14 Apr Productivity Over Busyness

It often feels like we do a million things a day but our ‘to do’ list never gets shorter. This can leave us feeling tired, unhappy, and unmotivated because the list seems never ending. Have you ever wondered why? Ask yourself, are you really being productive, or are you just staying busy?

Here at Futureproof Concepts we follow 6 key steps to keep us on top of the game.

Declutter. Prioritise what is important on your to do list for that particular day. Figure out what you can delegate and to whom. Studies show that people are far more productive when they focus on one task at a time rather than trying to multitask. Use your team to help you achieve what needs to be done. And finally, make sure the goals on that list are realistic.

Break it down. If you fill your list every day with 30 goals to achieve by 5pm, you’re setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. Instead, aim for three main goals you need to achieve by the end of the day. This will leave you feeling more motivated and satisfied when you get to cross them all off. Break down major task so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Reflect. Ask yourself ‘what did I achieve today?’ and focus on the positives, rather than what you could have gotten done if ‘so and so’ didn’t happen. This dose of daily affirmation resets your attitude and helps set you up to have a positive and productive day tomorrow.

Take regular breaks! We often feel like we have so many things to do we couldn’t possibly sit down for a 10-minute coffee to relax and reset. But ironically that is exactly what is going to help you get more done. Resting and resetting can help you focus your priorities and bring clarity to tasks that may be weighing you down.

Set clear boundaries. Allocate focus time and themed days. Discuss with your team when you are not available so you can focus without being disrupted. Theme your days, i. e. for meetings, working on the business, going through training etc. It is also ok to say NO. Stop replying to emails and phone calls after hours, nobody expects you to reply unless you create the expectation.

Create dope moments. You can stimulate your brain into creating and releasing more dopamine, by ticking off the To Do’s on your list. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter helping you feel a sense of achievement and flow. You will feel more accomplished throughout the day and boost your mood, which in turn boots your productivity. Ready more about this in our blog “Dopamine at Work”.

Next time you end your day feeling like you got nothing done, despite being busy since 8am, remember to,

1. declutter
2. cut down your list so it’s attainable
3. reflect on all the things you DID achieve
4. take your well-deserved breaks, and
5. create some dope moments and enjoy your success.

Before you know it you have created healthy habits that will boost your productivity and mood.