How I Started Productivity Journey — The productivity method you’ll ever need!
In this article, I will share with you my productivity journey and what I learned so far.
I will be talking about a few different productivity techniques that I’ve found useful in my life and how they can help you become more productive as well.
They are
- Have a Proactive Mindset
- Do Meditation
- Define Goals
- Identify Strengths
- Make Standards
- Make Time
- Build Habits
I’ve been working remotely for the past two years as an IT System Manager and System Architect. I had been struggling for a long time to strike the perfect balance between my professional and personal lives. I was always attempting to be more productive and stay on top of all the tasks that needed to be completed in a day.
I began my productivity journey by reading many productivity books, listening to podcasts, and watching YouTube videos. But it wasn’t until I discovered the right tools that I was finally able to maintain a high level of productivity.
I realized I needed to make some changes if I wanted to achieve a better work-life balance. And it was this realization that led me on a journey of self-discovery, where I discovered how productivity works..
I’ve noticed that when I plan my day ahead of time, I get more done. It also assists me in staying focused on what needs to be done rather than becoming distracted by other things.
I’m on a mission to increase these good days and reduce the bad ones. Let me help you find a way to live more productive and mindfully.
Let’s talk about seven different productivity tactics that I’ve found useful in my life and how they can help you become more productive as well.
1. Have a Proactive Mindset
The first thing that I did to improve my productivity is, to have a proactive mindset. Think about what you can do for yourself, instead of focusing on what others can do for you.
A proactive mindset will help you take more action. A lot of people think that they need to wait for a change before they can do something about their situation. They believe that someone else has to do something before they can start taking any action
This tip is very important if you want to be more successful and productive. You should have a positive attitude and believe in yourself. Believing in yourself will help you take more action and also achieve your goals faster.
2. Do Meditation
The second important thing that I do is to take up meditation daily as it is one of the best ways to improve productivity. It helped me focus better on the tasks at hand and stay calm under pressure.
I have been practicing it for the last 6 months now, and I am able to do more in less time. It has helped me be more productive in my day-to-day life.
It also helped me get rid of any stress or anxiety that might have been caused by an upcoming meeting or project deadline.
Meditation helps in improving concentration and focus. If your mind is constantly wandering, then it will never be able to stay on one task for long. Meditation teaches us how to stay focused on one thing for a longer period.
3. Define Goals
The important step in my life to being more productive is setting up my goals.
A goal is a target and an objective that you want to achieve. It can be anything from finishing a project to saving money for your next vacation — as long as it’s something that motivates you and helps you focus on what’s important. If you don’t have any goals in life, then everything will seem equally important, and none of them will get done!
The “right” activities primarily depend on your goals. The “right” activities are activities that help you move closer to your goals, in particular, your most important goal(s).
Time spent working on activities related to your most important goal(s) is time well-invested.
Productivity is about getting things done, but not just “anything” done; it’s about getting the “right” things done. To be productive, you must put your efforts on the “right” activities. But how do you know what those are? You need a goal.
Example
If you are thinking about writing an article for the sake of publishing it, then it’s better that you don’t write anything at all. You need to have a goal in mind before you start working on your content.
4. Identify Strengths
We all have strengths and weaknesses. It is important to identify your strengths and spend most of your time in our strength zone. Doing the “right” activities will allow you to leverage your strengths while wasting less time and energy on your weakness.
One of the best ways I came across to identify strengths is by identifying activities that I finds most fulfilling. These are the things that I do without any hesitation or resistance. The activities that make you feel energized and excited.
This is a very good way to identify strengths. It is important to determine what activities one does without any hesitation or resistance because these are the things that they are most likely good at.
Example
when I was trying to find out what my strengths were, I found that I enjoyed organizing and cleaning my room. This was something that I did without any hesitation or resistance which told me that it was something that I am good at.
Once we have identified our strengths, it’s time to look for the right opportunities for them. Doing so will help us avoid wasting time and energy on our weaknesses.
5. Make Standards
Productivity is not just about the amount of work you get done. It is also about getting the right things done right.
This means that if I have some tasks that are more important than others, it is important to focus on them first.
Example
I find it more productive to spend time editing an article before publishing it, rather than spending time on social media or other less important tasks.
There are many different productivity tips and tricks out there. But the key to success is finding a system that works for you and sticking with it.
True productivity demands that you hold yourself to high standards of excellence and that you commit to producing quality work.
6. Make Time
Productivity is about getting the right things done right, “at the right time”. For me, It’s about finding out when I am most productive and I need to make sure that I am doing the right activities at those times.
For instance, I found out that some activities should be performed when my energy level is high.
Example
I am a morning person and I work best in the mornings, so it would be wise to schedule my important tasks for that time of day.
If you’re a morning person and your body shuts down at 8 pm, then it would be wise to schedule less important tasks for early in the morning.
“At the right time” also implies that you don’t miss your moment by indulging in procrastination: when it’s time to get the work done, you get it done.
It is important to know that procrastination is a bad habit. It can be the result of several factors, such as lack of self-discipline, fear of failure, or perfectionism. The key to overcoming procrastination is to know when it’s time to get the work done and not miss your moment by indulging in procrastination.
7. Build Habits
There are five key aspects of why it is important to build habits.
- Habits Are Who You Are.
- You Can Change Your Habits.
- Good Habits Allow You to Reach Your Goals.
- Habits Set a Foundation for Life.
- Habits Can Replace Motivation.
Habits are the things that we do every day without even thinking about them.
Building habits can be a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be. The key is to take small, manageable steps that are sustainable over the long term.
Here are the five ways how to build habits:
- Stack your habits
- Start small
- Do it every day
- Make it easy
- Reward yourself
Bonus
12 Habits that changed my life
1. I get up at 5 am every day.
2. I meditate every day.
3. I eat healthy food.
4. I drink lots of water.
5. I make a to-do list.
6. I give myself small rewards for completing big tasks.
7. I find ways to break up my workday.
8. I avoid addictive time-wasting activities.
9. I try to get as much done as early in the day as I can.
10. I have started showcasing my success.
11. I tell someone my goals.
12. I make goal setting a habit
Waqas Shami is a productivity nerd and an avid traveler. He is trying to live more meaningful and purposeful life! Follow him on this new journey of balancing digital and physical life. He currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden. He is on Instagram: @waqas.shami, twitter: @WaqasShami3.
