5 Ways to Stop Being Busy & Start Being Productive

Are you tired almost every day but feel like you have accomplished much? As if you are running on a treadmill where you keep running but not going anywhere. Ending the day tired and disappointed is not how you want to spend each day. When you have big audacious goals, don’t allow yourself to settle into the habit of saying it is what is. Because of the truth, you can change. And instead of being busy, you can become productive.

Here are 5 Ways to Stop Being Busy & Start Being Productive.

1. Get Your Priorities Straight

Time management is all about priorities management. You let other things rule over your schedule because of a lack of goals or priorities for the day, month, or year. Set your priorities for the year. Then, break them down further to monthly, weekly, then daily achievable tasks.

Each day, set at least 3 priorities to develop your work, self, and relationship. The goal is to be able to have a harmonious connection between all 3 primary areas of your life.

“I recommend you take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves.” – Earl of Chesterfield

2. Get More Organized

Understand that being busy is inherrently a good sign.

In this day and age being busy is equated to productivity, burnout becomes prevalent. However, having tons of work piled up on your plate does not mean you are efficient and effective. All you end up doing is beating yourself up to exhaustion leading to burnout.

“A plan is what, a schedule is when. It takes both a plan and a schedule to get things done.” – Peter Turla

After everything has been planned, one thing never gets unplanned — distractions. The distractions are what’s stirring you away from what is essential in your life. Most of the time, they get the most airtime. Identifying these items will help you manage your time.

Time blocking is an effective tool to decipher where you spend the most of your time. From there, identify negotiable and non-negotiable items. To be efficient, not busy, minimize or eliminate activities such as one-hour unnecessary chit chat with officemates. Or, taking a shower for one hour per day. Come up with an ideal time block. Your priorities take most of the time and secondary items get less screen time.

3. Stop Replying to Every Message Immediately

Most people think that replying to emails in the morning makes them efficient throughout the day. The fear of missing out is what drives people to read and respond to messages at the start of their day. Doing so derails you from your priorities for the day as new tasks are added to your list. What you have to remember is if the message is urgent and important, the person in charge will call or talk to you in person. Otherwise, these are items that can wait.

“If you win the rat race, you’re still a rat.” – Lily Tomlin

When is the time to best check and respond to these messages? Before the day ends when you have accomplished your priorities for the day. You will have more headspace to respond in an effective manner. Because there is no pressure to finish the things you have set for the day.

4. Make time for breaks.

Breaks between tasks are important. Consider yourself as a car or electronic gadget that runs out of battery. You also need to recharge to run full speed. Working yourself to exhaustion will only kill the brain cells resulting in subpar end-product. One trick you can do is to use the Pomodoro Technique.

Pomodoro will help you set focus and break time to wire your brain until it reaches its peak state. Choose what works for you: 25-minute focus time plus 5-minute break time or 50-minute focus time plus 10-minute break time. Doing so will help you see your work in a different light making you more efficient and productive.

“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they started.” – David Allen

Conclusion

Remember the story of the saw. Using the saw over a long period of time only results in a dull saw making you less productive. Worse, you can even hurt yourself. You have to sharpen the saw to do more things.

What you focus on is what will flourish. Ensure that your focus is on what is essential to live a successful and fulfilled life.

We have discussed 5 reasons you should have a life coach, but the list goes on. If you are looking for a coach, send us a note at partnerships@led2win.com. We can help you find a trained professional who will help grow you as a person.

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5 Ways to Stop Being Busy & Start Being Productive