Most of us have had to face the challenge of productivity at one time or another; in fact, for many people it is a battle that they confront every day. Individuals who are productive are not smarter or better than you; they were not born with a special productivity gene that helps them focus and get things done. They have simply taken the time to develop good habits and also recognize and shed behind bad ones. A lot is written about what habits people should adopt if they want to become more productive, but not much is said about what habits people should leave behind if they want to consistently achieve their goals.
Not Planning
You will not get anything done if you never plan. Planning is the roadmap to where you are trying to go. Imagine you were trying to get to a place you have never been before and you don’t have a map – wouldn’t you look up directions and try to get to know a little about the journey there? Always think of your goals as a journey; if you are very keen to get to your destination you will have a map of how to get there and you will try and acquaint yourself with the journey.
Allowing distractions
If you talk to people who are highly productive they will tell you that it doesn’t matter what is going on around them – once they set out to complete a task they don’t stop until it is done. Most people are unable to accomplish goals because they aren’t focused. They stop every time there is a distraction, and a task that could have taken an hour or two to complete ends up taking half the day or even longer. If you are serious about becoming more productive you must learn to ignore whatever is happening around you and only focus on what you have to accomplish.
Not “fuelling” properly
In order for your body to be at its best it has to be given the fuel that it needs on a regular basis. You must eat a healthy breakfast in the morning, and one or two meals the rest of the day. Skipping meals or eating junk and snacks will not help you become a harder working person – you will only make yourself unhealthy and over time less and less productive. Make sure that everything you consume is healthy and stay hydrated for a more focused, sharper mind.
Not taking breaks
Some people assume that the way to become more productive is to work for as long as possible without taking a break. This is not true – the brain performs best when it is given regular breaks, so take a few minutes away from your tasks after every few hours.
Not investing in a daily planner
One of the most effective tips towards higher productivity is daily planning. You should buy a planner that you can use to outline long term, short term, weekly and daily goals. Review it regularly so that you can know when you are falling behind and take proper measures.
