Busy vs Productive

Today, despite the kids taking their sweet time getting ready and waking up late, we somehow made it right on time. We got everything that normally takes us one hour done in under 30 minutes, breakfast included.

There have been times when I've stayed busy but didn't get much done. Conversely, there were times I was productive yet didn't feel busy at all. According to Mel Robbins' book, "The 5 Second Rule," this phenomenon is called Parkinson's Law, which states that "work expands to fill the amount of time given to it." In simpler terms, tasks will take as long as you allow them to take.

Some of us stay busy to avoid doing things we no longer have the motivation for. But here's the thing: you don't always need motivation. Getting to the next level in any area of your life requires discipline—doing the thing you said you would do long after you feel like doing it.

Here are a few tips for being productive and efficient instead of just busy:

1. Have a hard stop quitting time: This forces you to use your time more wisely.
2. Have a "NO" work allowed day: Designate a day where work is off-limits (for me, it's Sundays).
3. Manage your distractions: While it's impossible to prevent distractions, you can manage them effectively.
4. Work out: Physical activity sharpens your mind.
5. Sleep hygiene: Better sleep improves your body and mind.
6. Putting shoes on: Wearing shoes can make you 25% more productive, according to studies on embodied cognition.
7. Create a 10-minute task list: Compile tasks that take 10 minutes or less and tackle them during short breaks in your day.

Try these tips and let me know how they worked out for you! 

And if you are not sure what being productive would even look like for you - schedule your Business X-Ray Today!

Business X-Ray