1.Not getting enough sleep
Sleep is essential to your well being. Sometimes people tend to take this for granted. They think the less sleep you have the more time you have to work. However, when you sleep between 7-9 hours a night, you are more energized to complete your work during the day. You are focused and energized as you optimize your sleep.
2.Multitasking
The brain can only focus on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, you alter your productivity. Some may feel doing so much at once could prove efficiency and get more done, but studies on multitasking reveal that such reduces your efficiency and performance. Even when you might be able to proceed on many fronts at once, it is still a slow and an error-prone way of working. It is better for you to focus solely on one task which will get you all the work done much faster.
3.Having a negative mindset
No matter how productive you want your day to be, if you do not possess a positive mindset, nothing will seem to work. Negative opinions or negative thoughts of how things will turn out will limit what you can achieve so try and encourage yourself to possess only positive thoughts. Change your mindset, believe in what you can achieve daily.
4.Noise
Noise can be devastating. Some people think that noise can make you improve and the pressure determines how much work you can accomplish. It is understandable that certain noise is part of our lives. But we can get thrown off by the slightest commotion like swinging doors, frequent phone calls, or street noise. Productivity can be altered by such disruptions so it is better we do well to reduce the noise around us. If it is within our control, make sure you fight them off with some noise reduction methods. Perhaps you need to switch off the TV, or get yourself noise canceling headphones, try to reduce the noise around you.
5.Trying to be perfect
In a bid to try to reach perfection we spend so much time fixing every little detail of a task that we do not have enough time for more important tasks. When you try to perfect things you deter yourself from getting more done in less time. Perfection is a dreaded unicorn and doesn’t lead us anywhere but in circles. It is better you understand your limitations and offer the best you can and move on to the next task.
6.Not prioritizing
Prioritizing means getting the most important things done first. Yet what is urgent may not be important and what is important may not be urgent. Trying to make a balance between what is important and urgent allows you to delegate tasks and pay attention to what should be done immediately.
7.Social networking
We all want to be on top of what is going on within our social circles. We feel it is an obligation or mandatory to get plugged into Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at least once a day. But the sorry news is that these social media sites are designed to cut down on the much work you can get done during your day.
8.A cluttered workspace
It is easy to judge a productive person or not by the workspace he works from. According to a survey by OfficeMax many Americans believe clutter has a negative impact on their lives and work. Workplace clutter damages productivity and hurts your professional image. Try to clean up your workspace at least once a week to improve your productivity daily.
9.Not asking for help
Asking for help doesn’t make you stupid or less smart. Rather it does make you productive and efficient. There is no shame in needing help with something. It only signals your limitations. Rather than beating yourself in confusion, seek help and direction, and you will get more done in less time.
10.Setting too many goals
There are only a number of goals we can reach within a set time. Yet people chase after quantity. Being productive however should focus on quality over quantity. This means being realistic and more purposeful in your approach to hit goals. Setting too many goals doesn’t get more done rather it leaves you divided. Set fewer goals that are attainable within the time frame allotted for them. Reach maximum efficiency, be more productive and do not do any of these things. Featured photo credit: hikabu via flickr.com
title: “10 Things People Do Every Day Which Make Them Unproductive” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-02” author: “Carol Allen”
1. Procrastinating
Procrastination is a thief of time. Putting things off until later can hinder your productivity. Get your tasks done immediately, as soon as you can! If you have free time try taking on the tasks you have delayed for later.
2. Staying glued to social media
We all like social media. We all want to be connected with friends and be a part of the gossip. Yet this becomes an addiction for many. Perhaps you are unaware of it, but this could hinder your productivity. Stay away from those tempting gadgets and focus on getting your job done.
3. Not eating right
Eating right goes a long way to making you stay active and healthy. Many are not conscious of their diet and sometimes even skip meals. Doing this can cause mental and physical fatigue. Try eating right, make your mornings consist of diet related to carbon, fibre and protein rather than fatty foods that will quickly be broken down by the body and lead to exhaustion.
4. Not planning your day
Planning is very helpful to your daily success. How productive you can be depends on how much you have structured your day. By doing this you understand what is important and what should be prioritized. Not juggling up too many activities and trying to accomplish so many activities all at once can make things go frenetic and frustrating. Plan your day right and increase your productivity.
5. Multitasking
People feel they can do so many things at once. They feel by taking on so many tasks they can be more effective and achieve more, but studies show otherwise. Multitasking is a productivity killer as it affects our ability to learn and could be brain damaging.
6. Not taking a needed rest
Rest is very essential daily. Working so hard and being busy is not the same as productivity. To become more productive, you have to offer your body the rest it deserves. The human mind was designed to recharge and take breaks. So adjust your schedule to taking a break and finding the time to rest.
7. Trying to be perfect
We all cannot be perfect. You can be excellent at work but shooting for perfection would only hinder productivity. Try to aim for what you can reach and attain rather than those things that may appear unreachable. Being a unicorn can become a dreadful pursuit.
8. Not taking care of your health
Taking care of your health is pivotal to your success as ambition can be useless without a sound health. Make sure you are mentally, physically and emotionally stable. Treat your health properly. Take breaks, exercise regularly and eat right.
9. Not accepting responsibility
Accept responsibilities for everything that is before you. Don’t shy away from what you are meant to do or start delegating or assigning others to help you complete your tasks. By accepting responsibility you trigger a feeling of accomplishment. This incites happiness and stirs you to get more work done.
10. Not setting goals
Goals are important to success. By setting goals you can measure and track your progress. Setting goals has a way of steering you to finish a project or task when it has to be finished. The human mind loves deadlines and setting goals will signal your subconscious to taking action on your desires. Take charge of your life and be in control and do not leave anything to chance. Although you may have built habits or unknowingly done these things every day, try to channel your energy into becoming more productive now. Featured photo credit: http://www.unsplash.com via download.unsplash.com
