Moon Productivity Secrets
I had a friend tell me the other day that my morning moon energy videos always tell people to do nothing. Which is absolutely not the case, he clearly missed the point and isn’t my “target audience”. But he is also the sort of person who will work all the hours he can, agree to take on jobs and projects he doesn't actually have time for and rarely takes a break. I mean, kudos to him and his work ethic and willingness to help others, but that sounds like a recipe for burnout to me. And he will regularly disappear when his work/life load becomes too much.
I, on the other hand, have the exact opposite problem. I will spend days laying around my house doing absolutely nothing and avoiding the housework and any other thing that requires my attention. And for years, I felt guilty about that. Like there was something wrong with me that meant I was incapable of keeping on top of things. I mean, everyone else manages it, why can’t I? Because I am not everyone else, I am me.
I am a single mum to an autistic teenager. And that is not easy. I am very proud of my daughter, she is excelling at school, has her own interests, and friends and is writing a book!! But at home, she is essentially still a toddler. She is both physically demanding and mentally draining. And I wouldn’t have her any other way.
It is the combination of having to look after myself, having to look after my daughter, keeping my house clean, and building a business, which is just one thing too much for me. The decision to start my own business came from the need to be available for my daughter, which I didn’t have when I was employed. (I also didn't have a clean home or homecooked meals at that point either) Add on top of that my own undiagnosed autism and possibly ADHD, and yes, sometimes I do need to lay on the sofa all day, be lazy and NOT feel guilty about it.
And this is where the moon comes, my favourite thing to talk about!! Recently, I have written about lunar planning and using the phase and the sign to plan what days to do what tasks. But did you also know that you can use the moon to boost your productivity?
Let's start by looking at what we mean by “productivity”. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “the effectiveness of productive effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input.” Okay, but we are people, not machines, so what does it mean for us? The Cambridge Dictionary gives us this additional definition - “the ability to do as much work as possible in a particular period”. So essentially, getting stuff done as quickly as possible. Well, that sounds great, but how can the moon help?
I’m glad you asked!! As the moon rules our moods and emotions, it makes sense to use her guidance for getting stuff done. As she spends 2 and a bit days in each sign, the energy is always shifting, encouraging us to work, rest and play. Productivity to me isn’t about being on the go all the time. It’s about getting a chunk of stuff done in a short sprint. And that is where the moon comes in.
When we work with the moon on a daily basis, we can use her energy to first make sure we have a full battery, and secondly to boost our productivity. If you are tired, distracted, or unwell, there is no point “pushing through”. You should always listen to your body and what it needs. If you are feeling tired or irritable, then chances are you have not met one of your basic needs. If you can answer yes to all of the following questions then you are good to go.
Have you drank some water?
Have you eaten?
Did you get enough sleep?
Have you spoken to someone today?
Have you moved your body?
If you answer no to any of these, go do that first!! I promise you will feel better afterwards.
The next thing to look at is the sign the moon is in. This will tell us what productivity might look like for the day. You can find this out on pretty much any astrology website, various apps such as iLuna or Time Passages, or from me in my daily moon energy videos or weekly email.
The 12 signs are split into the 4 elements, Fire, Earth, Air and Water. The Fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. The Earth signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Then the Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Finally, the water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. This will give you a theme for the day.
The Fire signs are the most excited and have the most energy. They work well in short bursts. Use these days to start or finish projects. The Earth signs which follow, are the most stable and disciplined. Use these days when you really need to focus on something or the task/project is a big one. The Air signs are the most scattered and inquisitive. Use these days for short tasks. Finally, the Water signs are the most emotional and dreamy. Use these days for creative tasks or to rest.
And yes, I did just say REST!! Resting is the biggest kept productivity secret. You will not be more productive because you have worked yourself to the point of exhaustion. You will be more productive if you listen to your body and take regular rest breaks.
Let’s go through the signs and see how they can help us to be more productive.
Aries is instinctive and spontaneous. Pick ONE task to focus on and work in short bursts. Do not start another task until you have finished the first one. If you find yourself feeling distracted, stop and move your body. This is a very active energy, so movement will help to dissolve that restless feeling.
In contrast, Taurus is a slow and steady energy. They understand the importance of hard work, patience and consistency. Break tasks or projects down into small steps and create a to-do list. This could be a Master to-do list that you will take tasks from or just a daily one. Try to organise your tasks by priority and deadline. Make sure you have a comfortable space to work in or take breaks in.
Gemini is a more mental energy, alert and inquisitive, so it’s easy to get lost in research and activities that interest you. It’s also rather scattered and easily distracted. Small tasks that will take less than 20 minutes, or working in 25-minute blocks, works well here. Try to eliminate distractions such as your phone.
The nurturing Cancer energy puts self-care first. This emotional energy needs to be channelled somewhere before you can work. Journaling or doing a brain dump can help to clear your mind of distractions. As this is the sign of home and family, it’s all about belonging. Support groups, accountability partners, co-working or body doubling will all help you to be more productive.
The enthusiastic and childish Leo energy works well if there is a reward. Clear goals within a clear time frame with something fun and exciting at the end is the way to go. Rewards can be as simple as your favourite drink or as elaborate as a holiday!! Rounties and accountability will also help.
Virgo is practical, efficient and meticulous. This is where attention to detail and routine are important. Any tasks or projects undertaken on a Virgo day need to be measurable and preferably small so that progress can be seen. Break things down into chunks, try time blocking and make sure your work area is clean and tidy.
When it comes to Libra, it’s all about the aesthetics. This could be in the form of colourful Trello or Asana boards, or pretty notebooks and stationary. Keeping everything organised and with clear boundaries will help to boost your productivity. You could also try colour coding your tasks as Urgent and Important, Urgent but Not Important, Not Urgent but Important, and Not Urgent and Not Important.
With the moon in Scorpio, it’s best to work alone. This obsessive energy can be channelled into whatever you need to get done, and turning it into a game, or a competition against yourself to keep your interest. Make sure you track your progress as you go to keep yourself motivated and productive.
Unrealistic and impatient Sagittarius has no idea how long things actually take. Keeping everything that you need for a particular task together (physical or digital folders, notebooks etc) and being flexible with your time will help you to be productive. Breaking projects down into smaller projects wiith clear steps to tick off as you go will help to keep you on track and productive.
The disciplined Capricorn energy works best within a firm structure and strict routine. Set work hours and prepare for some hard work. This isn’t about the quick win, it’s about the long-term result and progress could be slow.
Visionary Aquarius struggles to see the smaller steps in the bigger picture so having checklists and due dates to work from is helpful. Support groups, accountability partners, or coworking all work really well here to help you be more productive. Remember that done is better than perfect.
The final sign of the zodiac, dreamy Pisces, will struggle to get anything done if there are too many options or decisions to be made. Quick wins here will help you to stay motivated and having a plan preferred beforehand will help to ease overwhelm and procrastination.
I hope you have enjoyed this week’s blog. The advice given here is general and can be used by anyone. These productivity secrets will work well with the lunar planning tips in previous blogs. For personal guidance, we would need to look at your birth chart. And if you are interested in having me do all the work for you and provide you with the pretty Trello Board and checklists, then click the link below to book a chat!!
