Being unproductive can result in a lack of happiness. When you are unable to see yourself progressing or completing tasks, you get worried and agitated. That is why learning how to be productive is critical.
According to a Microsoft poll, the average person wastes 17 hours a week at work, out of a typical 45-hour workweek.
If you struggle with time and energy management at work, you are not alone. Often, we believe that staying on top of the plethora of demands we receive, responding instantly to them, and saying yes to everything is a sign of success. However, when our duties expand, we discover that it is more destructive to our well-being than it is beneficial.
What does “productive” mean?
Simply put, productivity is the practice of creating a predictable and consistent process that enables us to perform effective tasks more effectively; whereas efficiency is defined as performing the right thing; work that is aligned with our objectives, with limited resources, time, and effort.
Productivity requires us to shift our attention away from the end and towards the process, the process by which that goal is achieved. Once we gain control of our processes, achieving the desired outcome will be a by-product of doing so. There are several methods to define your time and space clearly.
Create a manageable task list
Take precautions not to overload yourself when creating this list. To-do lists sometimes fail as the result of being overly complicated or having unequal tasks. Certain chores will take an extended period of time, while others will be completed in an instant. This throws our time distribution off balance. As a result, our task list becomes a weapon for procrastination. Correct, indeed. Because we then perform the simple things and become completely diverted from the difficult things.
Effective planning is the key to maximising productivity, and it’s also a good idea to establish significant goals every day. Purchase a daily planner and use it to prioritise your daily chores in order to focus your attention on the most critical ones.
If you are clear about the tasks you need to do and the timeframe in which you need to finish them, you will be well on your way to learning how to be productive.
Apply the rule of 80/20
Another method for work prioritisation is based on the 80/20 rule. The 80/20 rule (also known as the Pareto Principle) was discovered by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It claims that in any activity, 80% of outcomes will come from 20% of efforts.
Highly productive individuals prioritise the most critical 20% of their work in order to optimise efficiency. They then seek methods to shave off the remaining 80% of their calendar in order to make more time for the most impactful activities. For instance, break down your next project into phases and gradually eliminate activities until you reach the 20% that achieves 80% of the results.
Recharge Your Batteries
Determine how much sleep your body needs and ensure that you receive it. Allow yourself time throughout the day and after work to stretch, stroll, or rest.
According to one research, the most effective strategy for ensuring continuous productivity throughout the day is to work for around 50 minutes followed by a 15–20 minute break. As you want to discover how to be more productive, begin by following this routine.
Too much work is sometimes used as an excuse to avoid exercise and activities that you enjoy—but prioritising yourself is critical. We can all agree that it is beneficial to take care of one’s mental health on a regular basis. Watch a 10-minute YouTube video that makes you smile, sip camomile tea, listen to pleasant music, light a scented candle, and treat yourself to some well-deserved self-care.