“Being busy” gives the illusion of productivity, but the truth is that it increases stress and depletes energy levels. That’s why many people who are constantly busy get little done. Constantly being busy leads to poor productivity because you never have a dedicated time slot to focus on a singular task for a specific amount of time. Your mind is scatterbrained, jumping from one thing to another. This tends to give you less tangible results as your energy level is drained during the process — not productive at all.
Stop being busy
Becoming more efficient requires a mindset shift. Here are a few simple ways you can help increase your productivity. Increase the time you spend on something you want to achieve. Instead of allowing yourself to be distracted from what you want to achieve, find a system that helps you accomplish what you want to. This might include a to-do list software like Todoist. In most cases, focusing on your most important goals and having a focus on a single task per day is the best way to get things done. Schedule time to work. Some people feel the pressure of this, but using an app like Google Calendar allows you to schedule time to work on things that matter to you. This means you know what to do each day so you can get things done.
Don’t multitask
Multitasking is not really productive. If you do it for too long, you lose focus and start to lose motivation. In the long run, it can mean you work at sub-optimal capacity for the time you’re trying to get things done. It may be effective to do a short burst of multiple tasks, but if you want long-term results, put your brain in one mode for a short time and move on to a different mode to complete a different task. It’s not smart to spend too much time switching between them. Your motivation is better spent during a single, focused task for an extended period of time When you get the motivation, put it into a task that you’re determined to complete. When you get into the zone, do not allow yourself to go off and do anything else.
Take time to plan
If you know you’ll be busy, do your best to give yourself time to plan for the event or project. Make a plan of attack for the day, week, or month and set aside some time to work on it. Pick out your ideal day of the week and focus your entire schedule around that. Get rid of tasks that don’t move you closer to your goal and set aside time to focus on one project at a time. Take notes and use a calendar to set tasks, set reminders, and check deadlines. This takes up less energy than the “constantly doing” because it puts an emphasis on completing one task at a time. Setting a calendar reminder to work on a client presentation, for example, might give you a specific goal to accomplish in a short amount of time, while a client request might provide no specific deadline at all.
Be Present
Life is more enjoyable when you’re doing what you’re passionate about. Surround yourself with like-minded people who also enjoy what you enjoy. Get out of your comfort zone and take part in activities you don’t typically do. In that way, you’ll be able to learn new things and broaden your horizons. Lose The “Busy” Habit
“Never do less than what you are able to do, but always do more than what you do not able to do.” — Lao Tzu
Think about what you accomplished in the last 24 hours. Think about what you accomplished in the last week. And then think about the last year. If you’re doing less than you can accomplish, something is wrong. Only by being more productive in the present can you create more wealth and a brighter future.
Conclusion
Focus on the big picture. Create a to-do list and schedule time for each task. We’re all busy. Don’t waste your time being busy.
