It’s no secret that we all can feel unproductive at times, and often getting out of that rut is a task in itself. Now that working from home is becoming a new normality, staying productive is harder than ever. That’s why, from all the endless tips and tricks the internet has to offer on how to become more productive, the experts at Avansas have highlighted some of the main productivity myths we need to ignore.
Multitasking is inherently bad
Don’t bash it till you try it! Multitasking has long been a debated topic, but that’s not to say its intrinsically a bad thing for your productivity. Just that, for some people it might be. It is true that, for many, multi-tasking reduces efficiency and performance in their work because they work better when focusing on a single thing at a time. However, experts say that multitasking can in fact be an incredibly stimulating option for some people who thrive under pressure. So, because everyone is different, whilst some people struggle multitasking, it can positively impact others.
The early bird gets the worm
It’s safe to say, we’re not birds. Whilst the term might be true in the case of these animals, it isn’t necessarily true for humans. In fact, because our body clocks are all unique, we can be most productive at any time during the day. Some people are most productive in the mornings. But for others, getting up at the crack of dawn doesn’t work. Instead, they find themselves being most productive late afternoon.
An uncompromising regimen will keep you productive
You know the feeling of forcing yourself to stick to an unrealistic diet? It’s not uncommon that it doesn’t last long before you give up. Forcing yourself to stick to an uncompromising schedule is undoubtedly going to make you lose motivation and so decrease your productivity. Whilst setting out a daily routine is healthy and efficient, flexibility is key. So, if you’ve got plans to see friends, but you’ve penciled in a late-night work session or a 5k run, don’t be afraid to ditch the regimen for a night.
Copy the habits of highly successful people
Although we’d all love to emulate the same success as, let’ssay Elon Musk or Marcus Rashford, thousands of factors prevent us from doing so – personality, environment, how your brain works! Rather than copying habits of your idols that may not work for you, focus on yourself. Everyone is individual, and different habits work for everyone. There’s no universal rule for productivity.
Get the hard work out of the way first
Not to sound like a broken record, but once again everyone is different. Just like eating the nicest things on the plate first is a must for some, and leaving them until last is obvious for others, how you prioritize your work in a day is all down to preference. Whilst starting your workday with the hardest pieces of work may be motivational for some people, for others, easing their way into the day is far more successful and ends up portraying a far more productive day.
Higher productivity means more time spent at work
If you’re feeling highly productive during the day, then yes, perhaps you are in a groove and want to continue it for a couple more hours. But simply increasing the number of hoursspent at work and just trying to fill that time is unproductiveand can often lead to individuals working through their to-do list slower to feel as though they’re achieving more.
