Table of contents:
- My path to productivity
- Everything has a price
- The understanding of productivity has changed
- Finding a personal limit is important
2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
We try to do more and more, but it only brings frustration.
We are constantly told that we must make the most of every minute. After all, whatever you say, productivity is a property of most successful people.
We have 24 hours a day and about 16 of them to be productive. Considering the main work, there is still somewhere from two to six hours in which we rake up personal files.
But isn't that overkill? Productivity is great, but it can get expensive. I have already paid for it and I want to share my experience to help you avoid the same fate.
My path to productivity
About a year ago, I focused on improving my time management. I have done the same as anyone who wants to be productive: downloaded dozens of applications and read dozens of articles. I firmly decided to devote all my free time to developing a blog. So I started getting up at five in the morning and writing down all of my goals the night before.
For the first few months, this inspired me. I became more organized, sprinted, and started using the calendar. But there was a problem: I felt like a squeezed lemon.
Everyone who saw my bags under my eyes constantly asked if everything was all right with me - and I was completely shattered.
Despite my productivity, I rarely took the time to come up with a clear plan. This resulted in the accomplishment of many "important" tasks and a complete lack of understanding of the goal. For example, I spent most of my time looking for ways to drive traffic to the site, but not creating content. I thought narrowly and chose the wrong path.
Everything has a price
For several months I did not even realize where this would lead. I have been recording all my time using ATracker, an application with which you can track time by activity category. For example, how much do you spend on reading, eating, and even relaxing.
I liked to measure my progress every night. I used to spend two hours reading, three hours working on my blog, and that was pretty damn cool. But this productivity cost me dearly.
I spent little time with family and friends: it seemed to me that communication interfered with my effectiveness. This led to the fact that I was less and less invited somewhere and more often I only talked to myself.
I felt like a robot, programmed only to do tasks, and I was miserable.
Due to my productivity, I missed many important dates and lost many dear people. I became so obsessed with building a successful blog that I forgot about other important things. The saddest thing is that I am not working on this blog anymore.
While much of my hard work ended up being a very rewarding experience, I doubt it is more valuable than the friendship I lost.
The understanding of productivity has changed
Today this word has a slightly different meaning.
Being productive means dealing with the main tasks without sacrificing important moments in life.
This means accepting invitations to see friends and family more often. Have one day completely free from work. Listen to your body when it is tired of tasks and rest. And do not take a steam bath if sometimes you cannot complete everything planned.
I realized that three hours of work is my personal limit. They are in addition to the eight that I spend in my main activity. If I ever exceed this time, it is only because I finished other tasks earlier.
I admire people who can work more than 10 hours a day and feel great. Yes, you can blame yourself for not working as much. But we are all different - and we all have their limits.
Finding a personal limit is important
I firmly believe that everything in life has to be paid for. If you spend too much time on your business, then you see little with your family. You give too much time to your family and you risk ruining your business.
Sometimes I wonder if the goal of building a successful business is worth giving back its golden years. In the end, there is no guarantee that I will succeed. Although an excess of communication, I am sure, will not bring me happiness either.
Answer yourself to the question, what does productivity mean to you personally? Does this mean completing more business-critical tasks? Or maybe more travel? You don't just need to be more productive - you need to understand why.
Whatever you put into this concept, the main thing is that you are happy. Leave only the most important things on the schedule - the ones that inspire you.
Try to imagine how you have completed all the main tasks and nothing weighs you down. You managed to build a thriving business, devote enough time to loved ones and find time for yourself.
Like what you presented? If so, get down to business. If not, drop everything and give yourself time to think about what to invest in your own concept of productivity.
Don't count the days. Live so that every day counts.
Mohammed Ali American boxer
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