Everyone wants to be productive, yet there are many things that people do in their daily life that halt their efforts to do so. Whether it’s sitting down to watch that third episode of your favorite TV show or failing to plan ahead, there are a variety of things that can contribute to losing productivity. Here are some of the top mistakes to avoid in order to increase your productivity.
Believing You Will Remember Everything Instead of Making a List
Creating a to-do list is an activity that can save people a lot of time and headaches, but so many people fail to do this in their daily lives. Planning ahead is one of the most important aspects of productivity.
You can sit down before you head to bed and write down what you have to do for the next day. Not only will this give you peace of mind, but it will increase your productivity the next day if you know exactly what you have to do.
Working More and Not Smarter
There is some science associated with this tip, and it is vital for you to know. So many people spend more than 40 hours a week–sometimes 80 hours a week–working their jobs and wondering why their productivity is less than it used to be.
Working smarter, not harder, is the key to success. Henry Ford discovered that if the workday was eight hours and people only worked five days a week, they were more productive. In the same sense, people can plan their days accordingly. Instead of working multiple hours on one task, find the best solution and limit the time that you spend on that issue. You’ll thank yourself later for the amount of time you save–and the productivity you gain.
Being the “Yes” Man or Woman
Being the first person to jump up to help a neighbor or a friend is an admirable quality, as long as you’re tending to your needs, too. Too often people will say “yes” too many times to others, but not to themselves.
To become more productive, don’t neglect your own commitments and don’t try to please everyone. Be careful what you agree to and be sure to take care of yourself, otherwise, your productivity will suffer as a result.
Denying Help
People try to do everything themselves, but this often gets them into trouble. You shouldn’t be too scared to ask for help. You did it as a kid, and it is still okay to ask as an adult.
Someone will gladly be able to help you complete a task quickly and efficiently, and hopefully teach you something along the way. Asking for help is sometimes necessary unless you want to spend hours on a task that should only take you minutes!
There are many tips for people to become more productive by avoiding certain habits. You do have the power to be more productive, as long as you learn to avoid these common mistakes!
