all along the way.
Each mini project should build on each other and eventually lead to completing the larger project at hand. Stay on target by taking stock of your overall progress at the end of each week.
2. Use a Timer
Sometimes when I sit down to work on a project, that idea can be nebulous and overwhelming. It could mean I’ll be working on it for the next five minutes or the next five hours. This sends my brain into panic mode, fearing I might be stuck at my computer for hours with no escape in sight.
To offset this panic, I like to use the Pomodoro method as a framework. I alternate 30 minutes of dedicated work with 5-10 minute breaks. The short time span forces me to focus and use my time wisely. And my brain feels at ease knowing that once the timer goes off, I'll have time to stretch, grab a snack, and play with my dog. This allows me to relax and focus on my writing.
Set time blocks that you can show up for every day. It’s not useful to set aside four hours if you lose concentration after one. Increase or decrease your time as you learn what your focus limits are. Be honest with yourself and make the best use of your time.
3. Consistently Show Up
Schedules and routines are so important. They reduce stress on your brain that can lead to decision fatigue. When you’re not wasting time and energy sweating the small stuff, you’re more productive and able to focus on what really matters.
So, crack open your calendar and block out time to focus on your writing. Many people swear on early mornings, but if that doesn't fit into your life or schedule, don’t. If you can’t easily make time for it everyday, it’s less likely to get done at all.
Once you’ve scheduled in time for writing, treat that time like a business meeting or a client. Especially if it is for a business or a client. Show up for yourself to write everyday, because consistency is key.
Whether you’re working on a large project or just trying to get into the habit of writing daily, working on achievable goals consistently goes a long way. By taking the time to show up for yourself and your goals daily, you’ll find that you’re able to achieve more without getting burnt out.