Are you feeling the pressure to be productive?
I was supposed to launch my new business on April 1st, no foolin’. Let that sink in for a minute. No really, take your time. Take all the time you need. Time is what we seem to have a plethora of these days. So, what did I do about my business start-up? Well, not much to be completely honest. I’m not proud of that. Truthfully, I am a bit ashamed of how I’ve been spending my time especially as a proclaimed organizer and planner. There’s an unspoken expectation to be productive with this enforced isolation, that I SHOULD be optimizing this “free” time. Is anyone else feeling this pressure to be productive, especially as an entrepreneur?
See, I have a wicked case of the “SHOULDS”. I SHOULD be strategizing my social media. I SHOULD be developing amazing content. Most definitely, I SHOULD be taking advantage of a captured online audience. Absolutely, I SHOULD be engaging potential clients with clever promotion. I SHOULD be connecting with identified referral partners. You get the picture.
The “SHOULDS” vs The “SHITS”
The “SHOULDS”, much like the “SHITS”, often feel remarkably similar. Physically, there’s cramping and rocking back and forth. Emotionally, there’s regret, paralysis and fear of going anywhere. The end result of the “SHOULDS” and the “SHITS” is also the same-being sucked into a swirling void. So, as you can clearly see, neither the “SHOULDS” nor the “SHITS” are actually beneficial and both can take a serious physical, emotional and mental toll.
Pandemic impacting your business productivity?
Based on our current environment, I know that I can’t possibly be the only entrepreneur or small business owner out there feeling this way. Shell shocked and flailing around in the mists of these “unprecedented” events. I’m in a better off position than business owners with fully operational businesses. Although I have no significant incoming revenue, I have modest accruing expenses. GSuite and accounting applications ain’t free but it won’t break me at this point. I’m not worried about how I’m going to pay my employees, honour rent or pay suppliers. I’m not scrambling around trying to optimize perishable inventory or, meeting contract obligations during an enforced government shutdown.
How can we reduce anxiety and guilt surrounding the need to be productive?
But, what can we do about it? First of all: wash your hands, avoid touching your face, socially distance at least six feet and designate (if possible) one person to run essential errands such as weekly shopping trips. Most importantly, STAY THE BLAZES HOME! Okay, but seriously, how can we as human beings and business owners proceed after weeks of apathy? After feeling unmotivated and discouraged in our current situation, how can we address perceived pressure to be productive?
Well, I’ll let you in on what’s helping me using a little inspiration from my good friend, Miguel Cervantes (1547-1616):
“He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all.”
I’ll forgive one of the world’s pre-eminent novelists, who is regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language for the use of identifying pronouns in this quote. I believe it applies to everyone in this unique and economically impacted time.
“He who loses wealth loses much…”
Yes, we are going to see businesses close their doors. Others, like mine, may fail to launch or need to consider and implement alternative methods to deliver products and services. Loans will be defaulted and bankruptcies are all but certain. Individuals and families will suffer and struggle through this significant and far-reaching financial downturn. Despair and poverty will touch many of us. This puts all those “SHOULDS” that were outlined earlier into sharp perspective. Being productive isn’t necessarily what I need to focus on right now.
“He who loses a friend loses more…”
Losing a loved one in this world pandemic is a very real threat. A looming possibility. For me, this is a palatable fear as I have a significantly immunocompromised father. He’s currently in remission from two types of cancer and is on home dialysis due to renal failure from cancer treatments. As a special health bonus, he’s asthmatic. A respiratory virus, for him, would not be ideal to say the least. I’m scared, the concern of losing my father, so soon after the death of my mother, definitely outweighs any fear of financial loss.
“But he that loses his courage loses all.”
Okay, so I’m going the unpack the ending of this quote with a quote. I’m just going to go for it and have faith that you’ll follow along with me. It’s actually one of my favourite quotes from The Lotus-Eaters by Lord Alfred Tennyson, “Courage! He said, and pointed toward the land. This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon.” Now, more than ever, I need to embrace that I have little (Read: NO) control over current events. While that doesn’t mean that I’m giving up on my plans for my business, I’m absolutely taking a breath. A pause. Instead of fighting the waves, I plan on floating for a little while. I trust that when I’m ready that I’ll be able to wade to shore instead of being engulfed by the current.
Courage, self-compassion, kindness, gentle acceptance, embracing the stillness, being mindful or WHATEVER you want to call it-this is what I’ll be practising instead of the “SHOULDS”. They really do give you the “SHITS”.
Until the next time we meet, stay home and stay safe.
Yours in All Things Sorted,
Kelly
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the province’s Mental Health Mobile Crisis team, 24/7, toll-free at 1-888-429-8167 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Visit http://www.nshealth.ca/mental-health-addictions
Even if things get heavy..
| Please enjoy a little Modest Mouse-Float On |