Source: the1thing.com
Sometimes we do things unconsciously, and this often leaves us with not so good results. It’s like eating chocolates unconsciously, telling yourself, “just this once.” Every time, that’s what we say to ourselves, not noticing the calories, sugar, and fat building up in your body. Finally, one day you wake up and look in the mirror, and alas – you’re now a chubbo.
The same goes for work. Sometimes, unconsciously we do things that we don’t realize disrupts our productivity. “People check their phones every 15 minutes or less, even if they don’t have any alerts or notifications,” according to psychologist Larry Rosen. We become so occupied and enjoy those outside forces too much that it eventually becomes a habit – a habit that pulls our productivity trajectory down.
Eating Habits
Skipping breakfast is not a good idea, but that’s what most of us are doing. Breakfast fuels our body to perform its work correctly. Omitting it will mean getting tired quickly and might even make us dizzy, making us less productive.
Eating meals right at your desk makes you less creative and may leave your work area a mess. Use lunch breaks as an opportunity to socialize and network. It’s more rejuvenating than eating alone.
Saying Yes to More Tasks
Being pressured with so much to do keeps you out of balance, both at work and your private life. Taking on more than you can handle hinders your happiness, creativity, and productivity.
Not Listening
It’s easy to look like you’re listening, but how much of it do you actually understand and how much is retained? Listening is a skill one must develop, especially listening during a meeting. Time is wasted and so is your productivity compromised when you miss some critical instructions. The tendency is to go back again and re-do things over again.
Not Asking For Help
Don’t try to be a know-it-all person. Ask when you’re not sure. Collaborate with your co-workers. And sometimes, it’s okay to ask for help when it’s impossible to meet a deadline. Always bear in mind that two heads are better than one.
Social Media
Turn off your social media when not necessary. Sometimes just a peek gets you hooked, not noticing it already snatched your time away.
Notifications and Emails
Browse notifications and emails during breaks. Check which ones need an immediate reply and which ones can wait for later. Being stuck on those emails and notifications will really hurt your productivity and will delay your work which is stressing.
Phone Calls
Phone calls are best at distracting you at your most creative moment, and after a call, it’s difficult to refocus. Put your phone in silent mode when working or better put it away when you’re not expecting important calls. For emergency calls, you can instruct your family to use the landline so the secretary can inform you that you got an emergency call.
Multitasking
According to Kendra Cherry MS, a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, “In the past, many people believed that multitasking was a good way to increase productivity.” Not all are effective when they multi-task. In fact, most become less productive and more stressed. Avoiding multitasking is hard to do, but it can be done and swiping through your phone or browsing the net while doing your work or while on a meeting if not necessary so you can focus. Practice focusing on one task at a time until it becomes a habit you develop.
Source: tqn.com
Things you do unconsciously can develop a habit that can become a thief that will snatch your productivity. It may seem pleasurable at present but will it will definitely hurt your efficiency and leave you stressed in the long run. Have the courage to break these habits now and work on a well-balanced and prosperous life.
“Goal-setting in psychology is an essential tool for self-motivation and self-drivenness – both at personal and professional levels,” a parting note from Madhuleena Roy Chowdhury, BA, certified psychiatric counsellor.