The Productivity Paradox

 

 

 It seems like one of the questions that is roaming around in everyone's mind these days is "How can I be more productive?".

 

We all try so hard to just get stuff done because we think productivity is all about that. Squeezing in as many things as possible in our limited time. 

 

But productivity actually describes the rate at which a person, company, or country does useful work.

This common misconception leads us to feel bad about ourselves when we aren't able to do everything on our to-do list today. 

 

 


So, while we try to be more productive, we actually manage to get less done. Because we stress so much about what we still have to do, we run from one task to another and are ultimately completely overwhelmed and give up. We rather blame the days for not having enough hours than ask where we went wrong. 

 

The problem is actually not rooted in having too little time, it's how we manage the time we have and what we choose to do with it.

 

With the internet and social media at our fingertips, we are bombarded with information and comparison all the time.

This didn’t only make us lose the ability to differentiate between important and trivial things in all aspects of our lives, but it also leaves us unhappy. We have the constant fear of missing out. Now more than ever.

 

In the following post, I want to share some tips with you that I learned along the way and which helped me be more productive while doing less.

 

1. Take look at your daily schedule

Try tracking how you spend your time (+ screen time) for at least one or two weeks. This will help you realize that there is often a huge gap between your subjective view of time and reality. 

A quick Google search and you'll find tons of apps to help you with tracking if you aren't a fan of classic notebooks. 

 

2. Evaluate the results

Where exactly are you spending your time? What takes you longer than expected? Is there an area (e.g. screen time) that surprises you in particular? 

 

3. Set a priority

A priority in its very core meaning is the very first or prior thing. You can't solve all your problems in one day. Choose one area that you want to intentionally spend more time on.  

 

"If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will."

- Greg McKeown

4. Remove obstacles

What is keeping you from spending your time how you want to? 

If you want to read more, make sure to always keep a book around you. If your phone is distracting you with social media from studying, use apps that block those other apps and sites for a certain period of time. 

It's about making it as easy as possible for yourself to stick to your goals.

 

5. The 80/20-Rule

The Pareto Principle basically states that 80% of the effects are the results of just 20% of the causes. Simply put, with a relatively little amount of work you can achieve most of the results. 

So take a little time to figure out the 20% instead of jumping right in and spending all your resources on the less important tasks. 

 

6. Put a time limit on tasks 

It's easier to schedule your day like this and you aren't free to procrastinate on duties like chores and homework. (Frankly, it also helps reduce mindless time spend on Netflix.)

7. Learn how to say "No"

We often feel obligated to take on everything that others offer us. We jump on all the opportunities because we don't want to disappoint someone or miss out. Set criteria and don't settle for less.

What would you have to give up in order to do this? If you hadn't been offered this opportunity, what would you have done to get it? 

Now, this doesn't mean refusing to do the dishes when your mom asks you to, but know the limit of tasks you can take on and then accept or refuse the opportunity intentionally.

 

8. Plan your week

I think a lot of us do this unconsciously anyways, but it can be helpful to actually take some time and write down all your upcoming events and to-dos.

Combined with the time limits you set yourself, you can now schedule your time according to your goals. This is where setting a priority comes in handy again. Be open to make trade-offs and plan in some extra time for unforeseen events.

9. Protect your assets

Getting stuff done is great and all, but it's not a durable state. Resting is crucial to being productive. If you are well-rested and balanced, you will be able to focus on your work and achieve more than if you're just thinking about coffee and your bed the whole time. Put your health first and worry about the rest later. Most of us aren't in a position where postponing a certain task is a matter of life and death. 

 

10.Eliminate decisions

"Which coffee should I drink today? What pen should I use for this?"

We all have to face thousands of decisions every day. And most of them are unconscious. Every time we have options, we immediately compare them. This doesn't need to take longer than a second but it distracts us and drains our mental energy. This concept is called "decision fatigue". 

You might realize that it doesn't really matter what pen you choose if they both write the same. Just eliminate the option of having multiple similar pens for the same purpose. Pick one and save yourself the decision next time.