What It Really Means to Be Productive

It’s Monday morning, 8 am, and you’re already on the go. You’ve got meeting after meeting, project after project, constantly moving on to the next task or errand. You think to yourself, “This is great, right? I’ve got so much going on right now. I am being so productive!”

What many of us don’t realize is that there’s a misconception among many professionals today that staying busy means improved productivity. Having a busy day does not always translate into having a productive one. There are distinct differences that can impact work productivity. Many of us strive to achieve our daily goals and yet we seem to be so busy that there are often tasks we can’t seem to get to.

If this sounds like you, you might need to stop and ask yourself, “Am I a productive worker or a busy worker?” The two do not go hand-in-hand. Busy people often try to cram more than they should into one day, and the result is a mad scramble from one task to another without really giving anything the attention it deserves. By focusing on productivity, however, individuals can deliver better work while cutting their to-do lists in half.

Let’s explore some key aspects of a productive worker so you can improve the quality of your work, prioritize, and enjoy a more satisfying workday.

Less Is More. What we often don’t realize is that reducing our number of tasks allows us to get more done. Think of it this way: 5 tasks done carefully and precisely are more meaningful than 10 tasks done quickly and hurriedly. By reducing the busyness that characterizes each day, we can spend more time focusing on fewer tasks. Not only does this method have the potential to nurture better work, but we’re also more likely to complete each task when we assign ourselves fewer of them.

Minimize Distractions. Productive professionals develop systems for addressing their email correspondence and telephone calls. They don’t allow minor distractions to impede their workday progress. They don’t check emails or calls every single time they get a notification. It takes some discipline, but the results are inevitably positive. When we reduce distractions, we get more done.

Urgent vs. Important. Productive workers understand what constitutes an urgent task that must be accomplished instead of important tasks that can be scheduled the following day. When faced with several tasks, it’s helpful to rank them by their urgency and importance. Attend to the urgent tasks first and schedule the others for the following day or later in the week. Give yourself the freedom to work smarter, not harder.

Separate Your Workspace from Other Environments. Be strategic about where you take your breaks. A full change of scenery will allow you to compartmentalize the sections of your day. Getting away from your desk, walking around, or eating lunch in a different environment can rejuvenate our minds and body. When we return to our desks, we feel refreshed and ready to move to our next task.

Productivity should work in YOUR favor. There’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. To learn more about your productivity strengths, take the Productivity Style Assessment! When you understand your work style you will eliminate the busyness that can creep in our days.

What will you do today to ensure that you get that feeling? START HERE, by downloading our 30 tips to Work Smarter, Not Harder.

For additional tools and strategies to personalize your productivity, click here to read How Time Management Coaching Can Improve Your Productivity.

If you are ready to enhance employee well-being, reduce stress, and magnify your team’s performance and results when you prevent meeting overload, ease email anxiety, and enable your team to work smarter with our productivity training, start now! Click here to schedule a time to talk.

Could your team benefit from our services and training? Learn more at https://www.workingsimply.com/productivity-training/.