Personalized Productivity

Work Happier is a limited series of newsletters I’m writing for LinkedIn. Each newsletter considers a different topic that can get in the way of happiness at work.

Today, I'm reflecting on productivity.

In my long study of happiness, good habits, and human nature, I've learned if that we want to be happier--or healthier, or more productive, or more creative--the first step is to know ourselves.

We're often more alike than we think, but the differences among us can be very important. We all have different preferences, values, interests, and circumstances. Just because something works for me doesn't mean it will work for you--and vice versa.

One key difference in how we work? How we respond to inner and outer expectations. I discovered that people fit into Four "Tendencies": Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, and knowing your Tendencies helps you make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and engage more effectively.

And knowing the Tendencies of your co-workers can equip you to work together more easily, experience less conflict, fight burn-out, and generally understand each other.

Want to know your Tendency? Take my quick quiz here . Want to know the Tendency of the people around you? Read this article . Want to know more about how to take advantage of your Tendency? My hub of Four Tendency-related resources has tips for using your Tendency to be more productive and to keep your promises to yourself.

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Work Tips

Consider these Work Happier questions. Your answers may help you become more productive, recognize a pattern, or identify next steps. Want more? Listen to episode 390 of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast .

• Would I work happier if I learned something new?

Is there a skill, a software program, a system, a certification, or a subject that would help you to work better if you learned it?

• ?Would I work happier if I bought something?

Could a purchase or an upgrade make your work life happier? I spent weeks feeling trapped by my headphones, because my cord was so short that I could hardly move my head. Do you need more storage? Do you need to upgrade a device? Would a space heater make you more comfortable?

• Would I work happier if I stopped working at a certain hour?

Many types of work have become remote or more flexible. Would you be happier if you determined a time to “clock out?"

• Would I work happier if I made a drastic change?

Sometimes, it's time to switch careers, move to a new city, or ask for a promotion.

• Would I work happier if I asked for something?

Would you prefer that the staff meeting be moved to the afternoon? Do you need some vacation days? Do you deserve a raise? Remember to ask.

The Tackle Box

When it comes to productivity, one common suggestion is, "Make a to-do list, and check off the items as you go." But is that universally helpful?

I enjoy making and using to-do lists, and this is great advice—for me and for many people. (If you looked into the Four Tendencies above, you’ll realize that since I’m an Upholder—so to-do lists really appeal to me.) But some people don't like a to-do list.

Because no tool fits every hand, I developed my Tackle Box. This box of sticky pads has a “To-Do” list, and also a “To-day” List for urgent tasks, a “Could-Do” List for Rebels or others who don't want to be told what to do. There’s a “Ta-Da” List to celebrate completed tasks, and a “To-Doodle” list for when your work is best served by taking a break.

The Tackle Box presents five different ways to tackle tasks. You can read more about it here .

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