How To Stay Productive Under Extreme Stress

Tips for creative entrepreneurs operating in the Arab Region

By: Jana Al Obeidyine, a dancer, writer and independent publisher based in Beirut- Lebanon.

Independent creative entrepreneurs deal with divergent work components on daily basis. Their main job often consists of creative activity. But they also need to set and monitor their business plan and strategy. That is in addition to managerial, logistic, and secretarial tasks. These components are radically different and require several individuals with a specific set of skills to perform them. But since creative entrepreneurs, especially in the early years, often operate on small budgets, they find themselves obligated to perform these contradictory tasks. Switching between creative and practical mindsets can be a source of stress and anxiety for creative entrepreneurs. Of course, this applies to entrepreneurs everywhere, whether they reside in Europe, India, Africa, the Americas, or the Middle East.

Creative entrepreneurs residing in Lebanon at the moment are subject to a long list of additional stressors. Imagine operating any business with very limited to nil access to electricity and an Internet connection that breaks every ten minutes. Imagine also that you live in a country where medicine, fuel, and even bread suddenly became rare commodities. And let’s not forget that the country’s economy is undergoing a hyperinflation phase, and the banks have denied people access to their life savings. For many creative entrepreneurs residing in Lebanon, talking about their achievements this summer felt awkward. This does not mean that they haven’t overcome the hardest of obstacles recently, but the overwhelming defeat of their beloved country weighed heavily on their spirits.

Well, the described situation above is atypical and is unlikely to happen in other countries. But residing in a highly volatile region such as the Middle East, we all know that we are more prone to extreme stress due to conditions beyond our control.

Extreme stress manifests itself differently in each individual. Some of its symptoms include burnout, procrastination, creative blocks, anxiety, lack of energy, motivation, or inspiration. Once some of these symptoms occur, they often induce a haunting sense of guilt for not being as productive as entrepreneurs expect themselves to be. Guilt is an undesirable added stressor.

So what can we do to stay productive when we are under extreme stress?

I have tried several techniques that yielded results these past few months. I will share them with you, hoping that you will find some of them suitable for your particular situation.

Shorten your to-do-list

Shortening your to-do list may sound counterintuitive, but actually, it is a very efficient trick. Shortening your list makes your workload feel more manageable and less stressful on your psyche. This way, no matter how low your energy is, you can still meet your daily goals. This minor adjustment to your routine makes a difference. Instead of ending the day on a guilt note, you conclude it with a sense of achievement, which is an energy booster. This technique is part of a well-known time management tool called: the Eisenhower Principle. The Eisenhower Principle asks us to sort, prioritize, and focus on three genuinely important tasks that are not necessarily urgent. This way, instead of spreading the little energy we have over a long list, we make sure we have employed it on the most rewarding tasks.

Implement the Two-Minute Rule

The Two-Minute Rule is a tool that helps overcome procrastination. It suggests that if you have a task that requires only two minutes or less to be done, you should do it immediately. This tactic puts you instantly in active mode, and brings drive into your following tasks.

Create a Done list

We tend to tick the tasks on our to-do list to mark that we have achieved them. But, at the end of a working day, we often end up with performed tasks that did not initially feature on our original list. Creating a Done list at the end of the day consolidates and brings to our immediate attention every little task we have accomplished. Writing and reading the Done list is a motivation booster.

Play around obstacles 

Entrepreneurs are accustomed to backup plans. Create a backup plan for every foreseeable unfortunate event. If there is a fuel crisis, consider walking or biking. If electricity outage gets unpredictable, find a nearby coffee shop where you can work. If the Internet connection broke at an unpredictable time, use a pen and paper, or take a break and spend some quality time with your family or cook.

Reduce your news intake to a minimum

Yes, being informed is extremely important. And yes, everything is political, and our work is influenced and has an influence on our public life. However, daily exposure to a high amount of negative news drains our energy and brings us anger, sorrow, or grief. Mind your mental health and control your news intake. If you can reduce your exposure to news to once a day, that would be excellent! Favorably, time it in the evening rather than in the morning, since the way you start your day affects your state of mind the entire day.

Schedule a daily five minutes tension-release routine

Meditate, pray, dance, box, fast-walk, run, or cook. Schedule 5 to 10 minutes of daily activity that helps you disconnect from the negative vibes pouring from the outside. It could be a slow or fast-paced activity, depending on your preference. The important thing is to stick to it. You may think that this is a waste of time, but in fact, it is an invaluable energy generator tool. And it unleashes inspiration.

Induce some laughter into your daily life

Unlike frustration, anger, and sorrow, joy is an emotion you can purposely bring into your life. Laughter is a scientifically proven immunity booster! It may sound weird to schedule a laughing session, especially if devastating events are happening around you daily. Yet, it is a free-of-charge medicine, so it is still a good idea to find the time and place to get a good laugh, at least once a week. Stand-up comedies, films, and television series can be the easiest way to introduce laughter into your schedule.

The tips suggested above are a small addition to the larger pool of tools that the Ebtedy website provides to help creative entrepreneurs in the MENA region thrive. If you are looking for tools to help you with time management, problem-solving, or decision-making, you will find valuable resources on this page.

And if you feel that you can use personal training and mentoring, keep an eye on the activities of the Ebtedy platform and its partners. At the time of writing this article, a training program on Business Development for Creative Entrepreneurs in Difficult Times in Arabic language has been offered on its e-learning platform. The online training includes sessions on Strategic Thinking in Times of Crisis, and on Community Building, sessions that provide tools to handle intangible issues such as anger, frustration, and insecurities in the work environment. As we all know, facing challenges together with others and exchanging experiences and solutions can be an impactful and efficient way to overcome obstacles.

Copyright Photos: Jana Al Obeidyine