Increasing Productivity in your Life

 One lesson the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is that time is a finite resource. Life isn’t infinite, and if you subtract sleep alone, the time to live consciously is not that much. Balancing life and work becomes even more challenging when countless responsibilities pile onto you. If you are someone who likes both taking on several projects at once and having enough time to enjoy yourself, you’re probably wondering: how can I increase productivity in my life?

Many corporate gurus will probably say that you need to sidetrack everything else, make work your absolute priority, or even extend your workday beyond regular hours. Then use however much time remains to do whatever you do to let off some steam. But what if I told you that that approach is backward?

Increase Productivity by Doing Less

That’s right. At first glance, productivity and doing less might sound like oxymorons. But here’s the catch: if you do less throughout the day, you can do more within a shorter time frame. Let me explain.

First of all, by doing less I don’t mean that you become a master procrastinator and forget about all your responsibilities. Instead, I mean that you manage your day in a way that allows for free time and a shorter and more focused work session—what some refer to as ‘deep work’. Let’s take an example.

I attend university, and the first two weeks of December are always hectic. Exams and due dates seize my calendar, and I am tempted to declare defeat before I even start. I am scrambling to balance schoolwork, my social life (though that one is on hold for now), chores, staying in touch with relatives overseas, and leisure—so much is going on. And when it comes to school, this is when I need to be the most productive.

Say I have six hours a day to complete my assignments. Should I work restlessly all six and never even think about taking a break? I could, but that would get me just as far—or not as far—as working fewer hours.

Instead, I set aside two of those six hours for working out, pleasure reading, going for a walk, cooking, or anything that gives me a pause from work. I find that when I come back to my desk I have more energy, my mind is sharper, and I aim for a higher quality of assignments, especially if I enjoy the work.

I am not thinking, “Just get this done so you can get up and leave.” I am thinking, “Ok, I think I can write this like that, and then write a more concise conclusion.” In other words, I am more focused and motivated, the quality of my work improves, and I am almost always more productive.

Do Less, But Don’t Get Distracted

 Now, there’s another catch: a shorter, more intense workday can only work with no distractions. 

That’s right. You cannot take 2 hours out of a 6-hour workday to break from work and spend the remaining four jumping from YouTube to Facebook to YouTube to what you’re working on—all while your favorite Netflix show plays in the background. As much as multitasking feels like today’s norm, it rarely works well. It is possible, yes. But it is not very productive, and it ends up consuming the precious finite time in your life.

If I were trying to finish an assignment with the TV in the background and my phone by my side, it would take me twice as long. And the quality of my work would most likely be worse. So I create a study space where nothing is there but what I need to study: no phone, no Netflix, and as few distractions as possible.

Working with distractions all around may well be the right option for you. Sometimes it’s the only option. But if you wish to become more productive and better manage your days, you should view minimizing distractions during your deep work as the first step of your journey.

By all means, there’s a fine line between doing the right amount and not doing enough. And it is up to you to experiment with your schedule and find a ratio that works. For me, a 2-hour break in a 6-hour workday works well. But maybe you only need one 45-minute walk or 10 minutes of rest for every hour of work. Whatever it is, it is crucial to introduce activities that allow you to decompress and re-energize. And it is equally crucial to keep distractions at a minimum during your productive time. Not only will this increase productivity in your life, but it will also let you enjoy more of a precious life that perpetually fleets across time.

Try out different strategies for Productive and successful life stories and let us know how it went!