How to be more productive.

“I’ll just flip channels on TV and hopefully I’ll stumble upon a good show”
“Flipping channels on TV are for idiots, so I’m just gonna open a tab for every single link that I spot on every single news website I can open and read the first two lines from each one.”

“I've only been awake 2 hours, but I’m sleepy again so I’ll just doze off on this couch”
“I can’t sleep because I wasted all night watching movies so I’ll just stay awake and make a well structured, detailed work-schedule for the morning. Then wake up at 5 pm.”

“Hey, you say fatty, I say curvy.” *eats cookie*
“I believe in healthy, home-cooked meals. So I’ll eat all the food in this ginormous pan and work out one month later.”

“Damn it! I completely forgot about my final exam tomorrow.”
“I take my responsibilities seriously and ‘forgetting’ is a stupid excuse. So I’ll write down all the things I've planned to do with multi-colored markers on my big fancy whiteboard and wait till I require acetone to erase a task that I successfully completed.”

“Ugh, I have nothing to do in my life”
“Gosh, there’s so much to do and so little time! I can’t do it.”

If you can relate your mind set to either one (or both) of the characteristic ones I've ever so creatively described above, then your search for a solution on Google has directed you to the right place. This is, of course, assuming that you were searching for a solution in the first place.

But, hold on. Not sure if you and I are talking about the same problem? Allow me to describe mine.

I have trouble being productive.

I can’t remember the last time I fulfilled a task one hundred per cent (unless you count emptying my plate, which, rest-assured, was completed one-thousand per cent *wink*). When I’ve spent a sufficient amount of time in my lazy state, I realize I have to prevent my mind from rotting, so I do something like open up a study book, read the introductory paragraph and shut the book close satisfied by my effort. On the other end of the spectrum, when I’m equipped with a fully energized mind-set, I channel nearly all my energy into preparing a long list of ideas and plans to be executed and then worry about not having enough time to do them.  And at the end of the day, I accomplish absolutely nothing, but an empty feeling because I failed to be productive.                 

At this point, I’d like to mention that this behavior of mine is NOT constant. I would never have achieved anything in life if that’s how I used my days. So, if you’re the type of person who half-asses (or completely neglects) your plans almost every time, then do not comfort yourself by knowing that we share the same habits OCCASIONALLY.

Nevertheless, it is essential that we both get rid of this unproductive, unsatisfactory, anxiety-causing habit of ours. So, how can I be more productive, you ask? Well, I could provide you with an extensive list of tips and solutions, but since you’re an unproductive junkie, you probably aren't going to make full use of it anyway. However, I think we’re all capable of utilizing just one simple advice, aren't we? (If you’re not, you should really reconsider your life-choices.) So, here it is: Finish what you start.

Yes, I do realize that needs elaboration.

What I’m saying is we often bail on our well-made plans because we start off clumsily. Now, regardless of whether or not you use the planner on your phone (or a little notebook if you’re old-school like me) you’re still planning your schedule in your head. So, in your transitory determined state, you might have thought yourself “Okay, I’m going to start off like this ‘cause this is what I feel is most doable at the moment…” So you begin; you’re getting warmed up; and JUST when you were getting in the mood, you bail. Why? Why didn't you complete your warm-up session? It was such an easy task, but you just couldn't complete it, could you? Why? Because you just got a text? Because you had to pee? Because you were hungry? (Or something along those lines; forgive me for generalizing.)  Let’s face it. Those are all just excuses no matter how reasonable you might think they are. And before you know it, you've fallen far behind in your schedule so you ditch the whole thing and go make a snack (or order one.)

So commendable.

Let’s try and imagine an alternate scenario now, shall we? Imagine that you've successfully completed that beginner’s task. You feel good about it. Now you want to do more of it. So you finish the second step of your plan. And then the third. Maybe now you need a break. So you grant yourself one and simultaneously adjust your plan so as to enjoy your little break time (I prefer to eat/sleep or both). Now, if you’re still determined you’ll finish part 1 of your newly revised plan and the process continues till you finish the task as a whole.

See how starting off on the wrong/right foot governs your attitude towards completing a task? Sticking to your word and successfully implementing your little plans can greatly motivate you to go the whole nine yards. Believe me, the after-feeling is heartwarming. So I would suggest that you plan out small portions of your work and FINISH THEM NO MATTER WHAT  HAPPENS to maintain that resolute outlook on your goal. Staying loyal to just this one principle can help you accomplish more than what you thought you could. This kind of mind-frame also encourages handling a fewer number of tasks and doing them well rather than hurrying up to finish multiple jobs in hopes of doing something useful. I’m a firm advocate of doing something the best I can possibly do; like my life depends on it. So, give your 100% into anything and everything that you take up, however insignificant you might think it is (like cleaning your room). Finishing a task and finishing it well is a habit. And it’s your decision to develop that habit or not.

As far as motivation and planning for a task goes, I believe that everyone has their own reasons and challenges so you should be able to formulate one that’s just right for yourself. If not, leave a comment and I’ll write a whole ‘nother article dedicated to it :)

So, there’s my advice. Do let us know if this article has helped you (after experimenting with it for a week or so, duh).

Remember: finish what you start.