These 6 Sneaky Things Could Be Killing Your Productivity
For all of us, there are endless distractions available at all times, which means getting things done can feel like an uphill battle.
By: Shannon Siriano Greenwood
I have realized in the last few years that I have limited energy and next level ambition. This means that managing my productivity is especially important, if I want to be fulfilled by my work without burning out (again). For all of us, there are endless distractions available at all times, which means getting things done can feel like an uphill battle, even if you are especially motivated and disciplined. So if you are someone who wants to get more output for your effort, watch out for these sneaky things that could be killing your productivity.
Bad Breaks
Scrolling on your phone is not a break. Yeah, I said it. Don’t mistake task switching (or device switching) as a break. A real break allows you to relax your focus. A walk, deep breathing, or hydration break is much more effective than your social media catch up.
Overworking
If you are pushing through, your productivity is suffering. Clocking more hours does not equal getting more done. The quality of your work suffers significantly after you reach a certain number of hours. It is important to know and honor your limits if you want to get the most output out of your time.
Not Using SOPs
Standard operating procedures are simple ways to work smarter, not harder. Even if you are an independent operator, you will save time and improve efficiency by using a documented standardized system to complete tasks. It may seem silly to write out processes that live in your head, but you will be surprised how helpful it can be at saving brain space.
Lack of Priorities
When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority. And while we can’t control everything that comes along to pull our attention away, if we never take time to declare what is most important, it is very easy to ping pong around our attention. Having focus is one of the best ways to get back on track when distracted.
Perfectionism
This one will slow you down, no matter how well you have prepared. Perfectionism is a productivity killer disguised as high standards. This is not to say, produce poor quality effort as an alternative. Instead, question if your efforts are truly in place to improve the output or is this a tool you use to procrastinate completion of a task that makes you feel vulnerable.
Using Ineffective Tools
We know the famous Tim Gunn saying, “make it work”, but we are not living on a reality television competition show. Having the right tools to complete a task is going to make that task easier and faster to complete. Instead of wasting effort using what you have, that effort could be invested in reducing efforts now and in the future.
