Some good news, as we continue to shelter, is that remote workers have proved to be more productive. A USA Today article published on May 4 cited time saved commuting, fewer distractions from co-workers and fewer meetings as reasons working from home has had a positive effect on productivity during the pandemic. New research cited in Inc. magazine shows taking breaks is the No. 1 most effective way to stay that way.

Leaders, this applies to you too.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, you’ve been asked to be hyper-responsive and over-communicate with your teams. At the start of sheltering, that approach was appropriate — even necessary. But after weeks of hyper-connectivity and back-to-back Zoom meetings, many of us are feeling drained with insufficient time and energy to think and chart a new course forward.

In our prior lives, many of us had more downtime. We weren’t rolling out of bed, getting on our computers, and working 12 hours straight without moving.

We had downtime in the car on the way to and from work, time between meetings even if it was just to walk to a different conference room, and time to go outside and grab lunch. 

The point is, we need downtime. It gives us time to think and reflect.

Now that sheltering has become the new normal, it’s the time to make a shift. I suggest blocking out some thinking time on your calendar each day. Let your team know you can’t be reached or take meetings then. I’ve been working with executives to make sure they have time set aside to think and plan, water the flowers, have lunch with their kids or do something they enjoy in their day. They say the time is priceless and that it’s made the time they are on Zoom more productive. 

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Look at next week’s calendar. 
2. Evaluate how much downtime or thinking time you have. (Spoiler alert: you likely don’t have any!)
3. Ask yourself how much you want and believe you can get there. 
4. Make a commitment to creating more spaciousness over the next couple of weeks.
5. Begin by finding several pockets next week that you can call your own. No meetings. No email. No routine work.

My goal for you: 

My goal for you is to have unbooked time each day for planning, thinking, inventing and rejuvenating. When you do, you’ll feel better and be even more productive.