What defines one’s productivity? Is it when you hit your goal? Is it you working every day from 9-5? Is it checking off that to-do list and ensuring you have nothing left for the next day?
Each person’s definition of being productive may change, but what is most important is that you feel comfortable with the goals you set and when life gets in the way of those goals.
As an entrepreneur, I’ve always had a hard time learning how to shut my brain off. I felt like there was always something I could be doing, something I could be writing, or some way I could be improving my business within my 24 hours each day. Through a lot of trial and error, I learned that balance is best, and being productive is subjective to what I believe it means.
So how do you determine when your level of productivity has hit your goals? Well, first, you must define those goals. Set limits for yourself, and work within that capacity. If you don’t want to work weekends, don’t work weekends. It won’t mean you are working hard or to your full potential. When you are sitting at the desk, hit it hard and work towards your goals, that’s how you will genuinely feel productive. Here are three more ways to have a productive year without feeling like you are working every day of the year.
Work When You Work Best
Do you wake up ready to conquer the world? Or are you more of a dragging your feet and get to work later on kind of person? While you may need to work around some other people’s schedules, you can still design your workday around when you work best. Approach your to-do list according to how your mind works. You may prefer to work 45-minute chunks of time, or perhaps you would prefer to leave your most time-consuming tasks for later in the day. Being productive is all about when you will be efficient at completing your tasks. Think about what works best for you and make your schedule around those factors.
Don’t Work Harder, Work Smarter
I love a good to-do list. I feel accomplished each time I cross off a line and move onto the next. But what goes into your to-do list is just as important as completing it. Your tasks should help you build towards your goals. Each time you check off a line that should bring you one step closer to what you want to accomplish for the day, week, month, even year. Focus on the tasks that will help you work towards completing your goals, not just make you feel good for getting something done at that moment.
Self-Care, Everywhere
Defining yourself as a hardworking, focused, driven person is something to be proud of. As an entrepreneur, you set goals and crush them. But what happens when you feel like your productivity is slipping and you aren’t working to your potential? Are you blaming it on that glass (or bottle) of wine you had last night? Didn’t sleep well? Sometimes the answer may not seem evident at the moment, but it’s as clear as day once you realize it. Are you focusing on self-care? I’m sure you’ve heard of it before, but have you really thought about how it pertains to you and your business? Allowing yourself time to take care of yourself, be yourself, and enjoy things other than work is more important than you may realize. If you are lacking in this department, it could be having an impact on your overall productivity. Making an effort to take care of who you are and how you feel is critical to the professional you will be in the long term. Whether you focus on 10 minutes of stretching a day, meditation, reading a book each night, a hard-hitting workout or a solo walk around the block, determining what makes you feel good will set you up for success.
Bottom Line
You can work as hard as possible every single day for the rest of your life to hit your goals, and be the best entrepreneur you feel you can be. But the truth is, if you don’t allow yourself room for focus, self-care, and reflection, you will be burnt out before you hit six figures. Setting yourself up for success in business and personal life is imperative to genuinely becoming the business owner you want to be. Nothing will change your outlook and your perspective on your life more than changing how you think and feel each day. Start now. Not after you accomplish something more. Do the groundwork needed to allow for true productivity and success in business and in life. The rest will take care of itself.