Productivity defined

People take a break or procrastinate because they don't want to decide anything and let their brains drift away wherever it is comfortable, enjoyable and easy.

If someone is tired, the mind naturally moves away from what we perceive as work.

It is a way to be aware of what is sucking you into habits that are not rewarding to you.

Example: Facebook is designed to be easy to check, and one can find interesting things in it quickly, leading to procrastination and time-wasting to someone who is not aware.

The basic productivity formula(productivity= output divided by input) worked well in the industrial age as the output and input were clearly defined and measurable.

Today’s leaders need innovative solutions to measure and improve productivity in a knowledge-based workplace, as the measurement of output and input is not what it was.

While assigning value to the output of knowledge workers, we cannot simply measure the output like before.

Coders and doctors cannot be measured by the hour, as their output is not uniform or consistent every hour.

The pursuit matters just as much as the goal.
Consider why you're pursuing your goal and how the journey to achieve it will help you grow as a person.

People often give up on their resolutions because they set unattainable goals.

Try to set a goal that you can reasonably achieve within one year. If it is challenging to complete it in your set timeframe, you might become overwhelmed and give up. If the goal will take more than one year, try and set a benchmark for what you'd like to accomplish in a year.

If you’re studying towards getting a scholarship, you may decide to reward yourself by stopping work for a day or so. This kind of reward can slow your progress and reduce your momentum. 

Instead, pick a reward that does not affect your work. For example, once you’ve reached your goal, have dinner at your favorite restaurant with a friend.   

 There are limits to your personal productivity. You may have health issues. You have unique demands on your time. 

The best way to be productive is to work around these issues. Find out what works for you.

When you consider making a decision, who do you turn to?

• If you seek your point of reference internally, you will make the decision for yourself.
• If you seek your point of reference externally, you will reach out to people for their feedback and validation.

What drives you in your work?

• If you are a possibilities person, you focus on the possible choices in a situation. You are likely curious about the potential your job has for growth.
• If you are a necessity person, you are content not to think outside the box. You prefer being shown what to do and enjoy knowing how to do your tasks well.

Your “frog” is your most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it.

If you have two important tasks, start your day with the biggest, hardest, and most important task first. Focus on completing it before you go to the next one.

We tend to confuse activity with accomplishment: we attend endless meetings and make plans, but at the end of the day, no one does the job and gets the results required.

“Failure to execute” is among the biggest problems in organizations today.

There are an endless number of distractions, attention sapping ‘urgent’ tasks and other requests for action (like an email) that sap our limited energy and willpower, filling our days with stress and unnecessary procedural work.

... like the SMART(Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals, which are taught in every management class, are themselves part of the problem, distracting us from any actual productivity towards the realization of the said goal.

Another example is ‘Stretch Goals’ which are so audacious that they start to demotivate and decrease confidence.

You're not failing to reach your goals because you are incapable - you're failing because you're trying to focus on too many things at the same time.

Instead of focusing on what you need to do to reach your goal, visualize the outcome. If you think of the outcome instead of the steps to get there, you're more likely to pursue your goal. Then the steps will become a couple of manageable tasks.

N.E.T. stands for “No Extra Time,” and it’s based on the concept that you always have time during your day that you can fill with learning.

An important step in achieving any goal is to continue learning at every opportunity. Feed your mind during downtime. It could mean listening to a podcast while commuting.

For many, hunger is still an issue they contend with, and you can help with that.

Contact local churches, homeless shelters or soup kitchens to find out what their food needs are and help. You can also reach out to other community groups in your area to see what’s there.

Mentoring allows you to hone your skills, develop talent in your trade and create a lasting legacy. It also lets you help people who may not get resources and support to develop themselves.

If you’d like to work with people in your industry, look for professional organizations or opportunities through your employer. 

1. Observe the need to procrastinate, recognizing and being aware of your desire. This is called meta-recognition and is what all the Gurus keep talking about when they speak about awareness.
2. Label and accept your urge to waste your time, but without any negative judgement.
3. Validate your urge to procrastinate, increasing your self-esteem.
4. Approach procrastination as a friend, not as a threat.

The biggest obstacle, the main villain hampering our productivity is always in your hands, and rarely in your pockets. _It’s your smartphone. It needs to be powered off for some time. Your laptop, clamouring for attention, is not helping either. Remove all distractions and notifications so that you can get in the ‘flow’ mode.

Creating friction between us and the open black hole of the online distractions helps us focus on work.