Summary

The article outlines the primary reasons for reduced productivity and offers strategies for overcoming them, emphasizing procrastination as the main culprit.

Abstract

The article "A Guide to Get More Done" identifies procrastination as the leading obstacle to productivity. It acknowledges that while some productivity barriers are beyond our control, such as the weather, most can be managed. The author suggests that by recognizing and addressing the factors that lead to procrastination, such as lack of direction, technological distractions, and engaging in more enjoyable activities, individuals can significantly improve their productivity. The article recommends becoming an early riser, limiting distractions, tackling challenging tasks first, and using rewards to maintain focus and accomplish tasks. It cites a Harvard Business Review study supporting the success of early risers and encourages readers to take control of their actions to enhance productivity.

Opinions

The author believes that productivity is not just about what you do but also about what you choose to avoid or subtract from your routine.
It is implied that while external factors like weather can affect productivity, the biggest enemy is internal—procrastination.
The article suggests that everyone is susceptible to distractions and procrastination, but these can be corrected or avoided with discipline and strategy.
The author emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, noting that American adults spend significant time with media, which can detract from productivity.
Strategies such as waking up early, planning time blocks, and taking short breaks are presented as effective defenses against distractions.
The author admits to personal struggles with

A Guide to Get More Done

The #1 Reason You’re Not Very Productive

There are many factors that can rob you of your productivity each day.

The bad news is not all of them are within your control.

Yep, that’s right. You have zero control over some of the elements in your environment. It’s not all bad news though. I promise.

Take the weather for instance…

As I look outside while writing this story, it’s a crappy rainy day. The dreariness alone is enough to make it difficult for anyone to get into the correct mindset to be productive.

You automatically feel more motivation when there’s plenty of light but when it’s this dark and gloomy…

Well, it may take a lot just to get out of bed!

But here’s the good news…

Even though there are many factors that can suck the life out of you, most of them boil down to one thing.

And most of them can be corrected or avoided altogether.

“Productivity is the art of subtraction.” — Josh Spector

It wouldn’t do you any good if I drone on and on about being productive and rob you of your time to get stuff done.

So I’m going to give you the biggest enemy of productivity and how you can take him down.

Here’s the #1 Reason You’re Not Very Productive

It’s because you’re a procrastinator.

Ouch! I just made you the villain in this story.

I bet there’s a good chance you think you’re not.

I used to think that about myself too.

From the alluring distraction of technology to the challenge of managing lack of direction, various factors hinder our ability to efficiently accomplish our tasks.

And like it or not… we’re all guilty of distracting ourselves with something more fun from time to time.

According to a 2018 Nielsen report, American adults spend on average 11 hours a day interacting with media. This includes listening to the radio, watching TV, and spending time on a tablet, computer, or smartphone.

Here are the biggest distractions transforming you into a procrastinator:

Lack of direction
Distractions caused by technology
The work is difficult
The work is tedious and boring
You start way too late

You need a laser focus to protect yourself from these distractions.

So what’s the best defense against the attacks perpetrated against you every day?

Here is what you can do to defend yourself:

Become an early riser
Go to bed earlier
Limit distractions
Tackle the toughest tasks first
Reward yourself for accomplishing a task
Take short breaks (set a timer)
Plan your time blocks for the entire morning, or entire day

In 2010, Harvard Business Review released a study that showed that early risers tend to be more successful than night owls.

To keep things moving… I’ll wrap it up.

You can’t control the weather, the actions of others, and a few other factors…

But you are in total control of you.

So wakeup early and get going.

Control the conditions that you can. And make great plans to deal with the ones you can’t.

I’m not perfect. I still get distracted by Twitter or YouTube once in a while… usually when I’m intending to check my email or something else I actually need at the moment.

But I’m not much of a content consumer so I usually snap out if it within a couple minutes.

Once you do it enough to get your brain used to locking out the distractions, you’ll find it’s much easier to stay on track.

All right… don’t just sit there. Get up and get crackin’!