There is nothing quite as satisfying as finally pulling the covers back of your made bed and settling in for the night after a long day of hard work. That sense of accomplishment is something all professionals crave to motivate and cultivate our own success in the workplace and in life. On the same note, I don’t think I’m alone in my feelings of despondency when some days just aren’t as productive or successful as I wish they had been. As we navigate the ever-changing and progressing professional world today, I believe it is essential to practice patience with ourselves and have grace when tasks, meetings, and projects pile up and you’re not sure which direction to go. With this blog post, I want to provide you with a gentle push to 1) realize that you can get it all done, and 2) but maybe not in one day (and that is okay). Specifically, this blog post will address the basics of productivity, including the importance of organization, how to address bad habits, and offer strategies to better manage your time and work.
Productivity Basics: There really is Magic to Tidying Up
If you have not heard of Marie Kondo, she is an expert in organizing and decluttering, as well as the author of two extremely popular books that have become highly regarded as essential works to read in the ultimate quest of “tidying up”. Her accomplishments have not been in vain, as she has transformed the lives of many, and the elimination of items no longer necessary or wanted has been proven to increase productivity and enhance well-being. In a study published in February of 2019, researchers reported that study participants with a somewhat messy to very messy desk were judged by others to be less conscientious, less agreeable, and more neurotic. Additionally, several studies have identified the mental anguish and anxiety that is associated with clutter and unclean working spaces. Depending on the size of the desk and the materials already provided by your employer, you may find it helpful to purchase some organizing materials, such as a glass or acrylic penholders from Dollar Tree or Amazon.
If your desk is in serious trouble, now is not the time for a total desk makeover. Instead, focus on adapting new habits, such as these:
Even if it is just one paper or one pen, dispose of or move it to an intentional and functional spot. If you complete just one task that will aid in your decluttering process, you have one less thing you will have to worry about tomorrow. No matter how much you are dreading tackling your workspace or feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand, you can do one thing. You will be surprised how one things leads to another, and the results will all the more rewarding.
Tackling Bad Habits
Bad habits happen. In my experience, they occur with much more fervor and are adopted more frequently than good habits. Some bad habits may seem innocent, but impact our long term mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The first step to remediation of bad habits is to acknowledge that they exist and to address the full scope of the issue. Write down what has been troubling you. What are some of your bad habits that impact your productivity and that you would like to start working on?
Now that you have a starting point, devise an action plan. Spend a couple of minutes or so creating a habit tracker or composing a list of possible techniques that you can employ to help combat your bad habit. I found this blog post written by friend Natalie Clopton to be especially useful. She explains her success to waking up early is to audit her excuses. Each morning she did not wake up at her desired and set time, she took note of why she believed she did not get up. For example, one excuse might have snoozing the alarm without realizing it. What’s a solution? Simply move the alarm away from you so that you must get out of bed to turn it off. Here I have listed some possible scenarios that you may experience and the excuses and solutions you may encounter:
Strategies for Time Management
I believe that the greatest resource for time management is pen to paper. Plan your day, week, or month, but do not try to include everything or hold unrealistic expectations for the day. I find that planning even up to week in advance is extremely overwhelming to me, so I like to utilize a nice journal to write down my goals and tasks for the day, with deadlines and priorities in mind. I am more motivated to complete the listed tasked when I am not plagued with the impending doom of time. This Huff post article provides many more ideas and solutions to most effectively use your planner without the cost of your sanity.
There is an infinite amount of resources out there to help you adopt better time management skills that lead to greater productivity. John Rampton has composed a list of “15 of the Best Time Management and Productivity Books of All Time”, which I have included here.
On a Final Note
I want to reiterate the importance of patience and forgiveness with oneself. Mistakes happen, things come up, and some days just never go right. I hope that this blog has inspired you to take control and start tackling the little goals in work and in life. You are more than capable (and worth it).
“A lot of the best work I’ve ever done started out as something completely different because I gave myself permission to have space around my time and expectations.” ~ Merlin Mann