Why Productivity Methods Won’t Bring You Back on Track

With all the hype around productivity methods, one is bound to be your glass slipper.

At least, that’s the story you’re told. ??

But in reality, you might be wasting time reading about productivity instead of making actual progress at work.

So, let’s explore some solutions to help you stop relying on productivity hacks — and prioritize real work.

*This article is the abridged, adapted version of the blog post originally published on the Clockify blog:

https://clockify.me/blog/productivity/productivity-methods-reevaluated/

Quit playing pretend at work and reclaim productivity

You may think researching productivity methods is a worthwhile task, but you’re really just pretending to work. ??

Basically, you’ve tricked yourself into feeling productive by fixating on a low-priority activity while delaying actual tasks.

You’re not alone, though.

A 2023 study on acting busy at work found that 64% of participants do the same for the sake of professional success.

Instead of exploring ways to increase productivity, focus on the fruits of your labor. ??

After all, someone else’s methods won’t guarantee better results but can even harm them.?

Observe yourself closely and try self-reflection practices?

To become more productive, experts suggest practicing self-reflection at work. ??

For example, view key situations and mistakes as learning opportunities.?

Reflect on moments of surprise (where you made wrong judgments) or failure (where your mistake impacted others’ work).

Research on self-reflection shows that starting your day with a plan makes you more likely to have a successful workday. ??

Rediscover meaning at work?

Productivity methods won’t solve your efficiency problems if you’ve forgotten why your job matters. ??

Based on McKinsey & Company’s survey, 70% of employees believe their sense of purpose is defined by their work. So, people who find their jobs meaningful are more productive than those who don’t.

If you feel disconnected from your work, identify the cause. Experts often point to workplace negativity, which you can balance out by doing things you enjoy, like exercising.

You can also create meaning in the workplace by reflecting on your feelings about the work environment and asking employees what they find meaningful about their tasks. ????

Learn how your personal traits influence productivity

Productivity methods are designed to meet the global demand for improved efficiency — a need driven by people with unique personalities. ??

Ironically, science confirms a strong link between productivity and individual characteristics, particularly:

• Extroversion/Introversion,
• Risk-taking, and
• Openness to new experiences.

Then there’s the impact of genetics and the environment on personality traits, with 30-40% influenced by genes and 20-30% by environmental factors.

As you age, you can adjust your traits slightly (e.g., becoming more resilient after business setbacks), but not the core of your personality. ??

Blend productivity methods to learn what fits your needs

To make productivity methods work for your unique needs, you’ll need to combine them. ??

So, let's take 2 extreme personalities as examples.

#1: Procrastinators

According to experts on procrastination, procrastinators are generally impulsive and anxious. To find emotional stability, they should improve time management with:

• Time-blocking technique — divide work into specific blocks of time, and
• Eat-the-Frog technique — do high-priority tasks first instead of delaying them.

#2: Perfectionists

Typically, perfectionists struggle with self-criticism, insecurity, and fear of failure. To avoid overanalyzing, they should use:

• Pomodoro technique — alternate 25 minutes of work and 5-minute breaks, and
• Eisenhower Matrix technique — sort tasks based on urgency and importance to determine what needs more attention.

If you relate to either personality type, try combining the suggested productivity methods to optimize your workflow. ??

Hush the information noise and drive sustainable productivity with Clockify

Constantly reading about productivity hacks can easily lead to information overload. ??

This is when your brain becomes overwhelmed with excess information and struggles to make rational decisions.

That’s why you need a focus tool to filter out the noise — like Clockify.

With this intuitive and cost-effective software, you can pinpoint areas of work that deserve more attention and improvement.

Clockify offers real-time data on where your time goes with features like:?

• Time tracker — records time spent on projects and tasks, and
• Dashboard — generates vivid charts that display how you spend your time.

Where mainstream productivity methods fall short, Clockify provides a tailored strategy to review your daily work routine and make data-driven changes. ?

Try Clockify for free today