Increasing Productivity

What does it mean to be productive? In short, it means accomplishing everything on our to-do list for the day. When we walk out of the office, there is a sense of confidence that we’ve done everything we could possibly do to be successful that day. However, in all reality, we rarely feel this sense of completeness. In today’s fast-paced and competitive business world, we are continually forced to think about the next thing on our to-do list. There is simply too much to be done to relax. While this may seem like the key to happiness and achieving what we want in life, over time it can be incredibly damaging. At some point, it is important for both our mental and physical health to find ways to be productive while also living in the moment and reducing stress whenever possible.

Did you know that there is actually a biological reason why we feel good when we accomplish something? Dopamine was developed by Mother Nature to help us stay focused on the task-at-hand when something important needed to be done.

In Simon Sinek’s best-selling book Leaders Eat Last, he offers an interesting perspective. “When we are given a task to complete, a metric to reach, as long as we can see it or clearly imagine it in our mind’s eye, we will get a little burst of dopamine to get us on our way.”

This is one of the reasons why creating a daily to-do list is so important. Humans are visual creatures and when we can actually “see” the task-at-hand, we feel much less stressed and prepared to take on the day. There is simply no substitute for the value of actually writing things down on pen and paper. Everyday, take a few moments before the day begins to truly reflect on what needs to be done and write it down… 

As odd as it may seem, you will actually get a “hit” of dopamine when you cross that item off your list. This “hit” will help provide you the energy and motivation you need to move on to the next thing.

But, there is much more to being productive than simply making sure to write down a daily to-do list… 

An important element of being productive is being well-rested and healthy. According to one study, poor sleep causes 23 to 45 percent of the population to lose more than two weeks worth of productivity every year. Other research suggests that those who regularly get 7 to 8 hours of sleep are up to 19% more productive than those that get 5 to 6 hours. In so many words, how rested you are plays a factor in your ability to be productive.

If you want to feel your best and get the most out of the day, make sleeping well a priority. Avoid going to bed at unusual times and try to set a routine for when you get up in the morning. When your body has a regular sleep schedule, productivity is sure to follow.

All of the above being said, perhaps the most important element of being productive is making sure that you are focusing on the right things. If it isn’t a priority, why worry about it? In the process of creating a daily to-do list or a plan for the week, think about what is truly important. If an item on your list isn’t necessarily going to impact the bottom-line in that moment, maybe it can be pushed back a bit. However, this doesn’t mean that if it can be done tomorrow or next week, it should be pushed aside every time. But, taking a moment to reflect on the importance of certain tasks helps you gain perspective into how to be as productive as possible.

All in all, when it comes to being productive, writing things down, sleeping well, and prioritizing your daily responsibilities are all valuable parts of the equation. But, similar to the business world, there is much more involved than just a few variables. Being productive means stepping back and truly reflecting on the priorities in your life and how to move forward earnestly.

If you are looking for ways to elevate your life, health, and business, Jen Gaudet Coaching is here to help. By taking an innovative approach to self-care, stress management, mindset, Jen Gaudet is ready to help you become successful. Visit the following link to schedule a consultation and start on the journey to an empowered life.