5 Habits that Charge Personal Productivity
Over the last few years, productivity has become centric to lives, both work and private. It can be seen as a way to cope with the increasing speed at which the world is changing and evolving. Demand on our time is increasing, but time itself is not expanding. So we are forced to make the most out of every minute.
However, ‘productivity’ cloaks the added pressure, comparison with others and guilt of not achieving ‘enough’. In the end, it achieves the exact opposite of what it set out to help with. And here the dilemma truly unfolds:
Time is limited
Naturally, more and more people try and find a solution to the added pressure and self-doubt. A quick Google Trends analysis of the term ‘Productivity Hacks’ reveals a steady incline in searches over the past decade. When you look up ‘Productivity Hacks’ now, hundreds of blogs claiming things like ~ All successful women get up at 4.30am ~ These 50 hacks will transform your life ~(I am sure you can think of a few more) fill pages and pages of search results, each promising success, a more fulfilled life and 8 hours of sleep.
What they don’t mention: burn-outs, insomnia and stress. Not mentioned either are chronic illnesses that inhibit 4.00am morning yoga or depression/anxiety which can make getting out of bed extremely difficult. (Check out Brittany Berger’s twitter feed for a ton of material on this — she concentrates on Productivity + Self-Care and her gif-game is strong.)
Setting unrealistic goals is not just bad practice, but downright cruel. As if there isn’t enough stress and self-doubt out there already, mask it as ‘increasing productivity’ or ‘becoming truly successful’ and bullying people into adding more pressure to their lives becomes ok?
Energy is limited
Even if we are lucky enough not to have chronic illnesses or other factors which keep us from being these astounding superhumans, our energy is limited. And recharging correctly is a science in itself. Extroverts tend to recharge when around people, introverts when they’re alone. (Hands up)
That leaves me, somewhere in the middle. As an ambivert, I have to precariously note how I am, in order not to end up a permanently exhausted pigeon. I’m sure lots of you can relate. If you are not sure where you fit in, here’s a brilliant TED quiz to help you figure it out.
The equation is broken:
Achieving maxProductivity is impossible
Productivity is obviously far more complex than this equation, but Energy and Time are two of the main reasons we rarely achieve what we set out to do on the hunt for maxProductiviy.
Instead of ranting on about the poison that is ‘productivity’ I want to share a few tips and tricks.
Take what is useful to you, leave the rest:
5 easy principles that ease stress, help prioritize right and fit into every day
1. Be 5 minutes early
Seems simple, but has incredible benefits:
- Reduces stress — no more rushing from place to place, it cuts out ‘last-minute’ culture
- Arriving early to everything prepares you mentally for the meeting, school pick up or pitch. It also shows professionalism and respect for others’ time.
2. Concentrate on the 3 most important tasks each day
This is a habit with a caveat:
- In an ideal world, every client/supplier/team leader uses clear communications to highlight importance and urgency. They show understanding when your priorities differ from their expectations and are patiently waiting for that design/code/feedback they need.
- We don’t live in that world (sadly). But there is a way we can restore some balance to our task list:
3. Use the Eisenhower matrix
This simple matrix helps to identify urgency/importance for all tasks. Trello have explained it better than I can:
4. Batch similar tasks
Once priorities are set, work on batching similar tasks, e.g. take 30 minutes to return/make all calls, check and respond to emails twice a day etc. This way you can concentrate on what requires your attention and keep potential time wasters at bay.
Big, daunting tasks can stop workflows and there is a danger of getting stuck:
5. When stuck, go for quick wins
This is a magic tonic, one of my favourite ways to hack productivity. Quick wins change your attitude and make the bigger tasks seem achievable.
These hacks have helped me shift my attitude to productivity. I no longer feel the pressures and stress pile on top of me. Instead, I realise that I can have it all, just not every day:
Please share your favourite hacks and workflows with me! This blog was based on a talk I did for Digital Exeter, Exeter’s Digital Community.
