Removing The Weeds That Strangle Productivity

Productivity is the act of being productive. It means completing the task we assign ourselves. 

It sounds easy, but the truth is we all struggle with productivity. Sometimes, the weeds of boredom can steal the motivation to complete our tasks and goals. 

Other times, we have so many goals to accomplish that it can feel like we are not accomplishing anything. One thing is clear: if you want to be productive, you need to get organized. 

What Does The Bible Say About Organization 

The Bible says many things about being organized. There are too many to cover in one post, so we will only discuss two verses: 1 Corinthians 14:40 and Habakkuk 2:2. 

Order is beneficial to everyone. According to 1 Corinthians 14:40, we should do things in decency and order. When it comes to organization, this implies creating a sequence of items and putting them in the correct order. It means strategic planning instead of making impulsive decisions. If you strategically plan your short-term and long-term goals, they will be easier to accomplish.

Habakkuk 2:2 instructs us to write the vision and make it plain. We all have goals or tasks that we want to accomplish. Writing tasks and goals down is a part of being orderly. However, if we do not write it down, it means nothing. The goal that you wish to accomplish can be easily forgotten. 

Furthermore, your short-term memory is very limited. Although it varies from person to person, an individual may only remember 7 items at a time. So if you do not write it down, it may be lost. 

When you write down your goals, it provides clarity. You can determine what you want to achieve. You can make the goal plain by creating a step-by-step plan of how you will accomplish it.

Boosting Productivity 

Productivity helps us streamline our work process and complete tasks faster. More importantly, it helps us to create more time to do the things we actually want to do. 

There are many ways to boost productivity. However, these are a few of the ways you can boost productivity. 

Eliminate Distractions 

You cannot focus on the task at hand if you are paying attention to something else. You have to create a productive environment. Turn off your phone. Check your emails 1-2 times a day. If you work from home, turn off your tv. Create an office space. Remove anything from your workspace that impedes your focus, and you will see an increase in productivity.

Perform One Task At A Time

Most people believe multitasking is desirable. However, it can hinder productivity. It can make you stressed or negatively affect your mood. 

You are not a mindless robot. You can only perform so many tasks you can perform in a day. Research from the University of Oregon suggests most humans can only attend to 4 thoughts at once. 

Even if you can focus on 4 thoughts at once, you should still focus on one task at a time. If you are completing an important task, you could make a mistake that is detrimental to the project’s success. You may receive a warning or end up losing your job. This is why you should select one task and focus on it. You will see significant boosts in productivity over time. 

Do The Hardest Task First 

It can be difficult to start with the hardest task. However, if you dread the task, it needs more attention. If you don’t perform this task first, you will procrastinate and keep putting it off until a few days or hours before the deadline. 

Typically, the hardest projects are not the type of projects you want to waste time on. They require a lot of attention, so give yourself the time to carefully design the project. If you get the hardest task done first, completing your other tasks will be a breeze. 

Plan Your Days In Advance 

We are in the digital age. The easiest way to plan your day is to utilize productivity apps. There are many productivity apps you can use to increase productivity. For example, I use Jira to manage projects. I add all the tasks I need to accomplish for each project to Todist. 

You can create daily or weekly goals and decide whether it is a high or low priority task. You can also add a time and integrate it with other apps like Slack or Google Calendar. You can also add work, home, and tasks related to your education. 

Ultimately, productivity tools help you plan strategically, which means getting more done. 

Take A Break

Taking a break sounds counterproductive, but it is necessary. Not taking a break can cause you to lose focus or hinder the quality of work you produce. 

Some days we push through without taking a break because we have several deadlines to meet. However, even on your busiest day, you need to take at least one break. Stand up and stretch, take a short walk, or pet your dog. 

Taking a break allows you to relax your mind. It gives you the energy to refocus on the task you need to complete. 

Productivity means getting things done. Planning and organizing your day is essential to being productive. It helps you work quickly and efficiently and creates free time for important things like spending time with family or taking a vacation.