{"id":55365,"date":"2018-02-15T20:23:41","date_gmt":"2018-02-16T04:23:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=55365"},"modified":"2018-02-20T19:37:26","modified_gmt":"2018-02-21T03:37:26","slug":"what-happens-when-productivity-meets-mental-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/what-happens-when-productivity-meets-mental-illness\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens When Productivity Meets Mental Illness?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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More and more people nowadays struggle with poor mental health. This is an unfortunate outcome of the stressful nature of modern life. And what many of us don\u2019t realize is that, when you suffer from disorders of the mind, it might reflect negatively on the quality and quality of your work. But how and why does mental illness affect employee productivity? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n

Motivation and Mental Illness<\/h1>\n

Several studies<\/a> in the past have uncovered that employees who struggle with mental illnesses, and particularly with depression, take more sick days than those who aren\u2019t in this situation. The underlying cause behind this is obvious. When you\u2019re unwell, you feel less motivated to face your daily responsibilities and complete tasks.<\/p>\n

This happens in the case of physical diseases as well, so when the one you\u2019re struggling with affects your mind, the situation is even more serious. All in all, it\u2019s hard to be productive when your psyche isn\u2019t up for it. Needless to say, pressuring yourself into doing things regardless leads to burnouts and even mental breakdowns, so avoid that at all costs.<\/p>\n

How to Improve Your Productivity<\/h1>\n

Instead, try to regain your willingness to do your job organically. Take it slow, one day at a time. This is completely possible when you\u2019re being patient with yourself. Still, you will need a bit of a push in the right direction. Here are five actionable steps that will help you remain productive even when you\u2019re struggling with mental illness.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Choose a Field You Enjoy<\/h2>\n

There is a clear connection<\/a> between the conditions in which an activity is sustained and both absenteeism and presenteeism rates among workers who struggle with poor mental health. How much you like or dislike your job is an important aspect of this. Naturally, you will be far more motivated to show up and perform your tasks if you enjoy doing them in the first place.<\/p>\n

Therefore, choosing a field you are passionate about is crucial. If you\u2019re unsure of how to proceed in this direction, volunteering for a while to try out several occupations is a good idea. Nevertheless, while this can be truly fulfilling in many ways, you need to remember that most of it will be unpaid. So, if you choose to go down this road, keep that in mind.<\/p>\n

But realistically speaking, not everyone can afford not working until they find their true vocation. Thus, feeling financially pressured to keep doing something that doesn\u2019t make you happy turns into an additional stressor which can impact your mental health negatively. When that is the case, the best thing you can do is focus on the advantages of your current profession.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Set Realistic Goals for Yourself<\/h2>\n

A recent study<\/a> has shown that setting goals is effective in the treatment of mental illness. Most of the participants in the study were able to aptly identify what needed to be done and attain that objective. Thus, you shouldn\u2019t be afraid of wanting to accomplish certain things. Your disorder isn\u2019t as limiting as you might make it out to be.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s important to keep these goals realistic. Expecting too much of yourself and not being able to achieve can impact your self-esteem, which is something most patients already struggle with as is. Be honest with yourself. What skills do you possess? How long would it take you to finalize a task using them? Answer these questions truthfully.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Focus on the Tasks at Hand<\/h2>\n

Now that your objectives are clearly outlined, it\u2019s time to get to work on them. To be able to do this, you will need to focus. Nevertheless, people who suffer from disorders of the mind often have trouble with that. Understand that you might not always be able to concentrate and avoid pressuring yourself into it. Instead, let your motivation flow naturally into the situation.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Declutter Your Workspace<\/h2>\n

Clutter is one of the main distractors all of us are faced with daily. And when your mental illness is already making it hard to concentrate on something, it can be even more aggravating. This is why staying<\/a><\/p>\n

organized<\/a> is essential if you want to pay better attention to what you\u2019re doing. Cleaning out your desk is a simple initial step you can take in this direction.<\/p>\n

But even if your space is neat and tidy, the office as a whole might still be a mess. If you\u2019re finding that improper desk and supply arrangements are damaging your ability to do your job, you will need to take it up with your employer. Provided they are a sensible, understanding person, and you explain the situation candidly to them, some changes might get made.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Don\u2019t Let Failure Bring You Down<\/h2>\n

Given your current situation, it\u2019s important to know that failure is an option. If and when it does happen, try not to let it bring you down. Even the most successful people today have their own stories of decline. So, instead of allowing it to lower self-esteem and destroy your confidence, use it as an opportunity to learn an important lesson about growth.<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/h1>\n

Staying motivated and productive while you battle anxiety, depression, or even schizophrenia is an achievable prospect. If you take it one day at a time and are realistic about your professional expectations, you are bound to achieve success sooner or later. The essential thing is to never stop trying your best.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alex Moore is a psychology blogger entranced by the word \u201cproductive\u201d. When he\u2019s not nagging those around him with stories of positivity, you\u2019ll usually find him writing for <\/em>www.schizlife.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More and more people nowadays struggle with poor mental health. This is an unfortunate outcome of the stressful nature of modern life. And what many of us don\u2019t realize is that, when you suffer from disorders of the mind, it … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12936,"featured_media":55457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[33,9,6],"tags":[4401,4642,2113,4631,66,4634,6460,4629],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Happens When Productivity Meets Mental Illness?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"More and more people nowadays struggle with poor mental health. This is an unfortunate outcome of the stressful nature of modern life. 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