How To Be Productive When You Are Overwhelmed

Yes, having two jobs is kind of rough. But at the end of the day, I have to hold myself accountable for the work I need to get done. This can certainly be an overwhelming task, which is why I’ve needed to come up with ways to be productive in stressful environments.

My mind is usually in two million places from the time I wake up till the time I go to bed. It could be about whatever: work, the blog, events, plans, anything! I start my morning off by making sure my blog post is up and running for the day. I make sure all of my scheduled social posts look good. Then I need to begin getting ready for work. Once I get my extra large iced coffee, I head into the office around 9 (eeerrrr, 9:20ish). I obviously check my work emails to see what our overseas offices have sent overnight. I check my calendar to see what meetings I have. And then I probably check social media to make sure everything looks good on the blog front – and respond to any messages. By the time I get home, I feel tired and don’t want to get back on the computer to get my post ready for the next day. But of course, I do. That’s because I love doing it, but sometimes other factors get in the way.

Yes, having two jobs can certainly be overwhelming and stressful. I try not to look at it that way because I chose to do both of these things for a living. Sometimes situations do come up that cause me to feel stressed out. Whether it’s my day job, the blog, or both, I needed to teach myself how to be productive in a stressful environment. I’m always looking for new ways to do this, and I wanted to share a few of my favorite ways to decompress, yet still be productive in a stressful work environment.

Do something mindless

When I’m stressed, it usually means I have a lot to get done and can’t focus on one thing. Although it seems to be counter-productive, I usually take a step back from a task and do something mindless. Whether it’s cleaning up my work space or scrolling through social media to give some love…just do something different.  Sometimes I’ll just get up from my desk and take a walk to get water or say hello to a coworker. This allows me to clear my head for just a few minutes before going back to my important tasks. This may seem super menial, but it always works for me.

Light a candle

I’ve only become a candle person recently. A few people gave me candles for Christmas (coincidentally) and I became hooked. I never bought candles because I didn’t think they were necessary. Until now. I absolutely love lighting a candle when I’m home from work. I could be cleaning up or just relaxing and watching TV, and a candle just adds to my relaxation time. There are obviously SO many candle scents out there, but I really love the ones that just give off a calming vibe. Capri Blue candles are a new favorite of mine. First, I want to mention the packaging. It is so beautiful and just so pleasing to the eye. There are a lot of different options as far as shapes, sizes and holders (tins, jars, etc.). There’s something to fit every person’s aesthetic.

The Capri Blue Watercolor Blue Jean candle is seriously UNREAL. It’s a super crisp and clean scent, which leaves me feeling refreshed and calm. The jar that it comes in is so pretty so you really can’t go wrong with a Capri Blue candle.

Throw on a podcast or your favorite song

I’m going to do a separate post on this, but podcasts are the new vlogs. I love throwing on a podcast when I’m commuting to work, sitting at my computer, or trying to fall asleep. I listen to a variety of podcasts – blogging-specific, funny, Bachelor Nation contestants, crime…you name it, I probably listened to it. If podcasts aren’t your thing, put on a kick ass playlist that will get you motivated to get some work done. Also, I find that putting my headphones on makes me feel less stressed. I feel like I’m invisible when they’re on…and usually people don’t bother me. Just another plus;)

Add a diffuser to your work space

When I opened my package fromCapri Blue, I was so excited to see there was a diffuser in there. For some reason, I had always wanted a diffuser but never went out to buy one. This one fromCapri Blue makes my home office smell amazing and SO calming. I almost feel like I’m working better now that it’s been in here for a few weeks. I’ve also read that there are a lot of other benefits from using diffusers — sleep and breathe better, remain healthy, feel more calm — and it seems to be a nice alternative to lighting a candle…especially when you want a scent to go to bed with.

At the end of the day, do a little self-pampering

After a long and stressful day, I think it’s important to really take a step back from the stressful environment and variables to just take care of yourself. Whether it’s a bubble bath, a glass of red wine, or a simple hand massage usingCapri Blue‘s hand cream (or all three), the little things can help you easily calm down after a long, but productive day. Before I get into bed, I use Capri Blue’s hand cream so I can fall asleep to a lush, fruity scent.

What are some of your favorite ways to decompress to make your working environments less stressful? I’d love to know!

Created in partnership with Capri Blue.