Are you always “busy” and have been wondering how to become more productive and motivated?
Do you feel guilty when you take a break or for working too long?
Knowing the difference between being busy and productivity and optimizing for the latter would solve most of your worries.
What’s the difference between being busy and being productive?
At many points, we sit for long periods “working” yet when asked for the results of what we’ve been up to…we have little or no results to show for it.
Too many of us are so busy doing that we never step back and think about how we’re doing. Or why we’re doing it. I call this the do-do trap – Vishien Lakhiana (Code of the Extra ordinary)
What does being productive rather than busy mean?
The goal of productivity is to get the important things done, not to fill up your calendar.
We are in a culture where people flex on how long they work and even “plan to work” rather than how much projects they had accomplished.
Does your aiming to work for 16 hours a day translate to any measurable result?
If No, you had better rethink what you know as productivity.
The aim is not to be busy but to be Productive.
The less you know how to be productive – the more stressed and overwhelmed you become.
Being busy ≠ productivity.
This correlates with the staying Efficiency ≠ Effectiveness.
Being Productive comes from:
- Focused work
- Doing the right work (important and useful)
- Right timing
- Completing tasks rather than just starting
- Yielding results
1) Focused work
We’re hardly productive working straight long hours due to our low attention span.
Instead of overworking for long hours straight it is more effective to break down work into time blocks.
How does distraction kill productivity?
To increase your focus; you have to consciously minimize your distractions.
Also, singularly focusing your mind would give you more results than multitasking.
That’s the importance of muting down notifications or keeping your mobile phone away from where you are working.
2) Doing the right work (important and useful)
It starts with prioritizing what you do.
Not all tasks deserve equal attention; as not all tasks give equal results.
“Lack of time is lack of priorities. If you’re “busy” it’s because you’ve made choices that put you in that position.” Tim Ferris
The most productive tasks are usually those with higher consequences, may or may not have deadlines and contribute immensely to the success of your work or business overall.
While the least productive tasks are usually those with low consequences and usually have no deadlines.
So many use “being busy” is as a disguise for avoiding the few critically important but uncomfortable actions.
3) Right timing
The key to productivity is to pick out your most important tasks and aim to do them first. And do them as quickly as possible.
There might not be enough time and energy to do first things last.
Like Brian Tracy would say – “if you have two frogs to eat: eat the ugliest first.”
Do the most difficult and most productive tasks before engaging in the easy and least rewarding tasks.
4) Completing tasks rather than just starting
A solid work habit beats a life filled with boring deadlines.
Your habits and routines speak volume and can make or mar your productivity.
Deadlines make work seem important, but if your everyday actions are fuelled by meeting up deadlines – you’ll set yourself up for a life filled with stress, burnout and utter disgust for what you do.
Work now feels like punishment and something to do away with.
The goal is to be productive even without deadlines.
5. Yield Results
Successful people don’t just focus on methods but results.
8 Key steps to have the most Productive day ever:
1) Create a morning routine:
Consciously draft out how you intend to start your day and watch your productivity soar. E.g:
Exercise, Meditate, Pray, Read, Write – doing one or more of these things helps to kick start your day right.
Do your most productive tasks first thing in the morning.
“Being too busy to meditate is like saying you’re too busy and don’t have time to stop for gas.” – Robin Sharma , Monk who Sold his Ferrari
How to plan your morning from the night before?
Make a to-do list the night before of what needs to be done and follow through the next morning.
2) Minimize social media:
Avoid looking at socials or responding to emails for at least 1 hour after waking.
This is simply to train your mind to do difficult things and be creative on waking not easily consume or solve repetitive problems from emails.
3) Ruthlessly employ the 80/20 rule:
Decide you most important tasks, start with them and focus on them throughout the day.
Start with the hard task first usually the ones you tend to postpone.
Objectively evaluate your to-do list and train yourself to not see every item on your to-do list as equal.
This would help you go through your to-do list and manage your tasks effectively.
4) Time blocking:
Plan in advance specific work periods and do focused works for such periods. E.g. a 1-hour focused work on one particular project can get you way ahead of average.
Do this for similar projects in a day and you’ll be surprised how much you’ve accomplished.
It also applies to rest. Taking time to recharge is productive too.
5) Quit multitasking
Focus on one thing at a time.
Get your phone out of your sight while working.
The key to increasing productivity is to realize that:
“There is no multitasking”
There is only “task switching”
That costs you in fact 20% more time.
Focus on one thing at a time.”
6) Aim to finish projects
I had a friend who had a rule “don’t stop until you’re done.”
It sounded harsh at first but there was nothing he applied this rule that generated him mediocre results.
7) Regulate Dopamine levels while working
Dopamine is a feel good hormone that essentially works to make us feel good after achieving something.
Why you should eliminate premature dopamine to become productive?
Notifications and alerts are fuel to dopamine.
If you’re always getting notified for unimportant tasks – you easily get distracted and disrupt your flow.
What are the tricks to stay motivated?
1) Start with WHY
By remembering WHY you do and want this.
Create a vision statement – your WHY – it gives you constant guidance.
The key is to belief in your purpose.
2) Know your Distractions
By knowing your distraction type, and minimizing them while you work.
I have all apps on “Freezer” on my phone while working.
3) Prime Yourself to stay motivated
I got this idea from a guy called Ryan Whitton:
Priming yourself is a state where your mind and your body will respond accordingly.
You close your eyes and start doing the following:
1. Breathing ;you’re hands go up when your breathing in and your hands go down when you’re breathing out,
2. Grateful ; Here you step into what your grateful for and start enjoying it, feeling it, tasting it, hearing it.
3. Focus on what you want to achieve start to feel it, live it and experience it.
4) Stay Consistent and enjoy the process
You can’t fail what you don’t try.
Getting very clear on how the small things are building to something, what they’re building to, and making it fun to actually do them.
5) Set Goals
Get your next 4-5 ten years goals written down because that’s your motivation to push you through the next couple of years of living like most people won’t so you can live the rest of your life like most people can’t.
Focus on your vision, goals and trust yourself.
6) Take massive aligned and inspired action
Its not enough to set goals.
You have to take action daily. The results would show for themselves and keep you motivated.
Even if you fail at any point, you learn the lessons.
CONCLUSION
Most people think Entrepreneurs should always be motivated and productive or they risk failure.
The truth is that nobody is constantly comfortable or inspired.
The reason unsuccessful individuals are unsuccessful is because they only act when they feel like it.
The key to success is simply showing up for yourself regularly and working hard, even on days when you don’t feel like it.
Focusing on your goals is critical, but avoid becoming stuck on it.
Learn to trust your gut and have faith that you will always figure it out. Maintaining a productive yet fun trip keeps you engaged without burning yourself out.
I got attracted to tech from an early age getting close to my Father. Coupled with learning some high end skills i was able to build a 6 figure Ecommerce store a few years ago after graduating from Pharmacy.
The only way I have found to express myself as an introvert is through writing.
I’m convinced 100% that to build a 6-7-figure business and beyond you need to invest in yourself and your personal development.
The more you grow, the more your business will grow.
PS: I wrote a short book on why you don’t need more motivation and how to push through in such moments – get it here: