Being busy all the time doesn’t always mean you’re actually being productive. True, you’re probably getting some stuff done, but are those things truly meaningful to your work? When you’re working productively, you’re essentially tackling the right things on your to-do list. On the other hand, forcing yourself to do everything and anything just for the sake of doing it may lead to burnout quickly without yielding the results you’re hoping for. How productive are you? Find out by answering the following questions truthfully.
Also read:GTD (Getting Things Done) Workflow Explained
Is There a Clear Purpose to Your Actions?
In order to achieve something big, you need to have your long-term goals. And to reach those long-term goals, it’s crucial that you also have plenty of short-term goals that will act as milestones. Furthermore, the success of both short-term and long-term goals depends on your discipline – not just when it comes to work but your self care as well.
That said, ask yourself whether you’re organizing your days with a clear purpose in mind. This purpose should revolve around S.M.A.R.T. goal setting, and the system should be created with the mindset to support it, such as a comprehensive work schedule, eating right and taking good care of your health, not treating every failure as the end of the world, and prioritizing your tasks and responsibilities.
Do You Know When You’re the Most Productive?
Everyone is different. As such, people have different times of day when they feel the most productive. It’s time to question your schedule and determine whether you’re actually making the most out of this particular time period for yourself.
Even if you have a 9-to-5 job, that doesn’t mean you can’t leave some projects for another time if you know you’re going to perform better then. This is especially important now, when the majority of people are working from home. Fortunately, we have already provided efficient tips on how to find your most productive time of day. Start making a positive change by learning this first.
Do You Find Making Decisions Difficult and Challenging?
If you’re someone who dreads decision-making because it makes you question everything about the past, present, and future, you’re having a bad case of indecisiveness. There’s nothing wrong with being indecisive, per se, but at this point, it’s important to admit whether you tend to waste too much time during your day worrying about making the right decision.
Work-wise, this indecisiveness and anxiousness about making a decision can only prevent you from getting it right and actually doing what has to be done to make an impact. The only thing you should worry about is whether this decision supports your goal(s). If the answer is yes, proceed. Thinking too much about it won’t do you any good – after all, you can’t control the future.
Do You Tend to Multitask Often?
Being able to multitask is good and all, but when it comes to productivity in the professional field, it can only set you back. The truth is, multitasking has very negative effects on productivity.
While it may feel nice to get busy and have your hands in many different tasks at the same time, it’s crucial that you resist this urge. Focusing on one task at a time is much more efficient productivity-wise.
How Quick Are You to Ask for Help?
Be honest with yourself and answer just how often it happens that you have too much work piled up, yet you try to complete everything on your own, risking stress and burnout. It may be that when you decide to ask for help, it’s typically at the last minute when you feel completely trapped and overwhelmed.
Regardless of whether you are a freelancer, a business owner, or an office employee, it’s crucial that you know your own strength in terms of your productive and even physical abilities. Forcing yourself to do everything on your own is more likely to flop in the end and cause you unnecessary stress. If you need to delegate some of your tasks or need a bit more time to complete them, don’t hesitate to say so immediately!
If you seem to struggle with organizing your professional and personal time properly, you can benefit greatly from trying out some time-tracking apps. These can show clearly where your productivity seems to go to waste and where it enjoys a significant boost.