I was recently asked what the biggest mistake people make is regarding productivity. What a great question. Why is it that so many of us never seem to have enough time? What are the things that hold us back? Why do we struggle to get everything done? I’ve pondered these questions and come to the conclusion that there isn’t one simple answer because each of us is guilty of at least one of what I call the Seven Deadly Sins of Productivity.
Before I get to them, let me back up, and share with you how I discovered them. I started my career off as an English teacher. Day in and day out I would help Japanese students learn English. I quickly noticed that some students displayed qualities that would help them succeed, while others progressed slowly, if at all. Later on, as a consultant, I noticed that business people were guilty of pretty much the very same mistakes.
The Seven Deadly Sins of Productivity
1.The College Disease
I always thought it was procrastination was something only college students struggled with. After all, once we enter the workforce our success largely depends on our work ethic. Imagine my surprise when I found that sales people, managers, doctors and even CEO’s procrastinate.
Brian Tracy’s best-selling book Eat That Frog essentially deals with this concept. We tend to put off what is unenjoyable or tough. The problem with this is that our psyche knows we should do it, so it’s distract us the rest of the day. Putting off something or sweeping it under the rug won’t make it disappear so it’s better to face it head on.
Solution: Focus on the task at hand by using a timer to keep us on course.
2.Mother Theresa
Niceness is a good thing, no doubt. However, there is such a thing as being too nice… The takers of the world want to pawn off their most difficult work on other people, don’t let that be you.
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Niceness is a good thing, no doubt. However, there is such a thing as being too nice. You never want to be a doormat. In my youth, I wanted to help everyone I could. Unfortunately, there are those people who I let take advantage of me. The takers of the world want to pawn off their most difficult work on other people, don’t let that be you.
Another result of being too nice is over-commitment. You don’t want to go through life making other people happy and sacrificing your own happiness in the process. It’s a balancing act; helping people as much as we can within reason, but also giving ourselves enough time for what we want to do.
Solution: Learn who you should give your time to.
3.Insomnia
A recent Gallup poll revealed that 40% of Americans sleep less than six hours a night. But according to the Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, people need at least seven hours of sleep a night. Most people shortchange themselves when it comes to rest because they underestimate its importance. Science has proven that if we’re sleep-deprived our cognitive ability and productivity drops by as much as 30%. That’s not good.
Solution: Start by going to bed thirty minutes earlier for the next month. You’ll be amazed at the changes it’ll have on you.
4.Beer Belly
My mentor Jim Rohn used to say, “Some people don’t do well, because they don’t feel well.” This is usually the result of two things; lack of exercise and bad diet. Exercise is powerful. It gets the blood pumping and it releases endorphins into our blood stream. It increases our strength and vitality.
If you don’t like the answers to these questions, then do something about it.
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Regarding diet, we’ve all had days when we’ve eaten something that just didn’t sit right in our stomachs. Ever notice that our productivity drops when that happens? It’s hard to concentrate on the tasks at hands when we’re suffering from a stomachache or a pounding headache. Everything takes twice as long. Our ability to focus is hampered. Food is our fuel, make sure you’re giving your body what it needs, not just what it wants.
Solution: Exercise more and eat a well-balanced diet.
5.Habits Maketh Man
If you’ve ever seen “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” then you’ll probably remember the line, “Manners maketh man.” It’s a concept that has been talked about way back in Greek times by the famous philosopher Aristotle. Habits cannot be overlooked when discussing productivity and time management. Habits are the things we do on a regular basis like brushing our teeth and going to bed early. But habits can be both positive and negative. We must do everything we can in our power to make sure our habits help us and not hinder us.
Solution: Develop good habits.
6.Birds of a Feather
The birds-of-a-feather phenomenon is something I discussed in a previous post. Probably the most deceptive of all the sins. Many people choose to hang out with friends because they’ve known them since high school. It’s important we ask ourselves just how are they influencing us? Have they got us headed down the wrong path? If you don’t like the answers to these questions, then do something about it.
Solution: Limit (or eliminate) interactions with those people who try and pull us down the wrong path.
7.Shiny Object Syndrome
Distraction is one of the subtlest productivity killers. The TV used to be the biggest killer of dreams. Today it’s social media. What makes social media worse is it follows us around in our pocket. Possibly the greatest distraction tool ever is now with us wherever we go. And to make matters worse, it’s on 24/7. TV time is limited to the time we are home in front of it. Smartphones make us prisoners of social media everywhere we go.
Solution: Distraction is a productivity killer, learn to focus on just one task at a time.
I used to think the reason people struggled with time management was because they didn’t understand its incredible power. But like most things in life, there’s no one-size-fits-all. If you’re having trouble getting a handle on your time, chances are that you’ve fallen prey to one or more of the Seven Deadly Sins of Productivity. The good news is that with a little effort, you’ll find time you never knew you had and transform your life in the process.
Photo by Anthony Bevilacqua on Unsplash