Habits of Productive People
We’re always on the verge of finding effective ways to become productive. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing. There’s always that urge to become better at what you do. Unfortunately, excessive amounts of caffeine won’t get you out of the sofa to do what you’re required to do. The habits of productive people reveal that there are things they automate in their lives.
Before we get into detail about the habits of productive people, why is it that most individuals are obsessed with productivity?
In reality, the digital world we live in today is to blame. We are constantly fighting all forms of distractions. You might be serious about attending to urgent matters early morning, but notifications from your Facebook or Instagram page can distract you. Such distractions can affect your overall productivity because you might spend countless hours browsing through these social networks.
A review of the habits of productive people can help us to better understand how to enhance our lives and make the most of the little time we have.
Habits of Productive People Explained
Productive people always seem to get things done on time. These are the folks that seem to have everything going according to plan. While they might be late at times, they rarely blame others. They understand the importance of using their time wisely. One admirable aspect of productive individuals is that they are good at prioritizing tasks.
Top Habits of Productive People
If you’ve been wondering how productive people stand out from the crowd, here’s a quick look at their distinguishing habits.
1. Most Important Tasks First (MITs)
Focusing on the most important tasks can help you to be more productive. In any given to-do list, some tasks are more important than others. Therefore, investing your time in ensuring these tasks are done first helps to ensure you have more time to attend to other less important activities.
It’s easy to do the easiest tasks. However, it’s usually challenging to work on complex tasks. In fact, most people find themselves procrastinating on these tasks. Successful people understand this and strive to pay more attention to urgent and important tasks. That’s what you should start doing.
2. They Don’t Multitask
Research indicates that we can only do one thing at a time. Multitasking simply slows you down. You might think that you can get more done in less time by multitasking. But the opposite is true. Jumping between activities delays cognitive processing. You will waste your productive hours instead of focusing on something you’re good at.
3. They Eliminate Distractions
Distractions do waste a lot of time. Therefore, one of the main habits of productive people is that they know how to eliminate distractions. This can range from digital distractions to people. Arguably, some people are energy vampires. Instead of being helpful, they can drive you to waste your precious time on unimportant activities. These are the people you should start cutting out of your life.
4. They Know the 80/20 Rule
Productive people know how to use and apply the 80/20 rule. The 80/20 rule, also termed the Pareto Principle, argues that 20% of your activities determine 80% of your results. This time management principle applies to your personal and professional life.
You must have noticed that only a small fraction of the things you focus on determine your achievements. Sure, you have 24 hours a day, but you probably spend a few hours working on the most vital things. If you work 9-5, you only work 8 hours to shape your life.
5. They Take Baby Steps
Productive people know the importance of taking small baby steps towards big goals. Most people tend to procrastinate on big projects because they appear to be burdensome. However, productive people know how to break big projects into smaller chunks. This makes them more manageable and easier to complete. So, it’s all about dividing and conquering.
6. They Have a Morning Routine
If you’ve been watching or listening to motivational videos and talks, productive people have a consistent morning routine. They value the importance of making the most of their morning hours. Instead of wasting the first two hours of the day catching up on your social media posts or reading emails, you should use this time to do the most important things.
Final Verdict
You now know the power habits of productive people. What are some of the habits you’re struggling with today? To learn from the best, you need to follow what successful folks have done. Start small and divide your big goals into smaller goals. More importantly, you must never forget that you’re running your own race. Best of luck!