If I'm physically off, the most productive thing I can do is give myself space to recover. I try to refill my "Sims bars": sleep, eat, socialize etc. If I get b

If I'm physically off, the most productive thing I can do is give myself space to recover. I try to refill my "Sims bars": sleep, eat, socialize etc. If I get bored, I might just clean the flat, triage my Downloads folder, and maybe pick some easy tasks from my to-do list. It gives me a clean slate for the next day, which really helps me recover. If I'm emotionally off, I leave all work aside and take myself on a date. That usually means cycling to a breakfast place I like, going to a museum, getting drinks with friends or reading in a pleasant place. Above all, I accept that not every day will be productive, and that forcing myself to produce consistent output is not a good idea.