If you’re using the GTD (“Getting Things Done”) method to stay productive, as outlined in my Evernote blog here: How to Implement “GTD” in Evernote (or even if you’re not, but you do have task lists), you may find yourself with an ever-growing “Next Actions” list, and/or “Someday/Maybe” list. Having a to-do list that just keeps growing can feel discouraging and can affect your “perceived” productivity.
There are many factors that can keep you from being productive.
- Life happens – you have personal challenges going on
- You take on new projects
- Your day is not well structured
- You have too many interruptions
- You’re losing motivation
If you’re losing motivation, then, by all means, take a break.
“There’s strong evidence that disengagement, breaking away, can help recharge people cognitively,” says University of Toronto sociology professor Scott Schieman. Schieman is studying the relationship between work, health and stress among Canadians. “This is anecdotal, but if I’ve gone on vacation and I come back, the ideas flow and things really move along. By contrast, if I’m sitting at my desk trying to squeeze out the last bit of idea, it just doesn’t work.”
If you have too many interruptions, then you need to find some uninterrupted time to work, preferably every day.
Build the time into your schedule and work somewhere away from distractions if you can, which usually means away from the office. Jason Fried, a co-founder of Basecamp, said during a 2010 TED talk about the workplace: “You walk into the front door and it’s like a Cuisinart. Your day is just shredded to bits.” Jason calls the most frequent sources of interruptions in the workplace “M&Ms” – Managers and Meetings.
Even working away from the office, you should take breaks. Use them to scan email, do some web surfing, stretch, and/or exercise.
If you feel like you’re doing all that you can to keep up and your to-do list is still growing, then you should be taking more drastic measures. Your perceived productivity affects your morale can be affected by your perceived productivity, so cut that list down by delegating or deleting.
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