They say that you have the same number
of hours in the day as Beyonce -- so why does it feel like you’re never able to
get caught up on your business to-do list?
Apart from not having your own team of
personal assistants, stylists and other hangers-on, it could be your habits
that are keeping you from achieving your business goals. Fortunately, habits
can be broken.
Here are 10 habits you should ditch
right away to improve your productivity:
1. Checking email constantly
Let’s face it: We’re all guilty of
wasting precious time and mental focus by over-checking email. The impact of
this habit is serious, though, as checking email too frequently has been linked
to lower memory function, anxiety, depression and lower performance.
The best way to overcome this bad habit
is to only check email at certain times. If necessary, you can create an
auto-reply email saying “I check my emails at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. I’ll
respond to you as soon as possible.”
2. Scheduling weekly status meetings
Most of us have the sneaking suspicion
that meetings are a huge time-waster, yet we keep scheduling them anyway. One
of the biggest culprits is the weekly status meeting. Even if nothing has
changed, everyone has to stop what they’re doing and attend a face-to-face
meeting. Instead, try using a shared project management system, internal chat
tool or Google Docs to track milestones and note what has been accomplished so
far.
3. Working long hours
Studies have shown that those who work
more than eight hours a day have lower productivity and higher burnout rates
than those who don’t. Clocking these hours might look good, but you aren’t
getting anything extra accomplished. Instead, work on being more focused during
your work hours by using techniques such as time blocking. Your results will
speak for themselves.
4. Waiting on the big project
When you look at your to-do list in the
morning, what do you tackle first? If you tend to do the easier things first
and wait on the big projects, you’ve got a bad habit. By the time you get to
the important work -- if you ever do -- you’ll be tired, cranky and far less
productive. By starting on the big project right away, you give it your best
energy while saving the easy work for later in the day when you naturally have
less focus and motivation.
5. Having coffee for breakfast
Almost everyone uses caffeine to wake
up, but is that all you’re using? If you’re not eating breakfast, you’re
missing out on important fuel for your day. After sleeping, your body is
dehydrated and hungry. If you have coffee for breakfast, you’re not giving
yourself the nutrients and liquids you need, which will undoubtedly have a big
impact on your productivity and mood throughout the day.
6. Not getting eight hours of sleep
Speaking of sleep, do you get your full
eight hours? Most American business owners don’t, and it’s killing their
productivity. Research has shown that getting five hours or less of sleep
several nights in a row affects you in the same way that having a 0.10 blood
alcohol level does. In addition, you’ll be more prone to mistakes, have more
headaches and be more easily distracted if you don’t get enough sleep.
7. Eating lunch at your desk
You may think that you’re being more
productive by skipping your lunch hour, but what happens if you spill food or a
drink on a key report -- or your keyboard? You could ruin your productivity for
the afternoon with a simple slip-up. In addition, you’re more likely to make
poor food choices and overeat if you’re eating at your desk. Do your
productivity a favor and get lunch away from your desk.
8. Not taking breaks
You may think you’re more productive if
you keep plugging away, but studies show that people need breaks to maintain
maximum productivity. Think of a break as a way to rest, allow your brain to
make new creative connections, and refocus on what’s most important. Breaks
also help prevent mistakes and keep us engaged with our work.
9. Giving every task equal importance
According to the 80/20 rule, 20 percent
of our tasks will produce 80 percent of our results. So why are you treating
all tasks as if they’re equally important? By focusing on the most important 20
percent -- which may not be your most urgent work -- you’ll be significantly
more productive. There’s nothing more frustrating than spending a day “fighting
fires” only to realize that you didn’t accomplish your most important work.
10. Multi-tasking
You may think you’re being more
productive when you try to do two things at once, but you’re fooling yourself.
Your brain may be good at switching quickly between tasks, but it still causes
a loss of focus, creativity and productivity. By focusing on one task at a
time, you’ll get more done overall.
Having bad habits is common, but they
can be overcome. By focusing on breaking these 10 productivity-killing habits,
you’ll dramatically improve your effectiveness, making it possible to
accomplish whatever business goals you’ve set for yourself.
Related: Multitasking Can Damage Your
Brain and Career, Studies Say
Related: 5 Habits That Are Destroying Your Ability to Lead
Related: 3 Dirty Little Habits That Will Kill Your Entrepreneurial Dreams
