5 Ways to Produce at Peak Levels When You Don’t Feel Your Best

It’s easy to rack up success after success when you’re on a roll and everything seems to be going your way, and you’re just bursting with energy.

But what happens when the flu grips us, or we’re victimized by our allergies, sneezing up to twelve times in a row?

How can we perform at peak levels, then?

It’s not easy, but judging from my productivity over the last couple of days as I battled acute seasonal allergies, I have these five insights to share that just might help you, too.

(1) Try to forget about how you used to feel. Nostalgia for our top physical form will only worsen your misery. You need to convince yourself that you still have the capacity to accomplish at least some of your tasks and goals. In other words, try not to focus on what you cannot do. Instead, accentuate what you can do.

(2) Tell yourself, “I will feel better again, and sooner than I expect!” This becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy, and we abbreviate our distress.

(3) Focus on only one thing at a time. Being under the weather or sidelined with an injury can make zillions of tasks swirl in your mind simultaneously, and you can feel overwhelmed. If you can’t complete a given task, don’t worry. You’ll feel better getting something done toward its completion, and that will raise your spirits.

(4) Take frequent breaks and nap when you can. (Not recommended for air traffic controllers!) If you work at home, take advantage of this and change scenery by using different rooms over the course of your day. Even short naps and rests can revive you, at least a little.

(5) Use the entire clock. If your medications are keeping you awake, as mine frequently do, instead of tossing and turning in bed, get up and get some work done. Accomplishing something will feel good, and you’ll tire yourself through a natural process, and be more likely to get to sleep and stay asleep.

What’s so good about feeling so bad?

That’s easy: It’s performing well, come what may!