Your Ultimate Productivity FAQ Guide With Top Book Picks (Part 2)
Continuing from my last blog, This is another blog of FAQs about productivity. Here I answer queries from my Readers. A special Thanks to my Readers who came to me with these Queries.
How can you effectively remove Initial friction to boost productivity?
Overcoming initial friction to start any task does look daunting but once done you will experience less friction in following tasks and find yourself making correct decisions. Below are tips to do so, use as many as needed:
- Utilize technology: Omnipresent Technology, let us use it to streamline tasks. Try Apps Trello, Todoist and Notion to make getting to the starting step of the task easier. “Make Time“ by Authors Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky has what I think are amazing tips on using technology without being overpowered and distracted.
- Practice time batching: “The 4-Hour Workweek“ by Tim Ferriss introduces the concept, of getting into the flow and completing more, grouping similar tasks of the day and allocating clear time blocks to get them done. The idea is to encourage yourself as once you are in the zone resistance declines.
- Delegate tasks: Identify tasks from your agenda that can be delegated, this helps reduce the overwhelming feeling which is one of the main reasons for procrastination. This also frees up your time. Chris Ducker‘s “Virtual Freedom“ has techniques for outsourcing / delegating jobs effectively.
- Establish a morning routine: Get used to starting every day with a structured routine that establishes a positive tone and puts you in a mindset of productivity. There is no one Routine for all here, with trial and error find your routine and tweak it. For inspiration, “The Miracle Morning“ by Hal Elrod, is a must-read.
- Seek accountability: Make an accountability buddy be it a Partner, friend, mentor, or an accountability group to hold you accountable for your goals and progress. “The Art of Possibility” by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander talks about the power of accountability and mutual support in achieving goals.
The secret to your success is determined by your daily agenda.
The Miracle Morning
Overcome the cycle of procrastination and overthinking to achieve greater productivity?
Most heard reasons for procrastination are laziness or bad time management. Neil Fiore’s book “The Now Habit” offers a fresh and better perspective to tackle the problem. As following:
- The Five Basic Truths of Procrastination: Fiore captures five fundamental truths of procrastination, perfectionism or fear of failure among others. identifying and working on the reason or one of the five causes can help greatly with destabilising the pattern of procrastination.
- The Importance of “Now”: Fiore’s strategy is the concept of concentrating on the present, “now.” He encourages people to steer their perspective from dwelling on past failures or worrying about future outcomes to taking immediate action in the present moment. Helps reduce overthinking effectively. Then use a productivity approach to get things done. Here you are, out of the overthinking shell to the productive zone.
- The High-Mood Approach: The Author advises initiating tasks when in a positive or high-mood state, as this can improve motivation and productivity. Also by concentrating on tasks that align with your values and passions, you can tap into ingrained motivation and overcome procrastination. In the hour of need if you can not find the High-mood state in the vicinity utilise music to bring your spirits up or to just remove distractions and concentrate.
- Positive Reframing: A change of mindset, the Author urges individuals to reframe their negative beliefs and perspectives regarding work into optimistic and empowering attitudes. For example, rather than considering work as a chore or responsibility, choose to see it as an opportunity for growth, learning, and self-improvement.
- Changing Self-Talk: Fiore highlights the significance of monitoring and problematic negative self-talk associated with procrastination. By reframing thinkings such as “I have to” or “I should” into empowering words like “I choose to,” we can recover a sense of control and motivation over their tasks.
- The Now Habit at Work: Setting boundaries, delegating tasks, communicating assertively and wisely choosing the tasks, These help people create a supporting work environment that promotes productivity and reduces procrastination.
Procrastination is not a lack of time management or planning, but it is a problem of managing emotions.
The Now Habit
How to effectively address demotivation to boost productivity?
One book that talks about demotivation and delivers an understanding of increasing productivity is “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Daniel H. Pink. This book examines the science of motivation and challenges conventional views on what steers human behaviour. Pink presents the idea of intrinsic motivation and specifies three key elements—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—that are vital for boosting motivation and productivity.
- Autonomy: Having a sense of autonomy like having control over work and decisions, having flexibility in how tasks are completed and being involved in setting goals and defining your role.
- Mastery: Foster a culture of endless learning and skill development. Find opportunities to acquire unique knowledge and expertise in your areas of interest. Try experimentation and growth using resources such as training programs, workshops, and mentorship.
- Purpose: Understand the bigger purpose behind your job and how it contributes to noteworthy results. Understand the mission and values of the organization, and connect individual jobs to the wider goals and results. Nudge yourself to align your assignment with your personal values and aspirations.
- SMART Goals: Another technique of the book is to set precise and attainable goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). Break down enormous objectives into smaller milestones to provide a sense of improvement and achievement every day.
The secret to high performance and satisfaction—at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
How can I leverage the concept of “strategic laziness” to enhance my productivity?
“The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done” by Kendra Adachi offers an understanding of the concept of strategic laziness. Adachi advocates for being intentional about where you invest your time and energy, focusing on what truly counts while letting go of unneeded tasks and expectations. By adopting strategic laziness, you can streamline your actions and prioritize actions that align with your goals, ultimately leading to greater productivity and fulfilment. This is how you do it:
- Identifying Priorities
- Setting Boundaries
- Simplifying tasks
- Mindful Decision Making and avoiding unnecessary stress
- Embracing Imperfection
- Focusing on Progress, Not Perfection
The Lazy Genius knows that the goal isn’t to be productive; it’s to be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t.
The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done
If you found the solution to your Productivity hindrance in this blog or have any query regarding your productivity that you want me to find a solution to, write it down to me in the comments section. Feel free to mention your views about the blog. I am always eager to hear from my Readers.
Until next time.:)
