A few months into the pandemic, several people decided to show off how productive they have been by going to social media and posting weight loss transformations, new hobbies, and recently altered daily routines, all of which related to the dramatic increment of one’s productivity. Even though it seems our social media feeds are now flooded with people who are showing off how they have utilized the pandemic in a positive light, and rightfully so, certainly not everyone has had the same experience. The pandemic has been an incredibly challenging time for everyone, whether you struggled with bad mental health, tight finances, or even other issues, so it is important to recognize every win, big or small, and to see how far you have come as a whole. Not being productive in quarantine or more productive than you were before was valid and will continue to be valid.
Everyone is on different paths to success. These paths are not better or worse than the others, simply different. Who is to say that someone’s struggles are not “valid enough” for them not to be as productive as their peers. As a society, we must focus on being less judgemental to others and the paths they are on to success, as well as being less judgemental to ourselves and our path to success. Even if you were not your most productive in quarantine, you may be the most productive ever right after.
Like everyone has different paths to success, everyone has faced different challenges during the pandemic, all of which are valid. Struggles can, of course, greatly impact productivity, but we must keep in mind struggles are vital to human understanding and life as a whole. Without them, we would not be able to reflect, learn, and grow as beings. Usually, productivity is attached after a major struggle, but rushing into it when you are not in the right headspace can do more harm than good. A good head space is needed to grow productivity, but forcing it will usually backfire. Listen to your own mind and body because no one knows you better than yourself.
In a time where kindness is in a shortage across the world, start by being kinder to yourself. Numbers do not always equate to productivity. Being productive can also be a comparison between a present you and a past you.