3 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY
- Pascale Yav
- Apr 7, 2021
- 4 min read
Boredom has never been one of my known struggles. Because trust me, I can keep myself occupied without even knowing it. I’ve literally lost count of the many times I had my laptop and notebook open ready to get working, only to touch it again when I closed it. Keeping busy is my forte!
But between my ambitions and the leadership development books I’ve been reading lately, my “busy bee” tendencies aren’t worth much if they don’t translate into productivity. And believe me, it is possible to be busy doing absolutely nothing!
Getting things done within a shorter span of time is what productivity is all about. It is important because of its ability to take you a step closer to your goals and contribute to feelings of self-efficacy (the belief that you are both useful and capable). But how can we be more productive in a world where distractions constantly compete for our attention? If self-development and effective leadership are important to you, you will find this post useful. It will help you see that not all activity leads to productivity, and that there are ways to avoid and minimize stress caused by a lack of productivity. Here are 3 tips to help you be more productive:
1. ESTABLISH YOUR PRIORITIES
Yes, I know about your massive to-do list. And I know each of those items feel super important. But on days when motivation is low, your to-do list is likely to make you feel overwhelmed and even discouraged to get going. Rather, start each day with a focus on that one thing you absolutely must do. The Law of Priorities (by John C. Maxwell) states that 80% of results derives from activities that rank in the top 20% in terms of importance. Let’s say you have 10 items on your to-do list to complete. The two most important ones will give you an 80% return on your time. So instead of assigning 10% of your effort to each of your 10 activities, rather divert 80% of your effort towards your top 2 activities. And if all your activities on your to-do list feel both urgent and important, then you may need to be a bit more selective. This is worth considering especially for people who multitask a lot.
"80% of results derives from your top 20% of activities"
When it comes to productivity, stress is often caused by the gap between our responsibilities and available resources (such as time, energy, finances…etc). Priorities act as a bridge for that gap, by helping us distinguish between what is important and what isn’t, as well as how to best optimize our resources despite them being limited. Where there is a lack of priorities, effectiveness is often compromised. So, your focus should not simply be on what you are doing (being busy), but rather on what you are trying to achieve (productivity and results). Therefore, it makes sense that establishing priorities require both planning and being selective in assigning importance to our activities.
2. MINIMIZE YOUR DISTRACTIONS
Be honest and intentional about minimizing distractions. Be especially mindful of distractions you’ve become so used to they no longer feel abnormal, like social media or watching TV (or Netflix AND maybe chill too, LOL). Research suggests that we spend on average 3 hours per day on our phones, and up to 8 hours since the start of Covid-19 with people working remotely and spending more time at home. I am a part of that statistic!
"Effective leaders understand that not all activity leads to productivity"
Distractions waste time you will never get back and essentially kill productivity. And before you’re tempted to think you’re just taking a break while scrolling through Instagram, let me remind you that distraction isn’t the same as resting, because you are still busy when distracted. Effective leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment.
3. SCHEDULE TIMES FOR REST
Even the strongest engines and machines need refueling, servicing, and a resting period. Rest is an important personal investment, which pays off in time, but is often not promoted due to its wrong association with laziness and being unproductive. Rest is also a personal responsibility as it can easily be forfeited in our society that does not make it an obligation since “the show must go on” at all cost.
"Because society doesn't make rest an obligation, it becomes your personal responsibility"
Rest may mean:
switching off your phone for that one hour after work (trust me, they’ll cope without you)
having that 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to yourself in a quiet room with a cup of coffee (or Hennessy) where the kids won’t disturb you
having a weekend off without pressure to make social plans
finding enjoyable hobbies that relax and refresh you
Resting creates a sense of margin in life so you’re transitioning between activities, as opposed to directly shifting from one activity to the next. Margins are like pockets of breathing room between your activities. When they don’t exist, burn-out and frustration begin to creep in, affecting productivity. But when they do exist, personal capacity increases, making you more available to attend to issues with less resentment caused by exhaustion. For leaders, growing your capacity is a non-negotiable as it directly affects your level of effectiveness.
"Resting creates a sense of margin in life so you’re transitioning between activities instead of directly shifting from one activity to the next"
Like any computer browser, you can open as many tabs as you like. But chances are your ability to effectively attend to every open tab with excellence will be limited. To be more productive, focus on establishing your top 20% of priorities, cutting out distractions that waste time, and being intentional about resting and relaxation to refuel and grow your capacity. When we focus on being productive over being busy, we become more effective, moving closer to our goals, while avoiding unnecessary stresses.
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