“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” Paul J. Meyer 

Productivity in traditional and common terms

Productivity, traditionally defined at the ratio of output to input,  is a common term these days. I find myself asking my kids to “be productive!” ALL the time. I guess I place a high value on getting things done, and while I also promote the concepts of balance and structured flexibility, I believe that being productive is the cure to many of today’s ailments!

To me, productivity means using time effectively to do whatever needs to get done. I think that there is a time and a place for everything and if we are deliberate and strategic about how we spend our time we can get done those things that are important, without neglecting our health, our relationships, etc.

Productivity and its importance

In this information age we are living in, we have added the cyberspace, social circles to keep up with. We have been bombarded with even more stuff to do and thus our productivity is impacted by it. We are flooded with mail, both snail and electronic, status updates, we are expected/required to attend tons of activities both for personal and professional reasons, sometimes we have to choose one thing over another or even worse, we are ‘supposed’ to be in two places at once!

Don’t take me wrong, I love social media as well a the ability to communicate and get things done via email, and other electronic mediums. But the truth is that this adds a new dimension to the issue of living busy lives and the fact the degree to which we are productive, will allow us to enjoy more of the things we enjoy – or not. Productivity, hence is key to my performance.

Our attention is often divided between many things and finding a way to increase our productivity might be challenging.

Why is ‘productivity’ such a buzz words these days?

Well, I think that with the increased access of information via internet– YouTube, Facebook, blogs and more, we have also added availability to problem solving solutions. Typically time and money are the two things we would like more of, we have more trouble managing and have the biggest impact in every other aspect of life.

It’s true. Effective management of one’s time and money can directly impact health, relationships, overall life satisfaction and just about any other area you can think of. Read another one of my articles on this subject.

So it stands to reason that effectively managing those problem areas has become target for many of us. We want to live happier, fuller lives and getting hold of those two elements can definitely help us reach our goals, minimize/reduce stress, enjoy more of relationships, etc. This is where the concept of productivity comes to play.

The best way to increase your productivity

Get started. Sounds like one of those ‘duh’ statements but it’s a fact that while we wish we could increase our productivity, the problem often lays in that we don’t know how to start, where to start, or why start (motivation.) The tasks (invariably more than one) seem like humongous challenges, and we get tired of even thinking ALL the things we have to do. Our productivity hinges on how well and effectively we tackle the tasks, manage the factors and stay motivated in order to boost the productivity.

So if you want to increase your productivity, here are five quick tips on how to get going:

1. Ensure you are centered/focused on the task. Eliminate distractions

2. Select one thing to do, start with one

3. Break it down to smaller pieces

4. Based on the time of day when you are most alert, allocate a definite amount of time to work on it

5. Pat yourself on the back when finished

[Repeat as many times as necessary to finish the whole task.Here is a simple scenario, often used to show this exercise in productivity. Depending on where you are you may be looking at a drawer, a desk, or the whole room! But for now let's start at a basic, common point: Cleaning your desk. Yikes! Break it down by drawers. Those are your smaller pieces. Say it has five. Establish that it will take two, 30-minutes chunks of time to clean each drawer. You will need to project on your calendar the 10 blocks of time that you will need to clean out all five drawers...but for today, you will only focus on the first 30 minutes.]

Set the timer and go! And the next thing is important: don’t stop until you have achieved your goal. The problem, I find, is that more distractions will come your way…they will be tempting and they will appear urgent. Resist the temptation ahead of time by shutting down anything that can show up.

Stay on target until finished. Cannot underestimate that one enough.

And be deliberate about celebrating when you complete the goal. It builds momentum, makes you feel accomplished and leaves you with that sense of “yeah, I can do it.”

Want to be more productive? For a FREE report on how to start living you life right now, download Jump Start Your Life; 8 Simple Steps to Picking Up Right Where You Are

Start now!

Your INNERactive challenge this week is to choose one thing that you have been postponing or procrastinating. Decide that you will tackle it and follow the steps above. Notice what you feel when you are done and remember to reward yourself for completing the task (at this time don’t worry about ‘how’ you did it, it’s about doing it.)

˜Productivity is impacted by distractions

˜Productivity is different for all of us, we are all at different stages

˜Productivity can be improved by breaking down a larger task

˜Productivity is also influenced by external factors

If you need help sorting things out in order to be more productive. If you don’t know where or how to increase your productivity or if you know that lack of productivity is impacting negatively other areas of your life- seek the help of a Personal Development Coach; I can help.

© 2011 Maria Martinez

Maria Martinez is a Personal Development Coach; she works primarily with individuals seeking to identify areas in which they want to increase their level of productivity, awareness and take life to the next level. By providing support and accountability, individuals reach higher and greater productivity goals; balance life at work and at home; and enjoy time doing things they most love. ‘Create the life you want; Start within.’

Be productive! For more information about Maria Martinez and coaching services go to www.inneractivecoachingonline.com or via e-mail: inneractivecoaching@gmail.com

Related posts:

1. Focus on What Matters
2. Expect Great Things
3. 7 Tips for Increased Productivity