Personal Productivity
- Wilfredo Garces
- Jul 5, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 12
Productivity can mean different things in different contexts, especially with the increase in knowledge in recent years. However, the definition of Productivity itself covers several types, among which we have:
Labor productivity, National productivity, Marginal productivity, Business productivity, Organizational productivity, Total factor productivity, Personal productivity...
Roughly speaking, it is defined as the relationship between the quantity of products obtained by a system and the resources used to obtain said production. It can also be defined as the relationship between results and the time used to obtain them.
In a world where everything is done in a hurry and most tasks are to be done urgently, being productive becomes a duty. Knowing how to optimize and spend as little time as possible performing certain tasks is a highly sought-after skill today and is what is known as personal productivity.
Personal productivity is the consistency and effectiveness with which an individual completes one or more tasks with good quality.
These tasks aim to obtain a specific result, in the least time and effort possible.
Productivity is a good practice that can be improved over time, the more productive you are, the more time you can dedicate to carrying out other tasks.
Contenido
What are the most important points of personal productivity?
Several factors interfere with personal productivity, among the most relevant we find:
1. Health status
This factor is influenced by hours of sleep, stress level, optimal visual capacity, drug use, illnesses, medical conditions, etc. You will not be able to perform at your best with this type of limitations, requiring longer periods of time to complete tasks and the results obtained will probably not be the best either.
2. Task management
The organization and prioritization of each of the tasks is a factor that can influence the flow of energy that you have available when carrying out the actions aimed at solving the tasks. Pursuing certain objectives in a certain order can help the task flow more organically and achieve the effectiveness you are looking for.
3. Time management
Knowing how to distribute time intentionally is a key to avoiding exhaustion, so you must be aware of how you invest your time and how you consume it, in order to optimize it in the best possible way.
4. Space and environment
Without an adequate space, surrounded by a welcoming environment, it will be more difficult for you to reach your maximum level of concentration and therefore productivity. If you do not have a good level of lighting, adequate noise levels and a comfortable temperature, it is very likely that your tasks will become more difficult to solve.
5. Commitment and motivation
These two are aspects that go hand in hand, since if you are not committed to the task at hand and the objectives you have, you will not be focused on aspects such as discipline, feeling of belonging and punctuality to finish things.
How to improve personal productivity?
Sleep the right hours
By sleeping the right hours, you will feel more active the next day, being able to maximize your performance and useful work time. It is recommended to sleep for 7-8 hours, enough time for the body and mind to rest.
Plan before you start
Dedicating time to planning the next day is an excellent practice, as it will help you know how many tasks, complexity, and time over which you can distribute them to fulfill the plan. By knowing what tasks you have pending and which are the most important, you will be able to choose how to distribute your time optimally.
Work in blocks of time
Working indefinitely, without having a series of predefined breaks, will reduce your productivity considerably because you do not give your brain the opportunity to rest. The ability to concentrate is not infinite and therefore you need breaks to guarantee recovery. The best practice is to have a certain number of breaks set for each time X worked, it will help you refresh your mind and continue performing your tasks in the best possible way.
Reduce the level of distractions
Distractions are very common during the workday, the important thing to reduce them is to identify what they are and eliminate or limit them in the most effective way possible. There are different types of distractions that surely influence your daily life, such as: mobile phone applications, distractions from co-workers or clients, and distractions due to your personal situation (thoughts, worries).
Organize your workspace
It is advisable that you dedicate a small part of your time to keeping your study-work space and the tools you use as organized as possible. With an orderly and clean place, it will be easier for you to maintain concentration, not to mention saving time to find the things you need at the time.
Focus on a single task
It has been proven that engaging in many tasks at the same time reduces the level of productivity considerably. The best thing to do is to dedicate yourself to a single task and not move on to another until it is finished (as long as it can be finished).
Changing tasks while another is being carried out is a mental drain that directly harms productivity.
Do the most complex tasks first
The best way to manage tasks is to start the day with those that will consume the most mental energy. When planning, order the most complicated tasks that require the most mental effort at the beginning of the day, and those that require the most physical effort for later.
Conclusions
We hope that this publication has helped you identify what are the things that reduce your productivity on a daily basis, however the most important thing is that you implement the appropriate strategies to eliminate these adversities so that you can be as productive as possible.
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