Nine Surprising Factors That Make You Less Productive.
Review the surprising factors that make you less productive in work situations.
We all have a million different things to do and 24 hours at our disposal. Be it a millionaire or an ordinary man, everyone you meet has the same amount of time to make a living, fulfill their dreams, and create a great life for themselves. Then, how does one person become an Elon Mask, a Tim Ferriss, or a Jeff Bezos while others fade into oblivion?
What makes a person achieve success and fame in life that others cannot emulate?
The answer is proper utilization of time and an improved way to be productive in their work commitments. While we all know how to be productive, certain obstacles can seriously affect our life goals in the long run if ignored. Here are some of the factors that make you less productive in life.
1) You do not prioritize your work.
We all want to be successful in what we do. Most often, we get distracted by mundane things that rob us of our goals in life. Everyday distractions like constant notifications from your mobile phones, the incessant chatter of social media can keep you in a constant state of distraction, preventing you from tending to your dreams.
“Life is all about priorities. Year after year, day after day, and even minute after minute, you have to embrace what is more important and essential for you and not look back. When others don’t understand or admonish you for your choices, don’t give it any energy because they are telling you that their wants are more significant than yours.” ― Carl Henegan, Darkness Left Undone
2) You multitask.
Human beings are wired to do one thing at a time. Our minds cannot grasp more than one idea at a particular time. To test that, think about your schedule tomorrow and what you will eat for dinner today, all at the same time. Notice how your thoughts come one after the other, fighting for your attention but never at the same time.
It is a myth of modern life that we need to multitask to get ahead in life. Doing complex activities simultaneously can muddle your mind, reduce your concentration, and make you prone to mistakes. It slows down your ability to think cohesively and thus reduces your productivity. General busyness will never make you productive.
“Inevitably, we find ourselves tackling too many things at the same time, spreading our focus so thin that nothing gets the attention it deserves. This is commonly referred to as “being busy.” Being busy, however, is not the same thing as being productive.” ― Ryder Carroll, The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future
3)You put off your dreams for tomorrow.
We have made a habit of living for tomorrow. As kids we long to become an adult, as an adult we think we would fulfill our dreams when the timings are perfect. Life can never be perfectly balanced for you to follow your dreams. There will always be problems, chaos, and instability in life. In fact, things tend to become more difficult and complex as life progresses. Putting off your dreams for a hazy future day will result in frustration, sadness, and a missed opportunity to live a life you wish for.
“You may delay, but time will not.” ― Benjamin Franklin
4) You are too focused on the details while missing the bigger picture.
We often get so entangled in everyday situations that we face difficulty looking at the bigger picture. We lack the vision to see how the future would look like if we follow the current path resulting in a skewed sense of growth. Often, minor failures disappoint and frustrate us, and we often give up on our dreams without a fight. Please realize dreams take time and effort, and if you can manage to follow your dreams long enough, you will eventually meet your goals.
“Micro-managing creativity kills it. To encourage creative brilliance, foster an atmosphere where it can thrive and then step out of the way and let it happen.” ― Stewart Stafford
5) You lack the motivation to succeed.
It takes time to achieve success and fulfill goals in life. Sometimes, along the way, we lose sight of the goals and wallow in self-pity. The fire in our belly dims out, leaving traces of disappointment and frustration.
Successful people do not have it easy. They strive harder to meet their goals. In life, giving up is not an option. Lack of motivation to succeed can make you give up on your dreams, often when you are close to achieving them.
“Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
6) You lack boundaries.
A lack of well-defined boundaries, be it emotional or physical, will make you waste your time and fall behind in your schedule. Some of the signs of lack of boundaries are constant interruptions by your family, work colleagues while working, inability to take time out for relaxation, overcommitting to responsibilities that are clearly not yours.
Often you overcommit to people you care about by lending them an ear at the expense of your work schedule.
To be more productive in your life, you need to set well-defined boundaries. You can do that by prioritizing the things that matter to you. So, avoid distractions when working on that crucial project, protect your family time by screening out work-related calls over the weekend.
Letting people know that you value your time and goals in life would make them respect your time. Good boundaries can help you de-stress, form better relationships and be more productive to achieve your plans.
“Boundaries are, in simple terms, the recognition of personal space.” ― Asa Don Brown, The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adult Perception and Worldview
7)You don’t manage your time well.
We all have a limited amount of time in a day when we can be genuinely productive and get things done. A well-balanced schedule should have equal amounts of work, play, and relaxation included in it. If you work too much, your health and relationships will suffer. Wasting your valuable time on social media and other distractions will make your work suffer.
To make your days count and be productive, you need to plan your days effectively. Keep a balanced work schedule to be efficient at work.
“You gotta make it a priority to make your priorities a priority.”― Richie Norton.
Being more productive is all about working smarter and not harder. It is about adopting some good habits to help you lead a balanced and fulfilling life without compromising your work ethics and commitments to your goals and visions.
8)Your life lacks simplicity.
It is easy to be productive in your work if you do things more simply. Avoid complicated procedures and detailed schedules and make your life simpler. A simple life is easy to live, and it gets more done.
“When you simplify your life, you will be able to see life much better because, with a simple life, you get rid of the obstacles that prevent your horizons!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan
9)You are too attached to the outcome.
If you are too attached to the result and do not care about the process, you miss the point. Life is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the daily rituals of doing the work, and the results will follow.
Invest in your goals and learn every day to improve on the things that you do. Do not dwell on how the results will look like in the future. Take each day as it comes and use them to the best of your ability to get the success you desire.
“We enjoy the process far more than the proceeds”-Warren Buffet.
Enjoying and staying focused on an everyday basis on your goals will keep you motivated and will give you the focus and determination you need to continue with your goals in the long run.
You can achieve success in anything you want as long as you stick to it and maintain your vision. As they say,’ Rome was not built in a day.’ Continue to persist and keep yourself motivated to be more productive in your work.
Final Words
To be more productive and have a well-balanced life, reduce the chaos around you. Plan your days and keep them simple. Get into the learner’s mode and stay motivated. Make time to rest and relax and keep things simple. And finally, do not forget to have some fun.