We all want to be productive.
There is something extremely satisfying about working hard and “getting things done.” If you’ve ever felt the rush of a completed to-do list, you know what I’m talking about
This desire for productivity is a good one!
Oftentimes, we fill our lives and schedules with an abundance of commitments and activities in an effort to do something meaningful and “productive” with our time. We proudly claim our busyness as though being busy is something to strive for.
Here’s the problem…
“Productivity” and “busyness” are not the same thing.
In fact, being extremely busy can often get in the way of being productive.
Plain and simple, a person is “busy” when he or she has a lot to do. They have many tasks, commitments, and appointments that fill their time. In essence, their to-do lists and calendars are both packed full!
Productivity, on the other hand, is how much work is being accomplished in a given amount of time. Highly productive people accomplish a lot within their given timeframe. They use their time and resources wisely and it pays off.
Here’s the hard truth:
There are many incredibly busy people who are also highly unproductive.
We all experience this reality on occasion. Have you ever had a day that you spent running around from one task to the next, but by the end of your busy day, you aren’t sure what (if anything) you truly accomplished?
I know I have. I’ve been “busy” but in reality, I haven’t gotten much done.
Too much “busyness” often leads to decreased productivity. Here’s why:
- Too many tasks can make it difficult to focus. You may find yourself jumping from task to task before finishing anything. This interrupted and intermittent focus makes it difficult to use your time well. Starting and stopping tasks over and over will inevitably lead to lost or wasted time.
- You lack clear direction. When your schedule is overloaded, it’s easy (and understandable) to feel like you don’t have any time to plan or strategize. Instead of taking time to assess your tasks and create a game plan for successfully completing them, you just start doing without a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve.
- Important things start to slip. There’s only so much time in a day. When you have too much on your plate, something will inevitably be pushed to the backburner. Oftentimes, important things like sleep, healthy eating, exercise, or time spent with loved ones become the casualties of our overpacked to-do lists. Unfortunately, when these areas of self-care are neglected, it will cause you to underperform in all areas of life.
The most productive people are not the “busiest” people. They are the ones who choose to do less, but do it more effectively. To be truly productive, we must prioritize our commitments and be willing to potentially let go of the things that take our time and attention away from our most important tasks.
If you’re ready to do the work of ending the cycle of busyness and start being truly productive, I have just the opportunity you need!
This November, you’re invited to join my 5-1-1 challenge! In just 5 days, you’ll say goodbye to one of those depleting “busy work” activities that are stealing your productivity and replace it with a new rejuvenating, “next level you” experience!
Will you accept the challenge?
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
