The fact of it is that life is hectic. For many of us, limiting our ‘to-do’ list is just simply not an option. Constantly trying to get your to-do list down can feel like a never-ending task. This can lead to feeling like a ball of stress! There will always be periods where more things are being added than being ticked off.
Does this sound familiar to you? Do you feel extremely overwhelmed with how much needs to be done? Do you feel like you are constantly overworked and busy? Do you feel like your efforts just aren’t enough? Don’t worry, you are not alone. In fact, a lot more people share this feeling with you than you may realise. An individual can look put-together on the outside but is screaming for help on the inside!
In this article, we are going to look at ways to increase productivity. This one is for all of you out there that feel like you are super busy yet you feel like you just aren’t getting much done. Before we go over helpful methods for increasing productivity, let’s look at what it means to be busy and what it means to be productive.
Being busy vs being productive
Productivity and busyness are two distinct concepts that have different implications for the way people work and live. Being productive means that a person is efficient and effective in their work, using their time and resources to the best of their ability, creating meaningful outputs. On the other hand, being busy is a state of constant motion, where a person is constantly running from one task to the next without necessarily achieving anything of value.
Being productive is a conscious choice. It requires the individual to plan and prioritize tasks and activities to maximize their efficiency. Additionally, it is not something that happens overnight. This is a flow that is learned through practice and mindfulness. Productivity also requires focus, which means the individual can block out distractions and devote their full attention to the task at hand. Truly productive individuals are goal-oriented and strive to maximize their output in the most efficient way possible. Time management is everything!
In contrast, being busy is often characterized by a sense of restlessness and lack of direction. Busy people are constantly on the move, jumping around from one task to the next without taking the time to think or plan ahead. Busyness often leads to a lack of focus, as the individual is unable to concentrate on any one task for an extended period of time. Moreover, busy people are often overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that need to be completed. This can make an individual become easily frustrated or discouraged, which ironically also gets in the way of productivity.
Ultimately, being productive and busy are two completely different things. Let’s move on to ways that you can shift from a busy bee to a productive person!
Take breaks
This is the biggest mistake that I used to make when I was a chronic busy bee. I used to truly think that being busy was good because it meant that I was in the middle of a good ‘workflow’. If I am in a good flow, why on Earth would I stop to take a break? Well, as it turned out with nearly everything in life, balance is key.
Taking regular breaks throughout the day can help increase productivity and creativity, as well as reduce stress and fatigue. Breaks can also help to keep us motivated. Our minds and bodies need rest to recharge and stay productive.
When we take a break, our stress levels are reduced and our minds can relax and refocus. This allows us to come back to our work with a clear head and a renewed sense of inspiration. Taking breaks is especially crucial if you are working on creative projects! Taking a break helps to reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and can help to prevent burnout. Breaks also help to improve our cognitive functioning and help us to stay focused and productive throughout the day.
Short breaks throughout the day can help us to stay energized. By taking a few minutes to step away and do something else, our nervous system can regulate more effectively. This can help us to be more productive when we return to our tasks. Additionally, being super busy all the time can lead to a lot of anxious feelings. Stepping away from your work can do wonders for your productivity. You will definitely get more done if you take time to rest, trust me!
Focus on health
Being healthy is one of the most important elements of being productive. If you neglect your mental and physical health, you will not be able to show up for yourself when it comes to work and personal tasks. Not only does it allow you to work without the physical and mental fatigue that comes with being unhealthy, but it also helps you to think more clearly and be more creative!
When you’re healthy, you’re much more able to meet approaching deadlines. By having a healthy diet, exercising regularly and staying hydrated you have more energy, allowing you to stay focused and motivated! Eating healthy and exercising also help you come up with better solutions to problems that you may be facing. This can help make your workday go more smoothly because certain obstacles won’t be as challenging as they once were.
Being healthy also helps to reduce stress, which can be a major hurdle when striving for productivity. Stress can cause you to become overwhelmed and unfocused, making it difficult to get tasks done. When you’re healthy, your entire life is essentially more manageable as a whole!
Healthy habits also help to boost your immune system, meaning that you’re less likely to become ill and have to take time off to recover. This means that you’re able to stay productive and meet your deadlines, even during flu season.
Ultimately, if you want to stay productive, it’s important to take care of your health.
Why sleep is your best friend
Speaking of health, let’s talk about sleep! Good quality sleep is essential for our physical and mental health. Getting a good sleep each night helps us be more productive because it helps us stay alert and focused throughout the day. When we get enough sleep, we can think more clearly and make better decisions. A lack of sleep has also been linked to creative droughts. Moreso, getting lots of good sleep also helps us store information more efficiently and recall it later because it increases cognitive function in the brain.
Good quality sleep also helps us stay energized so we can tackle tasks with more enthusiasm. Poor sleep can lead to fatigue, lack of motivation, inspiration, concentration and decreased productivity. Getting good sleep helps us maintain our physical and mental health, which in turn helps us be more productive. Lastly, getting enough rest allows our bodies to recover from physical and mental strain, which can help us stay productive for longer. By doing so, we can ensure that we can show up as our best selves with enough energy to focus and ultimately be more productive.
Microdosing: Brain Food
Microdosing is the practice of taking very small doses of certain substances, such as LSD or Psilocybin, to improve mental alertness and productivity. The idea is that the dose is so small that it offers no psychoactive effects, meaning you will not get high. However, it is known to offer benefits, only without the high. Microdosing can help you be more productive by increasing your focus, creativity and motivation. It has been shown to help with creative problem-solving, decision making and improving mental clarity.
Additionally, it has been shown to improve one’s mood and reduce stress, which can also help in being productive. Microdosing also has slightly stimulating effects which can help increase energy levels so you can work longer hours while remaining productive for longer. It can also help prolong your concentration, allowing you to stay focused on the task at hand and not get distracted as easily. All in all, microdosing can be a great tool for increasing productivity and helping you work smarter, not harder, which is basically the whole idea around productivity.
Final thoughts
I hope the tips above have helped you gain some insight into how you can decrease your business and increase your productivity. As stated above, this is not something that can change in an instant. This is a behaviour that is learned through methods of mindfulness. The more methods you use for productivity, the better the results. Being productive is also something that you must maintain, which is why the methods above must be practised consistently.
A busy life is a hard life. A productive life is a balanced life. Only you can make the choice for yourself.
Which life will you choose?
