How could being more productive change your life?
While many people decidedly want to be more productive, they don’t often have a clear picture as to how being productive could make their lives so much better.
Understanding the benefits of having productive lifestyle patterns will not only motivate you to make the effort for various changes, but will also help you gain a clearer idea as to what you’re working for and what you are capable of achieving!
When You’re More Productive You’re Able To:
1. Achieve more of what you want:
What do you want to accomplish in your life? Think about all the things you would like to achieve and what you would need to do in order to achieve them. Many of us put things off because we simply don’t have enough time for them or because we are too tired and preoccupied.
One of the best things about being productive is that you’re able to use your time efficiently and are therefore able to get more things done, you start to make time instead of finding time. Productivity however, is not just about getting things done, it’s about choosing wisely what gets done when. As Henry David Thoreau put it: “It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?”
2. Gain a sense of empowerment:
Ruth Gordon is famous for saying “courage is like a muscle; we strengthen it by use” – the same applies to our sense of empowerment and self actualisation. Being productive allows you to exercise the power of choice – the responsibility that comes with making your own choices and holding yourself accountable to creating what you want in your life.
The more you work for and achieve your life goals, the more you strengthen your sense of empowerment and achieve all the happiness and benefits that come with it!
3. Have more time for yourself:
Have you ever needed a break but felt too guilty to take some time off to treat yourself to a relaxing evening with your family or friends? Many of us fight a daily battle to reclaim control over our work-life balance – becoming more productive is a great way to help us do this! Instead of letting work encroach on our leisure activities, emotional recuperation, rest and health, we should be able to find enough time to both work and play!
If you ever feel guilty about taking a break, the good news is that resting every once in a while will actually benefit your productivity levels in the long run, and the more productive you are, the more time you’ll have to properly de-stress and clear your mind!
4. Attain clarity and become more focused:
According to the Roman philosopher Seneca, “To be everywhere is to be nowhere.” What this means is that without clarity and focus, we end up engaging in many different things, instead of focusing our attention on, and thinking clearly about, the things that really matter in our lives.
Becoming more productive isn’t just a naturally occurring process that some lucky few are able to follow, it requires systematic effort and a methodology that may vary for different people. An essential part of becoming more productive is developing clear goals and focusing all your energy to the right places!
5. Optimise the use of your resources:
Your time, energy and concentration are all limited resources. Being productive is all about strategically managing the resources available to you in the smartest way possible. This allows you to eliminate the amount of time you waste on aimless procrastination for example, and to efficiently complete all your daily tasks. Most of us have had days when we use up all our energy on something and then realise that we couldn’t possibly have enough energy or time to work on any other project.
The more productive you become, the more you’ll start finding yourself with enough energy for the important things in your life!
Think about this quote from Zig Zagler: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great”. If you want to reap the benefits of productive life choices, you have to get started on making the necessary changes!
Don’t feel disheartened by not being perfect right from the start, remember, sometimes you win, sometimes you learn – make the effort, commit to your choices and you’ll soon start to see the results!
To your Success!
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