Not being as productive as I'd like to be
Hey everyone,
I've been going through a rough patch throughout the past few weeks and it's made it very difficult for me to do productive things, or things that in the long run would be beneficial for me. Like exercising, reading, learning and generally just going outside more often. This is partially because of my sleeping patterns being off from sleeping at 4 am - 5 am and waking up at 3 pm - 4 pm.
Although I've been struggling a lot and giving myself plenty of leeway, I believe that today marks the day where I'm going to sleep early with the help of trusty melatonin and wake up early tomorrow and do productive things.
If I can let bad habits snowball into worse ones, I can let good habits snowball into better ones too!
There's not much to say about this post aside from just me sharing my personal experiences lately, and if anything, I hope anyone reading this feels inspired to seize the days. Has anyone else struggling with maintaining consistency and what were some ways that you kept yourself accountable to a schedule?
Comments
Hey @Sky_Stegosaurus ,
I just want to say that I really admire your mindset and determination to turn things around. It’s so easy to get caught in a cycle of bad habits, especially when life feels rough, but recognizing that and taking a step toward change is huge. You’re absolutely right—if negative habits can snowball, then positive ones can too, and it’s amazing that you’re choosing to start that shift today.
I know how hard it can be to stay consistent, especially when motivation fluctuates. Something that’s helped me is focusing on small wins rather than trying to overhaul everything at once. Even just getting out of bed a little earlier, stepping outside for five minutes, or reading a single page is progress. Keep in mind that consistency doesn't mean doing the same thing every day, it does mean showing up every day because you deserve better. I also try to remind myself that missing a day or slipping up doesn’t erase the progress I’ve made—it’s just a pause, not a failure.
For accountability, I’ve found that tracking my habits in a journal or app helps, and telling a friend about my goals makes me feel more committed. But honestly, the biggest thing is self-compassion—progress isn’t linear, and just the fact that you’re aware and wanting to improve is already something to be proud of.
You’ve got this, and I’m rooting for you! Hope you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start building those good habits. 💙
Hi @Sky_Stegosaurus,
Thank you for sharing your situation with the ReachOut community. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot recently, and I think it’s really great that you're taking the steps to turn things around. This isn't always easy and it takes a lot of courage to begin to shift your habits. 💙
Consistency can definitely be tough. I can relate to you around the sleeping habits as it's something I have struggled with in the past. For me, one thing that’s helped is breaking down tasks into smaller pieces. Around bedtime this can look like washing my face, having a shower, putting on my pyjamas, reading my favourite book, and setting my alarm for the next morning.
I've also found that being more intentional with my time has been helpful. For example, each Sunday evening I plan the week ahead. For example, when I was in university this looked like writing down upcoming assignments, tutorials, and lectures. I also made sure to pencil in acts of self-care, such as watching my favourite tv show at the time, to recharge. 😊
All in all, I think it's important to acknowledge that small steps can lead to big changes. I wish you the best of luck moving forward and please also know that the ReachOut community will always be here to support you.
I am sorry to hear that you have been going through a rough patch. It is great to see that you have recognised this and taken steps to help get out of it now while giving yourself some leeway.
I have also struggled with staying productive and keeping myself accountable but one of the ways I helped myself become consistent was to use my reminders app and set alarms. So I would plan my day out and give myself certain times things jobs errands had to be started by. This helped me build a consistent routine for some of these jobs and keep me accountable. The other thing I did was write out a list of the pure satisfaction I got from ticking or crossing something off as a motivator and then I would think of something to reward myself with, something I wanted to do all day but couldn't.
I hope some of this helps and I believe in you in being productive
Hi @Sky_Stegosaurus 
I like to make lists of all the things I want to accomplish on one given day because then I can cross out/tick off the things I've completed. This is what I use most of the time, I do it in my notes app on my phone and I keep that tab open.
I also used to draw up a schedule on paper/made a table schedule on word (e.g., wake up at 8am, reachout volunteering from 9-10am, shower/break from 10am-12pm, lunch 12pm-2pm, working on stuff that needs to be done from 2pm-5pm, down time from 5pm-9pm, bed time 9-10pm).
Hey everyone, @Scarlet_Locust , @starhlights , @Dandelion_Kangaroo 
I thought I'd respond to this message and subsequently everyone's message!
Thank you so much for the wonderful words, I did not wake up as early as I wanted, but I did wake up at 1 pm instead of 3 to 4 pm, which I am very proud of. As I have been lacking sleep lately and I took my melatonin, I know that melatonin is not a drowsy-inducing chemical but rather a sleep-regulatory medicine. So all of the lack of sleep I've been getting (sleep debt), the melatonin forced my body to make up for it and I'm assuming it'll do so for a few days.
Sorry for all the rambling, but despite me sleeping 12 hours, I did wake up at 2 hours earlier than usual waking up later and I am very proud of that fact. I am reminding myself that change happens in increments and does not spontaneously!
Thank you all for the lovely messages and experiences.
~ Stego
Hey! 1pm is a great improvement from 3-4pm, you should be really happy with that. Sleep schedules are so hard to shift, so you've done really well!
You're right, change sometimes doesn't happen quickly. This is a great reminder, thankyou. Good on you for acknowledging this! 😌
Hey @Sky_Stegosaurus ,
Thanks for opening up to us here. It sounds like you’ve had a pretty rough time lately, and I’m really sorry to hear that.
I know from experience how hard it gets when your sleep pattern goes wonky, and especially how easy it can be for it to get this way, if you’re a night owl like I am. It sucks being tired and sleep deprived so I know that in the past I’ve just rolled with it longer than I’d care to admit sometimes. My tips for fixing your sleep schedule are making sure to get some sunshine (I know you mentioned that you’d like to be outside more anyway, so that lines up perfectly), it’s crazy how much of our sleep/wake cycle naturally operates in response to light and dark visual cues! Try to step outside first thing when you wake up and have a look at the day (obvi not directly at the sun lol).
Please remember to take it easy, and be gentle with yourself. I can hear how tough things have been for you, but also how much you’ve been really trying to take care of yourself too. Sometimes life happens and things get hard, that’s ok.
I love your optimism, you’re absolutely right, you’ve got this, forming good habits isn’t easy, but we can do it. I’ve also been trying to seize the day lol, and so far, so good. I went for a swim at the beach early this morning and got a coffee after, it was wonderful!
Sending good vibes your way, we’re here for you! 💕
Hi @Sky_Stegosaurus 🌻
Thank you for being so open about what you are going through, especially when it comes to trying to stay productive when you are not feeling your best. I can relate, as I have also been struggling with getting back into a routine after some time off. It can be really tough, and while it is not easy, it is always comforting to know that others understand what you are experiencing.
One thing I remind myself when I am in a rough patch is that it is okay to take a break from certain things when my energy or motivation is low. It is not the end of the world, and there will always be another day to pick things back up again. It is okay to give yourself that grace.
I also really love what you mentioned about how bad habits can snowball into worse ones, but the same applies to good habits. By focusing on small positive changes, we can gradually build better habits over time. I think it speaks to your resilience, which is so important during difficult moments. Mindset can truly make a difference, and it is inspiring to see how you are viewing these rough patches as learning opportunities. They are tough but they will pass.
I hope you have some brighter days ahead. Take care of yourself.
Hey @Sky_Stegosaurus 
Wow! I'm really impressed with how you are remaining positive and motivated while you're going through a rough patch. This is such a strength and I think you should be really proud of yourself for that! It's a really useful skill to be able to pull yourself out of negative patterns and get on top of 'snowballing' habits.
I also definitely struggle to maintain consistency sometimes. Life can get so busy, and its easy to fall out of routine when you're tired and lack time and motivation. For me, I try to keep myself accountable by writing lists and checking off things I need to get done or goals I want to achieve. I find this so satisfying and rewarding!
I would love to hear what you end up achieving tomorrow and hope you get a good sleep!
😄
