Increasing Your Productivity Starts Now

During this year, I want to rate each day as it relates to productivity. My goal is to be more productive in the present year than I have been in previous years. I want to accomplish more meaningful things. Meaningful things to me. What is meaningful to you may differ from what I place importance on, so I am measuring my productivity against myself. What do you find meaningful? Do you have enough time to participate in some of those activities each day? There are specific ways that you should be able to increase your productivity.

Productivity defined

When I explain how I would like to increase my productivity, people sometimes envision me doing a bunch of different things all day everyday. This is not what I am describing. I will have rest days or days that are filled with just enjoyable activities. Building in days of rest and relaxation results in greater productivity in the days after. Relaxation is the perfect recipe for creating more efficient days. Relaxation is an excellent way to bring yourself out of a rut. Being productive differs greatly from being busy or just completing tasks.

Productivity is defined as

the quality, state, or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance, or bring forth goods and services

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/productivity

Throughout previous years, I have identified ways to improve my own productivity in all areas of my life. I want to utilize these life lessons as I move forward. I want to improve for the purpose of getting to participate in activities that I enjoy the most.

Many times we think of productivity as it relates directly to the business industry or some sort of sales area. Productivity can relate directly to you personally as well. What do you think of when you say that you have had your best day or had a good day? What does that consist of? This can help you in determine your own personal productivity.

Why I want to improve my productivity

I do not consider myself middle age all the time; however I am a midlife point in my life. I have been a professional for over twenty years. Many parts of my profession I can perform with a lot less thought than the amount of effort I had to use when I started. I have been a mother for thirteen years and still learning more about that position, but I have learned many skills along the way that have made it somewhat easier than when I first became a mother. Maximizing my productivity is not driven by getting more things done. I can do that pretty well at this point. Improving my productivity is about increasing my efficiency and allowing myself to get to do other things. At this point, I want to make sure I have done all I can in my life. What changes do I need to make to get better? How can I improve? Looking back at the earlier young adult years of my life, I would have liked to take more risks. Calculated risks. Risks that would have placed me even further along in my life than I am now.

Improving your productivity makes you indispensable at work but it also makes things in your home improve even more. You have more time to spend with your family. And your mind is not cluttered thinking about what you have to do next. It helps you become more of who you want to be.

Productivity drainers

One day, I realized I was always doing laundry. Like that was the chore I could not get rid of. The laundry keeps coming. And coming. And coming. It was baskets coming out of everyone’s rooms. Laundry was coming out of the laundry room. It was hanging on my drying rack. It was everywhere. Baskets of towels. Baskets of clothes that needed to be folded. Laundry was taking over. With a vengeance. There are five of us who wear clothes everyday. Wear pajamas everyday. Then sometimes we work out, participate in sports or dance, attend another event at night. The clothing seemed endless.

Sometimes, I could not relax if I knew that clothes needed to be done. Or someone wanted a particular item again that was still not washed. It was nerve-wracking. Laundry was trying to be my downfall. BUT I decided that I needed to some boundaries in place when it came to laundry to allow myself more control of my time and what needed to be done. I had to create my own laundry routine that allowed me to complete the task, but also allowed me time that did not involve laundry everyday when I came home from work. 

Your productivity drainer may not be laundry but I know there is that one thing that constantly nags at you and makes you feel less accomplished. What can you do to help yourself get beyond that feeling and start doing things better? Many time the productivity drainers are tasks that we do not enjoy or daily routines that have to be done, but the outcome seems small.

Productivity jump starts

Productivity can increase with a few changes to your current routine. Certain tasks are easier to increase productivity in; however using these for some tasks will allow you to complete some tasks quicker and with less of a personal drain on you.

Involve others

In the home setting, family members should participate in daily tasks. Everyone participates in various parts of the household. Participation can come from everyone, no matter their age, in the activities that have to be performed to have the household run smoothly. Now, this will require some effort on your part in the beginning; however it will create a huge return in the future for you. Put in the time now to teach those around you on ways they can assist.

Schedule certain days

Don’t allow tasks to migrate into many days throughout your week. You should designate specific days for specific tasks. Get to the difficult tasks in the beginning of the week so you are not having to think about them as the week goes along. Performing a brain dump and using a planner are excellent supports for creating a schedule that allows you to become more productive.

Interested in choosing a planner. Check out a post about that here.

Set timers for completion

When I focus on a task, I remain focused until it is completed. This is sometimes not the most efficient way to be, because then other tasks can be forgotten. Using a timer in order to time block tasks is a way to solve this challenge. A timer provides you with specific parameters that signal you when ‘time is up’ and it is time to move onto the next thing.

There are many productivity hacks that can be used in the home setting. You have to determine what works best for you. You have to decide what allows you to feel the best about what is happening in your own environment. 

Thank you so much for checking out this post. I hope you were able to find some helpful information to assist you along your flourishing journey. Please check out some past posts as well and share. I remain passionate about optimal work life balance. You can excel in both areas without compromising in either area. I have found systems of planning, organization, and personal development that help achieve goals. I created this blog to discuss topics on our journey. Come on this journey with me and Find Your Flourish!

Be you, be focused, be well! |Shanna|