Present statistics of an average worker in all the career fields show that in an 8-hour workday, one is productive only for approximately three hours. Meanwhile, the stats fall drastically in the case of office workers.
So, what can be the reasons for someone to be unproductive?
Well, NxtDecade is here to make your life easy by having your to-do list completed and checked all over.
Let’s discover the reasons for you NOT being productive first:
Why Aren't You Productive?
Sometimes when we want to work but don’t feel active enough to start any work. Four major reasons that make you unproductive are mentioned below:
1. Loss of interest
Your loss of interest in the work you do could be one of the reasons for being unproductive.
If you go for the 5-6 figure income and not for your work, the worktime would not be as productive to those who work with interests & passion.
2. Poor sleep
It can affect not just your health but your concentration at work drastically. Sleep is a major factor to decide the quality of work and your productivity at work.
3. Excessive us of social media
It is one of the major reasons for the low productivity of employees as well as students.
Around 60,000 thoughts come to our brains every day, and when most of them are consumed through social media memes and posts, there’s no space left for creativity and we become lazy.
4. A toxic friend circle
This would influence most of your habits and lifestyle. Friends and people with whom you spend most of your time reflect on who you are and what your future would look like.
Well, these were the major reasons.
If we count as a person living in 2022, the list would go on and on. People’s lifestyles, opinions, etc have been changing and they call watching Netflix and playing games late at night, and staying unorganized shows “staying in trend and being cool“.
Before knowing any solutions, let’s understand what productivity is, or is it just an illusion?
Productivity vs Effectivity
Being productive is misunderstood by a majority of people. Students, people, everyone believes it to be staying busy. It isn’t about staying busy and hustling 24×7.
The right word for being productive is “being effective“.
Being effective means completing the tasks on your to-do list. It means doing your goal-oriented work and avoiding unnecessary stuff.
Use The Internet Wisely!
A web browser is a platform where you can search for anything, do anything, and watch anything. Everyone has gotten access to the Internet. Even if you come from a middle-class family, you can read this article as you have access to the internet!
It can be used for educational purposes, learning skills, etc. (for good purposes) as well as for watching movies, playing games, etc. (for bad purposes).
Utilizing this internet for a good or bad purpose depends upon you.
Time flies!
Wasting it or making something productive out of it, is a choice. Also, if you want to be productive, cut the distractions that come through the internet, whether it’s an email or a text.
10 Ways To Be Effective
Productive time is your effective time. So, let’s discuss the 10 ways to manage time and stay “effective”.
1. Don't work out of time
According to psychologists, the human brain can’t concentrate for more than 40-45 minutes, that too with a 10-15 minute break. Once the concentration is lost, the effectiveness is also lost.
One can use the Pomodoro technique to stay in the loop while working. This technique states that one should work for 25 minutes straight with 5 minutes interval breaks.
Also, you should put a timer on while you work so that you know how long it’s taking to get your work done and what’s distracting you when you’re taking longer than needed.
2. To-do list
A goal is when you set a deadline and plan baby steps to reach it. It is necessary to keep track of what you’re doing and where you’re going. That’s what a to-do list is for. One should plan his/her day, week, and even month.
Also, try to stick the list somewhere you go often so that you can see it frequently and don’t forget about it.
3. Productive hours are everything
Some people like to work during the daytime while some people like to work during the nighttime. You need to figure out what’s best for you.
It’s because when you are working at a time when you’re drowsy or not in a mood then you’ll end up wasting your energy and time.
Here are some products that will help you to improve your productive hours:
4. Take care of your health
Due to the misconception of hustling and productivity, many hustlers don’t sleep enough or don’t exercise, or don’t even perform daily life activities that a human should follow to live a healthy life.
It doesn’t just affect the mental health of the hustler but also the physical one. Improper sleep also leads to a lack of concentration which means lower productivity.
What would you do without your health – one of the biggest assets of a living being?
Click here to read the interview: Fitness of an entrepreneur
5. Organize your workplace
Organized things are beautiful, aren’t they?
It also helps you find things on time and gives off positive vibes all around your workspace.
When things are organized and tidy, you don’t end up wasting your time searching for them in need.
6. Avoid multi-tasking!
Scientists say that the human brain isn’t meant to multitask. It can perform just one task at a time.
If you don’t believe me, consider a situation where you’re listening to music and suddenly someone starts talking to you. You’ll either focus on what the person is talking about or focus on the music you’re listening to.
In the same way, when you’re doing something, you shouldn’t multi-task because you’ll never be able to concentrate completely on anything in such a way.
7. The A-B-C-D rule
In this rule,
- A means “Avoid”
- B means “Bypass”
- C means “Curve”
- D means “Do it now”
According to this rule, in your to-do list, if there’s something unnecessary, avoid it. If there is something that can be done by someone else instead of you, bypass it. If there’s something that you can do later, have the curve.
The last one, if something must be done, do it at the moment.
Prioritize what’s more important and apply the “D”.
8. Reward yourself
Humans crave rewards and appreciation. Rewarding yourself for accomplishing something, even if it’s small, gives a sense of achievement.
It boosts the energy and motivation to perform the job in an even better way if rewarded because then the person would crave an even better reward.
9. Tough tasks should be prioritize first
In the morning, everyone has a fresh mind. So, the tough and not-so-interesting tasks should be done in the morning time when you’re completely energetic and fresh to do the things.
For students, study the subjects you don’t like in the morning so that you can enjoy your favorite ones while you aren’t in the mood to study much.
10. The first hour of the morning
The first hour of the morning is really important and that decides how your day will go. You must avoid using digital devices such as smartphones, television, etc., in the first hour of your morning.
As I said earlier, around 60,000 thoughts come to our minds every day. If those thoughts get filled with movie scenes, social media posts, or YouTube videos, then how would you be able to think about something else?
In the morning, you should meditate, exercise, or read a book as all these cleanse your mind and helps you stay productive throughout the day.
End thoughts
At last, I want to conclude by stating the fact that it is crucial to be productive in your life if you want to achieve something big.
Personalities like Amitabh Bachhan, Walt Disney, and Elon Musk are the greatest examples of being disciplined and successful in their life.
Therefore, being successful is directly related to being productive and efficient. These habits will also be helpful to entrepreneurs in building a healthy mindset.
Take help from the above-mentioned ways and learn to save time and make it more productive!
Great tips… We need these reminders..
I am glad you like it Radha