What do you do when you get stuck in terms of productivity.

I've had this exact problem for a month now. For me it was mostly due to overwhelm, I have really hard decisions to make and I just kept procastinating.

I did a brain dump on Google spreedsheet, that just listed every problem I was thinking about on one column and then a simple action step next to each.

For me this happens a lot at the beginning of a project. It’s even become a sort of ritual. But I tend to take a sheet of paper and mind map everything I think I need to do. Then I draw the connection between all the things and try to place them in a timeline. From there I break the tasks down in to Quarters and then daily post it’s.

For me, it has to be listing everything I need to do. Actually seeing physical evidence of what your tasks are can be a motivation, whether it scares the hell out of you or gets you focused to kick ass.

Another method: STOP! Take 10-15 minutes, change focus by doing 1-3 smaller tasks that are easy. Feel good about the project, task, and your performance by having a number of smaller victories. Re-engage!!

KISS - Keep It Simple Silly - We tend to over complicate. Review, revise tasks and break them down into smaller ones to help you identify where the real problem in your productivity is.

Hope they help!

Starting to read IH posts for new inspirations :)

I may be wrong but from what you've mentioned it sounds like the issue is either with a vision, strategy, or planning.

If that's the case you need to find an instrument that works for you in terms of switching from day-to-day activities to reflecting on higher level stuff.

I'm not entirely sure what you're asking but if I feel like I've been unproductive for a significant amount of time, it's usually a sign that it's time to take a break. Even if there's a lot to do, you won't get it done if you're sitting trying to do the same thing over and over again. Alternatively, which is more likely to be the case for me than taking a break would be to start doing something else and put the first task on hold until I feel like I can come back to it.

I've noticed that a lot of people on our team need to verbally process.

Something like that could be helpful. Find a friend or teammate and just talk out all of the steps. It could jump start your energy levels and get you to better outline your process moving forward.

I find to do lists a little overwhelming. Just start on something and time box it. Afterward, you can lift your head and see what needs to be tackled next.