8 Habits of Unproductive People
Groups of people that have similar results have similar habits. Health-conscious people have similar habits. Thin people have similar habits. Overweight people have similar habits. Productive people have several habits in common. Likewise, unsuccessful people have several habits in common, too. If you’re struggling with your productivity, this article is for you.
While we are all capable of doing some amazing things from time to time, it’s the things we do each and every day that have the greatest influence on our results in life. You simply need a different set of habits if you want to be more productive.
For your best results, avoid these habits of unsuccessful people:
1. Failing to learn. I would have thought this is instinctual, but for some, it’s an area that we fail to tap into. People fail to become more productive if they fail to learn and develop. Try to be the best at what you do. Learn from each day.
Start by reading a book, researching articles on the internet, or watching a video on productivity tips. You will likely learn something that will help you to be more productive.
Productive people are always learning things that will allow them to be more productive. Thirst for knowledge!
2. Giving in to distractions. We have more distractions than ever before. Today’s generation generally doesn’t know life without the influence of social media, the internet, YouTube, or twitter. Usually when I see a Millennial, they are almost always on their phone. When you give in to these distractions the rate of your productivity decreases ten-fold. So do yourself a favor and limit those distractions. When you set out to accomplish something:
Focus on what you’re supposed to be doing.
Remove as many distractions from the area as possible.
Plan time to engage in your distractions. It’s easier to avoid distractions if you know that you can engage in them at a later time. If you must, use your distraction as a reward once you’ve accomplished the goal.
3. A lack of emphasis on taking action. Unproductive people often like to plan and learn. Some people love the strategic side of things. However, these same people have a lot less interest in taking action. Planning has its place. Learning is great. Eventually, though, things have to get done if productivity is important. What good is planning and learning if you cannot implement and witness the results?Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
4. Failing to make a plan for the day. Unproductive people often don’t know what to do. They don’t have a clear vision or plan. Have a plan for the day, the week, or even just the next few hours. Invest in a notebook or a To-Do book. Then, make a plan and follow it until you’re done!
5. Majoring in minor things. Many productive people are quite busy, and even look busy to others. But being busy and being productive aren’t the same thing. Do you find yourself busy doing many different “things” only to realize that you’ve accomplished nothing? Try doing this:
Identify what needs to be done.
Focus on the most effective course of action.
Avoid any activities that don’t provide significant results for the amount of time required. Be efficient!
6. Giving up. You can’t be productive if you give up too soon. Productivity is about what you do, how well you do it, how fast you do it, and how much time you spend doing it. If there is a way to accomplish something by doing nothing, please let me know how you went about doing that. You can’t get a lot done if you don’t put in the time.
“ It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
7. Worrying. It’s fine to have concern and then address those concerns. However, worrying is an unproductive habit. It wastes time and makes you less effective.
Take a moment and consider the positive things you’ve accomplished by worrying. Write them all down. How many did you identify?
8. Procrastination. You can’t get anything accomplished if you never even get started. Procrastination is a productivity killer.
If you must procrastinate, at least use the time to do something else that's productive. Going for a walk is a better way of procrastinating than eating a hot fudge sundae.
Decide you are just going to do it! Try this trick. Mel Robbins created the 5 second rule which challenges you to count backwards from 5-4-3-2-1 and immediately act at the end of the count, AND before the mind creates a reason not to act. If you implement this, you will be amazed at what you can get done by simply practicing this easy rule.
We all have the same amount of time each day. The most productive people are also the most successful. If you have big goals, and you are productive in working toward those goals, you’re going to be a highly successful person. Eliminate the habits that are reducing your productivity, and you’ll be in the best position to start getting more things done. You’ll be surprised by how much you can accomplish!
