How To Be More Productive Every Day
Productivity is defined as “the effectiveness of productive effort, especially in
industry, as measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input.”
Sounds very much like a manufacturing term – right?
But even if you don’t work in manufacturing, chances are you talk about productivity every day in your job. And in your personal life.
Some of you probably just had a meeting where you talked or presented on your department’s productivity. Or counseled your employee on their productivity.
No matter what industry you’re in – productivity is a common term that means different things for every one of us.
For some of my clients, it means being able to “check-off” everything on today’s to-do list.
For others, it’s having that tough meeting that they know they’ve been needing to have.
Maybe it’s finally finishing that project.
Getting started on designing their business website.
Or finally getting around to organizing that extra room in the house.
Whatever your definition is, you probably wish you could be more productive every day – right?
But things always seem to get in the way.
One common misperception I want to make clear is that productivity does not refer to how much or how long you work.
(Our society tends to value those that claim to work more than 40 hours per week, that volunteer to work those extra hours, or those leaders you see burning the midnight oil with the perception that they’re getting more done and being more productive by doing so.)
But this is actually the opposite of true productivity.
True productivity is being able to produce the same amount of work or more in less time.
It doesn’t matter how busy someone is, or even how stressed they might be.
To be more productive, you have to manage your mind.
Here are some tips to help you do just that:
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Plan. How many times have you just jumped into a project or a task without really taking the time to plan for it? What was your result? Chances are it’s still unfinished. Planning allows you to have a clear roadmap to your goal and concentrate your efforts on taking action. If you were taking your family on a cross-country roadtrip, would you just hop in your car and start driving aimlessly? Nope. And if you did, you’d probably never reach your destination. Same for your day-to-day projects.
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Give yourself a time limit. Are you a self-proclaimed perfectionist? Especially important for you if you answered yes. Drop the perfectionism and and start producing. (And I challenge you to give yourself even less time than you think, just for that extra push to get it done.) Perfectionism is one of the biggest blocks we can have and tends to show up in most areas of our life. The sooner you can drop being a perfectionist, the better off you’ll be. In all areas of your life.
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Check your thinking and “clean up” your negative thoughts. Dreading what’s on your plate for the day? If you said yes, you’re going to have a much harder time getting it done. Instead, focus on how you are growing through this experience, and be grateful for the lessons you are learning.
For more on how to be more productive and create what you want in your career and life, schedule a free mini-coaching session here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13605969&appointmentType=6136068
It can change everything for you.
