Want to Increase Your Productivity? Stop Telling Yourself These 4 Productivity Lies

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Do you want to increase your productivity at work?

Are you looking to finally put an end to wasting your time and energy?

When it comes to getting things done, it pays to be brutally honest with yourself.

In this post, I offer a collection of four productivity lies you should stop telling yourself if you want to complete tasks and to-dos in a timely fashion.

Take these tips to heart and see how much you can get done.

“If I don’t take a break, I can get more done.”

Thinking about skipping that lunch break in order to squeeze in a bit more time on that slide presentation?

How about saying no to a five-minute coffee break after a long meeting in the office?

Working non-stop is not the most efficient way to get things done.

The longer you work at something, the more fatigued you’ll become, and the more prone you are to make mistakes.

The take home message? Take a break, even if you don’t think you need one. You’ll return to your work rested, and ready to get down to business.

“If I keep working with the same tools I have, things are bound to improve.”

Sometimes, you have to make do with what you have, be it an old computer, cell phone, or photocopier. There does come a point, however, where tools become dull, obsolete, or completely broken. At this point, the more effort you put into something, the less you’ll get out of it. The key is knowing when it is time to upgrade, update, or replace something.

So, are you not getting the results you want? You should thoroughly evaluate your tools. They have more of an influence on your productivity than you may realize.

“Working faster is the only way to be efficient.”

Think working at breakneck speeds is the only way in which you can work efficiently? There are many different ways to be efficient. A good rule of thumb is to think about how you can streamline, or lessen the amount of work you’ll have to do in future.

What can you revise, edit, or revamp, right now, to make your work run smoothly? For example, you could create a handy system for filing incoming bills or invoices, devise a packing checklist for your regular business trips, or ask for help or assistance with a big project? Taking care of small, yet important tasks can be a boon to your productivity levels.

“A productivity app will solve all of my productivity issues.”

Productivity apps are great tools for checking off your to-dos, managing your projects, and tracking your time. However, apps are not the be-all, end-all of your productivity. You still have to make plans and do your work! Sometimes, you have to take a deeper look at what you are doing (or not doing) in order to make the most of your time and energy.

In this case, it might make sense to take a closer look at how you are spending your time at work. For example, are you mostly working…or are you procrastinating? Are you taking time every day to work towards your goals? Are you reviewing and adjusting your work approach? And, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or frustrated by your app(s), it might be time to part ways, or to find another app that will better suit your needs.

A version of this post appeared on the blog in 2015.

How about you? Do you tell any of these productivity lies to yourself? How are you going to correct or change things in future? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!

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About the Author

Rashelle

Rashelle Isip is a New York City-based productivity consultant who helps successful entrepreneurs and business owners manage their time and energy so they can reduce stress, work less, and make more money in their businesses. She has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, The Washington Post, NPR, and The Atlantic. Get her free guide, 5 Unexpected Things You Need to Organize a Work Notebook, by clicking here.

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