There’s a significant difference between being busy and being productive.
Productivity is about working smarter, not harder. This is a lesson I’ve grappled with for a long time. You’ve probably heard me say, “I am extremely busy,” yet when I take a moment to reflect at the end of the day, I often find that I haven’t accomplished nearly as much as I imagined. While I may feel drained, it turns out that my efforts haven’t led to significant productivity.
I’m sure you can relate. You sit down to work, intending to focus, but then a notification flashes on your phone. Is it an email? A text? You pick it up for just a moment, thinking it’ll take no time at all, and—boom!—you’ve lost your focus.
Procrastination, as you might recognize, is a kind of theft. By delaying tasks, you rob yourself of something irreplaceable.
Time.
Consider this: If you were to dedicate just 20% of your time to genuinely focusing on your most important tasks, giving them your full attention, you would actually have more free time. More time for leisure activities, more time to pursue larger goals, and more time to focus on self-care, whether that’s exercise or cooking a delicious meal. You might call yourself “busy,” but how often are you truly engaged in productive actions?
5 WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY
1. PLAN AHEAD
Many of us believe we can keep track of our tasks in our heads, but that’s often a misconception. Maintaining a journal where you jot down your thoughts and ideas is invaluable. Writing them down not only allows for reflection and improvement later but also aids in effective planning. Insight can strike at any time, so having a journal (or a planner) nearby can help you capture inspiration immediately.
I personally enjoy planning the next day before I go to sleep. Writing out a to-do list the night before has proven to be far more efficient than trying to do so in the morning. In the mornings, you might feel energized and overly ambitious about how much you can accomplish, which can lead to disappointment later. After updating your list, prioritize your tasks. You can even go a step further by scheduling activities into time blocks of 15-20 minutes.
2. PRIORITIZE AND TACKLE UNPLEASANT TASKS FIRST
We all have tasks we’d rather avoid. For me, making phone calls at work—especially with difficult clients—ranks high on that list. At home, it’s a toss-up between exercising and dusting (seriously, doing dishes and vacuuming often seem like enjoyable alternatives). There are days when the last thing on my mind is doing my therapy workouts after a long day.
So what do I do? When I arrive home, I take my dog for a quick walk, remove my makeup, change clothes, and dive right into my physical therapy exercises. I’ve made this a routine, not even considering it; I just get it done. In 30 minutes, my workout is completed.
However, if I delay or make excuses—like checking the mail, planning dinner first, or cuddling with my dog for an hour—I often end up avoiding the workout altogether or not giving it my best. The same principle applies to all areas of life. If there’s something you dread, tackle it head-on to avoid the weight of procrastination weighing you down. The more you postpone, the more it lingers in your mind, reducing your overall productivity.
Sometimes, it’s important to be honest with yourself; not every task can be enjoyable or exciting. Some things in life simply need to get done without dwelling on how much you dislike them.
Related posts:
+ How to Stop Procrastinating Right Now
+ 7 Life-Changing Morning Rituals
+ Morning Affirmations to Start Your Day
+ How to Really Get Things Done: Your #1 Tool for Staying Productive
3. TIME BLOCKING
One effective technique for boosting productivity is time-blocking. As you start your day, commit 20 minutes to rejuvenate and focus on your most critical task. During this focused period, avoid browsing the internet, checking emails, or turning on the TV. Once the 20 minutes are up, you can choose to either continue working or take a 10-minute break to check social media. This serves as a reward for your productivity. After the break, return to your task for another focused 20 minutes, repeating as needed. Some people find that working for 50 minutes with a break afterward can be even more effective.
Consider using a timer on your phone to keep track, or explore devices like this. Vigilance is essential; be aware of any distractions or temptations to deviate from your task. This method aligns with the Pomodoro Technique, which emphasizes breaking large tasks into manageable intervals, complemented by short breaks.
4. UTILIZE APPS FOR FOCUS
I’ve mentioned a helpful app before, and I still find it indispensable. Forest is ideal for those frequently distracted by their phones while working. The app allows you to set a timer, say 30 minutes, and “plant” a virtual tree. During this time, if you reach for your phone, your tree dies. The goal is to nurture your tree and eventually create a digital forest, providing a sense of achievement with every tree you grow. Watching a tree wither is disappointing, serving as a reminder of your commitment to staying focused.
5. ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES AND DE-CLUTTER
Another strategy to minimize distractions is setting boundaries, especially in your work environment. When tackling important projects, communicate with colleagues about deadlines to reduce interruptions. A quieter workspace can significantly boost your focus.
Additionally, decluttering your physical space is key. Dispose of old invoices, unnecessary papers, and junk mail. While some may thrive in what they call “organized chaos,” truthfully, maintaining a tidy workspace is essential for productivity. This goes for your digital space as well; an overflowing inbox or desktop can be equally distracting.
The reality is, you can’t always rely on your future self to get things done. Have you ever stocked your fridge with fresh vegetables, convinced you’d eat healthily starting tomorrow, only to throw them out a week later? Your future self, just like mine, often turns out to be quite unreliable. Thus, phrases like “I’ll just do it tomorrow” or “I’ll compensate later” frequently don’t hold up.
