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Let’s start with simple, Are you just busy being busy or Are you actually productive?
Have you ever thought of which habits of yours are becoming a barrier and killing your productivity?
You can get things done on time and have a productive day but some of your current habits are slowing down your process.
Well you are not the only one who have these habits. we all do!
But the one who recognizes the bad habits which are ruining their productivity have Chances to improve themselves.
Here, I will go through 12 habits that are Killing your productivity and I want you to read these habits, think and analyze if you are in the same trap too, and adopt a change to become more productive!
Related read: How to be Productive the ideal guide to get more work done
Now, Let’s get into the post :
The 12 habits that are killing your productivity!
1. Social Media all the time
Social Media is the biggest trap of our lives.
And being honest I have been in this trap too.
Using social media in the morning right after waking up is a Big Negative step you are taking for a productive day.
Social media is a loop Hole. If you are just going to check your Instagram Account or any other Platform for just 2 Minutes and
Booom!
You have wasted 1-hour scrolling randomly and checking other people’s Account instead of being productive.
2. Not Planning your day
You are not planning at all what you should do in the morning First?
What are your tasks to complete? Do you have deadlines?
Not planning such things results in wasting time.
You plan things at that time when you should actually work!
(Kills productive time)
You don’t have to be an over-planner and super organized with planning.
Just write down 2-3 most important tasks for a day and set deadlines.
Use planners, calendars, to-do list to keep a track of tasks.
3. Over planning
Another reason! If you are an over-planner and you want all things, tasks perfectly on time.
You aim to plan so perfectly and following super strict routines.
Adding too many tasks beyond your limit in your list to complete your work.
You are always concerned about being productive and making plans all the time.
“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”
-Bruce Lee
Set time for planning and taking Actions this will help you to be organized.
4. Trying to multitask
If you have a lot of work and are making attempts to catch up on all and do everything simultaneously, you are Going to achieve NOTHING!
Though our brain can do amazing things. It has all the powers but it simply can’t handle many tasks at the same time.
You will not produce effective results if you are doing multitasking.
Instead, do one thing at a time and produce your best work!
5. Allowing too many distractions
You may or may not be a person who gets easily distracted(I respect if you are not) but most of us experience these distractions which harm our productivity.
Examples
- Notification from our phones.
- Starting to check one important email and end up reading all unimportant things and replying to those mails
- Reading one article for some purpose and ending up browsing other things on the Internet
- Noticing a dog barking outside our house(most irritating one)
We get easily distracted by such things.
We have to take control over them.
These distractions can break the flow of your work.
6. Not doing work on correct timing
We all have a perfect time in a day when we are the most productive.
As for me I am an early riser and can do the most productive work in the morning.
After 5 pm I seriously cannot produce productive work.
If you are not working at such a productive time you will not produce quality work.
Pro tip: Do not leave your important tasks for a time like after Lunch when we are more sleepy and unmotivated!
7. Not leaving your comfort zone
For maximum productivity, it’s better to start with a good morning routine, planning, setting deadlines.
You may not be comfortable with such changes but not leaving your comfort zone hurts your productivity.
Somewhere and at some time you have to make a start.
8. Not taking enough breaks
It’s always advisable to take frequent breaks in your work time.
If you are overworking, without taking breaks you are simply going to burn out.
It will affect your productivity and creativity.
Don’t be too hard on yourself!
Set timers for breaks too. Your mental health is more important.
Take a snack break, stretch out some muscles, do some light exercise.
Use pomodoro techniques and timers to have consistent breaks.
9. Making Excuses/ Complaining all the time
How much time do we waste complaining How much work we have, How busy we are?
Or making excuses that we don’t have enough time to complete tasks.
The productive time in which you should be working is wasted in complaining and making excuses!
And complaining has all the negative effects on our brain.
10. Always aiming for perfection
I was a victim of this habit (maybe still I am but I am trying to change).
Always aiming for perfection. Instead of completing a task, I used to waste my time to make it perfect.
Though there were some things I was trying for the first time.
First drafts are never perfect.
You have to understand that you will learn everything in the process when you will continue the work.
Better try not to waste time in making things perfect.
11 Poor health habits
Not paying attention to your health is gonna affect your productivity.
Skipping meals, sitting all day, Having poor food habits will hurt your productivity.
If your physical health is not great then how will you produce productive results?
12. Bedtime and Sleep routine
Spending so much time using screens at night before sleep, not planning enough for the next day, not having a proper sleep routine or timings will result in a lack of productivity.
You have to sleep for at least 7 hours to gather enough energy for doing Productive Tasks.
Final words
You may not have all the these bad habits but only 1-2 can affect your growth.
Habits can be easily changed if you wish and if you are ready to work upon yourself!
Identify your bad habits and then just eliminate them.
Lastly, I hope you find this post helpful and if you do please share this with someone who needs this.