We all have those little things in life that takes a lot of our valuable time and stops us from getting some important stuffs done. Many of us don’t even realize, how much these things slow us down! If you ever feel like you’re super busy but not able to finish your work properly, then it might be the right time to take a closer look at how you spend your day.
In this post, I’ll share you the five main things that are killing your productivity and some simple ways to overcome them. I myself used to suffer from each and every of these 5 productivity killers, but now it’s a different story! Nowadays, I’m more productive than I ever was and I can finish all my tasks properly in time.
5 Things That Are Killing Your Productivity & Ways to Overcome Them!
1. Too Much Screen Time
Smart phones, tablets, computers, it’s so easy to get lost in all those fun stuffs on your screen. Maybe you think, you’ll check your phone for “just five minutes” and suddenly, 30 minutes have passed! Social media, games, and video content, especially short form videos steal a lot of your time without you even noticing.
How to Fix it: To fix this habit, start by keeping your phone away from you when you need to focus on something important. You can put it on the other side of the room or somewhere else where it’s not that easy to pick it up and use it. Set a timer for breaks so you don’t lose track of time. You can also turn off notifications so you won’t be tempted to check every little update that pops up on your device.
2. No Plan for The Day
If you don’t have a plan for the day, you might spend a lot of time wondering what to do or what not to do next! And this same habit can lead to time waste instead of getting things done. It’s like going on a trip without a map or any knowledge of the area. Doing so, you might get lost and take much longer to reach your final destination.
How to Fix it: Spend just a few minutes in the morning to prepare a simple plan for the day. Write down the most important tasks and the things you need to do to stay focused and complete those tasks. Even a short list of tasks to do can help you focus better and feel more organized. You can also use a daily planner or a to-do list app to make and stick to your plans.
3. Doing Too Many Things at Once
Some people think doing multiple things at the same time is a good idea, but actually, it makes things much harder! Even I used to think, if I do multiple things at a time, 90% of my ventures will fail but the 10% will succeed and make it worth it, but I was wrong! Your brain can properly focus on only one thing at a time. When you switch between tasks, you actually take longer to finish them. Many time, you won’t even get new ideas to do things because of your multitasking habit.
How to Fix it: The main thing, focus on one thing at a time. Make a habit of finishing one task before starting another one. Doing so, you’ll do a much better job and feel less stressed. If you have a lot to do, try using a timer to focus on each task for a set amount of time before moving on to the next one. This way, you can still get through your list of tasks without feeling overwhelmed or demotivated.
4. Trying to Be a Perfectionist
Have you ever spent way too much time on something just because you wanted it to be perfect? Oh yeah, I have! Trying to be perfect can slow you down and make things more stressful. So, start by doing your best not the best others will think of! The truth is, most of the time, “good enough” is actually just fine! And remember, no one is perfect in the beginning. They get better with time with consistency and regular improvements.
How to Fix it: Do your best, but don’t overthink it. If something looks good and works well, then move on to the next task instead of trying to make it 100% perfect. You’ll never achieve 100% perfection doing that. Perfection is almost impossible to achieve, and most of the time, the extra effort you put on something isn’t even necessary. The best thing you can do is, give yourself a time limit on tasks to do so, you don’t get stuck trying to make everything perfect!
5. A Messy Work Space
You may not realize but having a messy desk, room, or workspace can make it much harder to concentrate on your work? Clutter can distract you and make it tough to find what you need. When things are well organized, you won’t waste time looking for different stuffs and get things done instead!
How to Fix it: Take a few minutes every day to clean up your work space. A tidy area will help you to focus and get things done faster. You can try putting everything in its place before you start working so, you’re not distracted by the mess. Keeping a clean space also helps you to reduce stress and makes you feel more in control of your day.
Conclusion
If you want to get more things done, try fixing these five time-wasters. You may not have these all, but which ever you have, fix it immediately before it fixes you! By putting your phone away, making a simple plan for the day, not worrying about being perfect, doing only one thing at a time, and keeping your space tidy can make you 10X more productive than you’re right now. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can accomplish! Small changes can make a big difference, and soon, you’ll feel more productive and less stressed every day.