How to Stay Productive During Any Crisis
How to Stay Productive During Any Crisis
We all face problems in our lives. But a crisis is even more difficult to deal with. A crisis is almost always unexpected and unprecedented. And when the crisis is worldwide, it affects more than just ourselves — and trying to stay productive during any crisis seems impossible.
A crisis can make you feel as if everything is out of your control. But that’s not true. No matter what the outside world looks like, there will always be one thing you can control: your dedication to becoming the best possible version of yourself. You’re in control of working hard and focusing on your goals, whether those goals have to do with your business, your personal life, or your mindset.
A crisis situation is a time to adapt, not pause. Use these tips will help you stay productive during any crisis.
1) Don’t Worry About What You Can’t Change
The first step in a challenging situation is to discern what you can and can’t change. If the situation you’re facing is a problem, you’ll be able to find a solution. You can brainstorm, look at alternatives, and then make a decision about what to do.
If the situation is a fact, however, it’s something you can’t change. Many people are upset because they can’t change previous events. But those events are facts. Don’t get upset about facts — that’s just a waste of your energy.
Instead of getting upset for no reason, simply decide to accept the facts you can’t change. If something didn’t work out, choose to learn from it and move on.
Cultivating the ability to respond effectively in less-than-ideal situations will make you a better person.
2) Dare to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
The greatest enemy of success is your comfort zone. According to a study conducted by Harvard University in 2013, 80% of companies use a business model that’s either completely or partially obsolete. They go out of their way to keep doing things the same way! This approach doesn’t make much sense — your comfort zone is not the place where you’ll find success.
Don’t approach this crisis the same way you normally approach difficulties. Instead, be prepared to come at the situation from a different angle. Consider all the possibilities, including the possibility that you might be wrong.
Your ability to get out of your comfort zone and expand your thinking is hugely important. In fact, this single skill has the potential to change your life.
3) Don’t Let Your Emotions Control Your Behavior
Stay calm and clear as you focus on the future. My book Crunch Point explains the #1 rule in a crisis — staying calm. That probably sounds easier said than done. But luckily, there’s a simple way you can remain calm in any crisis: by asking questions.
Look into the crisis and ask yourself the following questions:
- What happened / what is happening?
- How did it happen?
- When did it happen?
- Where did it happen?
- Who was involved?
- What can I learn from this?
- What can I do about it?
These questions keep you calm, helping your thoughts be clear and rational. And after you think through them, you’ll probably discover that you’re suddenly full of solutions.
4) Look For The Good in Any Situation
Crises, setbacks, and problems are discouraging. But don’t get weighed down by negativity — instead, take your cue from W. Clement Stone and look for the good.
W. Clement Stone was a businessman who lived from 1902 to 2002 and founded Combined Insurance Co. In what seemed like a bizarre move, he trained his employees to say “That’s good” whenever they saw a problem. Then, the employees were supposed to find something specific about the situation that was good.
The strange idea caught on and spread. The result? Stone’s company grew. It became hugely successful. And Stone himself, who had started out as a six-year-old orphan selling newspapers on the street corner, became almost a billionaire.
You can apply this same tactic to your situation to help you succeed. Take a step back, look at the problem and ask yourself, where is the good? Find the good and you’re conquering your problems and getting closer to your goal, one crisis at a time.
5) Continue to Act
Don’t sit and think all day. Don’t watch TV. Don’t procrastinate. This is not the time to do nothing. This is the time to keep moving forward toward your goals.
Discussion is good; planning is good. But don’t get stuck there — be decisive and take action now! Figure out your goals and then ask yourself what actions you can take immediately to help you achieve your most important goals.
Now is the time to take action. Remember, task completion is the key to success. Continue completing tasks and you’ll continue moving forward and upward toward your goals.
Stay Productive in Any Crisis
A crisis is a challenging and unpredictable time. But with these strategies, you can stay productive no matter what’s thrown your way. Choose one of these ideas to implement right now and start moving toward your goals today.
