If You Give Up These Things Your Productivity Will Skyrocket
Each day contains exactly 24 hours, which is the same for everyone.
However, some people have been able to accomplish a large number of tasks with relative ease, while others are scarcely able to accomplish anything at all.
You questioned why that is, didn’t you?
The difference between us is in the ways that we choose to spend our time.
The good news is that increasing productivity does not require rocket science, and there are a great many straightforward actions that we can take — or, in this case, refrain from taking — in order to get the most out of each day.
To get you started, the following is a list of the five things you may concentrate on decreasing to effectively enhance your productivity and get more things done each day:
1. Beginning with the duties that are considered to be “easy.”
The majority of us have a routine where we begin the day by completing the activities that are the least difficult.
However, if you are serious about increasing your productivity, you have to begin handling the activities that are the most difficult or tough during the first few hours of your day.
This is the best way to get a head start on the day.
In most cases, we are at our most productive in the morning, therefore avoid engaging in activities that require little concentration or effort during this time of day.
According to the findings of psychologist Dan Ariely, the first two hours after we fully awaken are typically the hours in which we are most productive.
In light of this information, make it a point to give the highest priority to the most difficult projects and activities on your list.
Because we have a tendency to put off working on things that we think to be difficult, beginning with the most difficult of our activities can help us significantly lessen the likelihood that we will engage in that annoying (and frequently unavoidable) practice of procrastination.
As soon as you get a handle on these priorities, you will be able to move on to activities that are less difficult, and you will end the day with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment because you will know that you have completed everything that you had planned to do.
“Wake up with determination and go tonight with contentment,” is a quote often attributed to George Lorimer, an esteemed American journalist and author.
2. Multitasking
I have to admit that this is one behavior that is really difficult to break, and to this day, I still find that I am occasionally guilty of performing many tasks at the same time.
It may appear that you are saving time by working on multiple projects at once; but, research has shown that this practice can impair your overall productivity by as much as forty percent!
You would be far better off if you focused your concentration on completing a single activity before going on to the next one.
This is true even though it is tempting to take on more than one task at a time.
In this manner, not only are you more likely to complete the task in a shorter amount of time, but the outcomes of your labor are also more likely to be of a higher quality!
Further Reading: How To Stop Multitasking And Become More Focused
3. Frequently checking one’s email and/or other social media platforms
My habit of immediately checking my inbox for new emails after they were received is a thing of the past.
My practice of regularly checking my many social media profiles is also compulsive.
If your profession does not genuinely require you to read each email or social media post as soon as it is received or posted (for example, customer service representatives or social media managers), there is absolutely no reason to do so, as it can be a significant distraction and encourages procrastination.
Instead, mark your calendar for the beginning of your workday, the middle of the day, and/or at the end of the day with brief blocks of time that are only dedicated to checking your email and social media accounts.
You will still be able to respond in a timely manner to crucial texts and emails if you carry out this strategy.
Even better, it will assist you in reducing the amount of time you spend on them, allowing you to devote more of your time to the primary activities and duties of the day.
Further Reading: How To Stop Social Media Addiction
4. the pursuit of absolute perfection
People with Type A personalities are inclined to disagree with and promptly disregard this recommendation.
As someone who considers themselves to be a “recovering” perfectionist, I can absolutely relate to this.
Having said that, as time has gone on, I’ve come to the conclusion that the pursuit of perfection is actually a “trap.”
The author Elizabeth Gilbert once described it as “fear in extremely excellent shoes.” This is precisely what she meant.
Even though there is nothing inherently wrong with striving for excellence and giving everything you do your absolute best effort, perfectionism goes well beyond that.
It involves setting performance standards that are unreasonably high, which are frequently accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and a high level of care for the opinions of others.
Because of this, we wind up reinforcing our fear whenever we hammer it into our heads that in order for everything we do and/or produce to have any value, we need to achieve perfection.
We stifle both our creative potential and our passion for developing new ideas. Fear consumes us, and we become petrified at the prospect of producing anything novel or distinctive.
Even if we do summon up the bravery to begin anything, there is a good chance that we will not see it through to its conclusion or finish it. This is the more significant point.
Give each assignment the very best you can, and once it’s over, believe that it’s good enough, but the most essential thing is to go on to the next task!
It is a waste of time and energy to strive for perfection since it prevents you from making progress on the other things that need to be done.
Further Reading: How To Overcome Perfectionism And Get Your Work Done
5. Not taking pauses
It is not surprising that on particularly stressful days, some of us may choose to forego lunch in order to better meet one or more of the day’s deadlines.
However, we must take precautions to ensure that this does not develop into a habit.
The fact that human beings are neither robots nor constructed in the same manner as robots is something to be thankful for.
In light of this, we ought to behave in an appropriate manner.
It doesn’t matter how much you enjoy what you do for a living; if you don’t take care of yourself and don’t allow yourself to rest, you will eventually reach the point where you can no longer perform at a satisfactory level.
In addition to your lunch break, make sure you give yourself a break whenever you feel the need to, even if it’s just for five to ten minutes so you can get some fresh air and clear your thoughts.
Take a short stroll outside, brew some freshly brewed coffee for yourself, or check-in with the people you care about.
You may spend the weekend at a meditation retreat if you want your vacation to be more relaxing and rejuvenating than usual.
Even if it’s just for a little period, pressing the “pause” button on all of your obligations and duties will considerably assist you in concentrating on yourself, recharging your batteries, and ultimately becoming more productive.
Do something that makes you happy (that is not related to your work or job), and you will find that you are feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle your daily to-dos with greater energy and enthusiasm.
This applies to anything you choose to do.
