We always admire people who seem to have time for everything, to an extent that we have the gut feeling that we need to do the same and copy their actions to be productive.
But we forget that each one of us is different, with own needs, different thinking levels, lifestyles, and many other things.
For this reason, we cannot compare the way we live and expect to respond to external stimulations in the same way.
Perhaps you are longing for personal growth more than anything else. Or you’re jumping between books and videos, tools and techniques, quotes and slogans just to make yourself productive. But the key point is how much you’re willing to develop and improve your own productivity mindset.
So, what do you to ensure you work on your own effective system of productivity that will work for you?
Here are some ideas.
1. Take Time to Analyze and Develop Your Own System.
Productivity doesn’t mean perfection.
Instead of creating a perfect productivity system, create something using the materials that are available.
Scrutinize your approach to do things. Think of what to do to get through the day; where you waste a lot of time; what hinders you from doing something that is essential, and so on.
This is the point you get to ask yourself questions and answer them correctly to develop your personal productivity system.
2. Put Forward Your Strengths.
Common mistakes most people make is comparing what they do with others.
It’s hard to compare yourself with your colleague who is, let’s say, an economist who always has his job done in the first half of the day. A close look will make you realize that his job requires different skills, approaches, knowledge, and another mindset.
Keep in mind that the source may not be sharing the whole story. But what is relevant is that you need to think about your own strong qualities and how you can use them for your benefit.
3. Have Only One Competitor.
When you see things going the wrong way, it’s common to lose motivation and your productivity may go out the window before you know it.
Well, it’s okay to be different, but remember that if one thing works for someone else, doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you. So, the only person who has to compete with you for productivity is yourself.
Instead of feeling demotivated, challenge yourself by doing the same things in a shorter time and learn effective habits to boost your performance.
4. Opt for Focus.
When working, what do you do to stay focused on the task at hand? Also, how do you beat procrastination?
Doing things when you’re fresh will allow you to be focused and do things better. In fact, you need to train your brain to be able to focus in the world of distractions. If social media or the internet is a big problem for you, then you need some internet-blocking tools to remove the distractions.
Increasing your focus means limiting the number of tasks you do daily and manage your time well. With time, you’ll see some great results.
5. Get Help When Applicable.
By now you already have a list of tasks you need to do. Note them down and add them to your to-do list.
No one can claim to do everything at once. So, it is important to filter the tasks. You can start by discarding the tasks that aren’t so urgent and those that don’t add to your productivity.
Then, delegate tasks to those who can do them better than you.
Part of being productive is knowing when to seek help.
6. Understand Your Daily Maximum.
Productivity is limited. So, make sure you don’t suffocate in your schedule. With a to-do list of the items you need to do, it is easier to know which tasks to do first.
Know how many of them you can do daily to do that effectively. Find a way to prioritize what works for you to develop an effective productivity system.
7. Give Place to Non-Productiveness.
Our body and mind need to be energized to remain focused. They need time for distraction and relax. Set some time for doing something you enjoy or even rest and take breaks between hard tasks.
It is a perfect way to re-energize.
In your productivity, it is important to maintain a positive attitude. The more energized you are, the more productive you’ll be.
8. Do Records and Tracking.
When you get new tasks, or good ideas, thoughts or plans come by, note that down. A capturing system could mean a simple notepad and pen to record any tasks and to track your productivity pattern.
9. Get Rid of Excuses.
Many people are used to giving excuses whenever they fail to do something.
We give a lot of lame reasons for not accomplishing what we need to achieve. But if you learn to get rid of excuses and prioritize the important things first, you will be on the right track towards achieving satisfactory results.
Productivity is more of doing a lot in less time. But before you judge, make sure you have given your productivity system a trial. Not all systems work for everyone. It’s all about creating your own personalized system that will maximize your ability.
About The Author
This is a guest post by Sophia Anderson, a language tutor, blogger and freelance writer from Australia who believes in the driving force of positive attitude and constant development.