When you’re still relatively young, you have time on your side. But if you choose to waste most of that time on unproductive and unfulfilling things, it will slip away from you; and in turn, you will have looked back with regret, knowing you could have been in a better place. At least that’s how I choose to see it. Here is how I increased productivity:
I Changed My Perception of Time
My entire perception of time has shifted, and I believe the appreciation of it comes as you get older. Most people, including myself, used to succumb to boredom and fill that time with activities that gave instant gratification. Video games, social media, Netflix. This is especially true in your teenage years.
Then, I realized that every minute I spend on something that doesn’t matter is a minute I could have spent improving my life somehow. Whether it be my physical shape, my mental health, a way to make money or learning a skill or something new in literature. So more often than not, I will choose something that will better me because I know I won’t get that time back. And the thought of wasting it, knowing I could have done something beneficial, is what I try to avoid.
This is not to say there are never times I indulge or take breaks, because I do. I still like to watch a show toward the end of my day or scroll a little longer on social media from time to time. I’m not a robot. I also learned that chasing absolute perfection will be hard on you mentally and emotionally. A balance is necessary for maintaining increased productivity.
I Learned to Enjoy the Unenjoyable
When it comes to the day-to-day responsibilities of life, there are many things that you don’t enjoy doing. Getting up early; going to the gym; ensuring bills are paid on time – just to name a few. But notice how much better and productive you feel after completing a task that’s required of you. Even if your mind was convincing you to opt out of it, you ignored that voice because you knew you would be better off by doing it.
More than just discipline – which you can check out here from a previous post of mine – what has also increased productivity for me has been reprogramming my brain to actually like the activities I dislike doing. I’m a firm believer that your attitude towards anything will not only determine your outcome, but your grit and resilience in future endeavors. So when I’m met with either a mundane or extremely difficult task – knowing it’s required of me – I approach it with the belief that withstanding the boredom along the way will result in a toughened mind and an improved area of my life.
I realize that adopting this mindset does not come easy, but that’s the point. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. It will take many instances of practicing this for it to stick, but when it does, you might notice that you’re getting a lot more done.
I Practiced Good Habits
It’s been well-established that your day-to-day habits predict your success and behavior in life. This has been such an important topic in the last decade that one of the bestselling books of all time, Atomic Habits by James Clear, covers it in depth.
The reason your habits are such a big predictor is because they bleed into all areas of your life. For example, if you’re constantly waking up late, it’s likely that you won’t be punctual with most other things like paying bills or arriving at work. Reversely, practicing healthy, good habits has the opposite effect. When you are conscious of doing what is responsible and beneficial for your life, in both small ways and large, you might notice a sense of pride because you’ll likely become more productive in areas like your professional endeavors or purpose.
The goal here is to be as consistent as possible. Yes, you will slip up and travel in the other direction for days, weeks or even months sometimes. But it’s imperative that one, you notice the consequences that bad habits have upon your life, and two, take action as soon as you understand the impact of them.
I Focused on Myself
Along my journey over the last two years, I’ve been able to dedicate much of my time to myself in an attempt to improve my circumstances. I’d say that, though I’m only 24 and still have other levels of success to reach, these years have truly shaped my responsibility, career path and awareness as it relates to my purpose of writing content like this.
I realize that I have an introverted side to me which accounts for my ability to actually be more productive when alone. If you’re a complete extrovert, try to be in an environment with others if that usually results in increased productivity. It all depends on what works for you at the end of the day.
As much as this plan worked for me, I could not have seen it through had it not been for the balance between that and talking to others I trust. There’s no disputing that we’re social creatures, no matter how introverted you are.
Equally important is having someone to vent your emotions or traumatic experiences to, which is why a therapist would be ideal. I wish I had made this move when I was at my worst as it would have saved me from a lot of lost time and confidence. Calmerry is an online service that gives you access to a wide range of therapists specializing in problems like stress, anxiety, substance abuse and eating disorders. Customers can message their therapist at any time and even schedule live online sessions. Apply code “CARE” to start with 30% off here – your mental health is too important to neglect.