Motivation, Inspiration & Life Hacks
Finding Your Personal Productivity Style
A step by step guide to personal productivity
How you work is as unique as you are. Maybe you like complete silence when you’re in the zone, or maybe having a colleague pop by for a quick catch-up helps you stay on track. We all have different preferences and needs when it comes to productivity, and that’s totally okay! In fact, it’s important to find what works best for you so that peak performance can be maintained throughout the day (or week). So how do go about finding your personal productivity style? Keep reading to find out!
1. Everyone Is Different — There Is No One Right Way To Be Productive
“You get the best ideas when you get the least amount of resistance.”
One productivity style doesn’t suit everyone. Think about it, some people get so much done in the morning before heading to work while others are not nearly as productive once they sit down at their desk. Why is this? Because different productivity styles work for different personalities and that’s okay! We’re not all meant to be alike — productivity styles are purely based on our preferences and needs, so it’s important to find what works best for you. If you’re struggling with productivity, just remember that no one way is “wrong” or “bad”, there is simply another way that may work better for someone else.
2. What Works for Someone Else Might Not Work for You, and That’s Okay
“We have these assumptions that things are the way they are because that’s the only way they could be, but it’s just not true.”
What productivity style works best? The answer to this question may vary greatly depending on the individual. We all have different mindsets and personalities — what is most effective for one person might not necessarily be effective for another. Think of productivity as more of a skill than an innate talent or something you either have or don’t have. You can always improve your productivity by learning new skills and techniques and honing your talents. Just like everyone learns math at a different pace, productivity styles work differently for each person too (this doesn’t mean productivity styles can be rushed, though).
3. Experiment With Different Techniques and Find What Works Best for You
“It’s often in the struggle where we find our greatest growth.”
As an introvert, productivity isn’t always my top priority. I would much rather curl up in bed with a cup of cocoa and a good book than spend my weekend doing chores around the house. Does that mean I don’t know how to be productive? Of course not! Everyone has different preferences when it comes to productivity — sometimes productivity is your number one priority while at other times it might take a back seat because there are more pressing matters to tend to. That’s totally okay! The key point here is finding what works best for you so you can get things done without feeling overwhelmed. If you invest time into trying out different productivity styles, you’ll soon figure out what works best for you.
4. Balance Is Key — Productivity Styles Are Adapted Over Time
“It’s about the process, not the result.”
Just as important as it is to experiment with productivity styles, you also need to know when to let go of certain techniques that may not be working out or that are actually holding you back from reaching your goals. For example, I’ve tried strict diary scheduling before but found this wasn’t very effective for me because I would forget to carry my diary around with me everywhere so I could write down all my activities throughout the day. However, what I have now works much better for me so if you find something isn’t working out don’t keep forcing yourself into doing things a certain way!
5. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Help if You Need It
“We need to learn how to be gentle with ourselves when we’re in pain.”
It can be scary thinking about asking for help but productivity is truly a group effort and the more you share productivity tips and tricks, the more effective your productivity style will become. Sharing productivity systems with others also helps you come up with new ideas and techniques that can push your productivity to the next level!
6. Find Productivity Mentors Who Are Already Using Productivity Styles That Work for Them
“It’s important to surround yourself with people you admire.”
If you’re struggling to find productivity tips and tricks that will work for you, why not ask someone who has already found what works best for them? Most productivity mentors will be more than happy to share their productivity techniques with you — after all, productivity is a team effort!
7. Don’t Seek Perfection
“There’s no such thing as the perfect productivity style.”
Everyone makes mistakes at some point or another — productivity styles are not exempt from this rule! Sometimes productivity systems fail because of human error — just find out what went wrong, work out how to fix the problem and then carry on implementing productivity techniques that have been proven effective.
8. Develop a Productivity System That’s Uniquely You
“We need to understand why we’re doing things in a certain way.”
When it comes to productivity styles, it’s important to be able to point out why productivity techniques work because not every productivity system will suit you. For example, a productivity technique that works well for me is using an accountability partner because I have a terrible habit of
9. Be Patient and Don’t Give Up on Yourself
“Your productivity style is constantly evolving so give yourself room to grow.”
It may take some time for you to find productivity techniques that suit you but just remember that it’s not a race against the clock. If your productivity system isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to experiment with new productivity styles until something clicks. Remember — productivity is a team effort!
10. Celebrate Your Successes, No Matter How Small They May Seem
“Every step towards productivity is a step in the right direction.”
Finally, productivity success doesn’t have to be a major milestone in life. In fact, you can celebrate even the most trivial productivity milestones as they’re just as important as any other productivity achievement! All productivity milestones are important as they will help you grow and develop so just focus on your productivity goals and don’t let anything stop you from reaching success.
Conclusion:
I’m one of the worst people to talk about productivity. When it comes to my own time management, I can’t even use a calendar. However, if there’s anything that has helped me in this area over the years is learning how other successful entrepreneurs and business leaders manage their workloads. What does work for someone else might not work for you, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques until you find what works best for your unique personality type! Balance is key when it comes to adjusting these styles as we grow into new phases of our lives — learn from those who have been where you are now and adapt accordingly!
Bonus: Share Your Productivity Tips With Others
“Now it’s time to give back!”
If you have a productivity style that works for you, then why not share your productivity styles with others? Let everyone know in the comments below; we love to hear from our readers. Finally, if you haven’t done so, feel free to subscribe to The Orange Journal below for more advice and inspiration.
If this article speaks to you, please consider buying me a cup of coffee.