Habits to ditch if you want to be productive

We all have the same number of hours in a day as any successful person in the world, yet somehow we fail to make the most of those 24 hours. 

It's amazing how much some people can accomplish in such a short amount of time. While others end up hurting their productivity due to their faulty habits. Most people are guilty of doing a multitude of things every single day that keep them from being indispensable at work.

Below is the list of habits to ditch that is damaging your productivity level. 

Checking phone constantly

Responding to every email and text as it comes in diverts your mind from the work you are carrying out. The urge to constantly stay connected and engage in phone conversations has made it seem impossible to ignore any notifications. However, it is important to keep in mind that the impact of this habit prevents you from completing the work you set to finish. The time you spent scrolling through your screen could be utilized in working on the new project assigned to you. 

It becomes very tempting to go through your phone when a message pops up, so it is best to turn off notifications to stop yourself from checking the phone. It is best to set a commitment time, where in that time you resist screen time other than work and soon this habit will set in. 

Making Excuses

Everybody makes excuses, whether it’s for not carrying out the task, procrastinating on important work, or something else.

Excuse makers say things like:

• I will do it tomorrow

• I’m tired

• Nobody else is doing it, why should I?

• This is not my job

• I don't get appreciated for my work, so what's the point?

• I’m overworked

Making excuses seems much easier than explaining the truthful reasons behind the low productivity. Even though excuses provide an easy way out from difficult situations, in the long run, they can harm your career by preventing you from reaching your goals.

Anyone can stop making excuses foremost by taking responsibility for their work. When you start being responsible, you begin to see problems as an opportunity rather than obstacles. Slowly your perspective starts shifting and you let go of the limiting beliefs and excuses that hold you back. 

Not getting eight hours of sleep

Being sleep deprived is a productivity nightmare. Enough studies have proved that a lack of sleep causes serious health issues and contributes to reduced efficiency, more errors and mistakes. Not getting enough sleep time causes difficulty concentrating, making decisions and being the best version of ourselves. 

To get a deep sleep follow a consistent sleep routine, and try to have a fixed time to get into bed. Make sure that you avoid screen time at least an hour before you go to bed as the blue light from phones disrupts your sleep hormone. 

Multitasking  

source: HubSpot

Multitasking may seem inevitable in our modern lifestyle. Doing more than one task at a time seems to get more done but it is not always the case. Constantly switching between tasks, especially when those tasks are complex and require undivided attention, makes the person become less effective and more likely to make errors. By focusing on one task at a time, you can perform better, get more done in less time and work smarter.

Contrary to popular belief, doing more is not the faster path to productivity. Surprisingly completing tasks one at a time is a powerful way of becoming productive. Multitasking causes the brain to rapidly switch between works resulting in limited attention to what's in front of you. Single-tasking on the other hand builds up the attention muscle making it possible to accomplish more in less time. 

Not taking breaks

Pushing yourself and taking on work until you have checked off every task on the to-do list sounds like the secret to productivity. But, the truth is working straight for 8 hours does not seem realistic. To get the optimum results, you need to schedule time throughout the day and take breaks between work.

Productivity isn't just about getting work done, it’s about getting them done right. If you want to produce great results, you need to take some time off. Taking frequent breaks reduces stress which makes it easier to get things done. When faced with a difficult work situation, taking some time off makes it easier to look at the problem in a new creative way leading to innovative solutions. So make sure you take some time off, do simple exercises to re-energize yourself, and continue working. 

Giving every task equal importance

Task prioritization is a habit that can massively boost your productivity. One of the common reasons people lag in their working hours is that they often treat every task as urgent, which is not always true and prevent people from managing their workload effectively.

Without a prioritizing list, you will spend your whole day on a nonpriority project while urgent tasks remain untouched. Deciding what needs to be done right away and what can be saved for later allows you to tackle your to-dos in a controlled and considerate manner, optimizing productivity.

What other habits have you fallen victim to? Share with us in the comments below.