4 common productivity traps (and how to avoid falling into them)
Ever come out of a meeting thinking that it could definitely have been an email instead?
The working world is filled with time-wasting activities, with excess meetings being one of them, that cut into our day, leading to less focus and less productivity. These are also known as productivity traps and they can, if you fall down one, impact your output and waste an unnecessary amount of time. No thanks! Here are four common ones, and how to avoid being ensnared by them so that you get the most out of your workday.
1. Your schedule is too rigid
Planning ahead is a good thing as it allows you to stay on track of your deliverables and having a to-do list means you can get going first thing rather than sit and think about your next move. But if your schedule is too rigid and allows for no wiggle room any impromptu work could through you off-kilter. It also takes away your freedom of choice, which is one of a freelancer’s greatest perks.
2. You’re spending time on your socials
With access to social media in the palm of our hands, it is easy to become drawn into the drama when you should be working when you are your own boss. Try to avoid visiting those platforms, as well as other time-wasting sites or apps (here’s looking at you, Candy Crush!) during work hours, or limit yourself to checking only during your breaks so that you can focus on the task at hand.
3. Your calls are too long
There are two types of people in this world: those who love meetings and those who detest them. Regardless of which camp you fall into, meetings, phone calls and Zoom video calls should ideally be kept to a minimum. Frequent meetings and calls can be incredibly disruptive and get in the way of your workflow. Try to keep to an agenda and keep it concise so that you have more time to produce great things ✨
4. You’re trying to multitask
As a freelancer, you might want to say ‘yes’ to every gig in case your ‘no’ is misinterpreted as not being interested. But taking on too much work means that you will be spreading yourself too thin, and producing sub-par work as a result. Also, try focussing on one project at a time rather than dabbling in a few. This will improve both your efficiency and quality.
