Many of us start our days with the best of intentions. We have great plans to cross off everything on our to-do lists and maybe even focus on some extra-curricular projects we have in mind. But by the end of the day, it can sometimes seem like we have not accomplished anything at all. In this upcoming series, we will talk about why this is, and what you can do to increase your productivity at work.
Thanks to technology, we are able to automate more processes than ever. In theory, this should make our work lives easier and allow us to be more productive and efficient with our time.
But how much time do all of these new apps and systems actually save? How many of us have all of a sudden found ourselves with tons of extra free time on our hands? It is probably a whole lot less than you would think.
The unfortunate reality is that – regardless of how many time management tools we have installed – most of us are still going to be consistently stressed out and scrambling to finish projects at the very last minute.
So where exactly are we going wrong? And what changes can we make that will help break these bad habits and produce better work, faster? Take a look at some of the most common personality types and traits that can lead to time sucks at work.
The Perfectionist
Being extremely detail-oriented is not necessarily a bad thing. In many professions, having a keen eye and being dedicated to producing high-quality work is an extremely valuable trait. But it is also important to know when you should be spending your time and energy focusing on the minutia, and when something is good enough as is.
The Multi-Tasker
One of the biggest myths in the business world is that multi-tasking will help you accomplish more. More often than not, the opposite is true. When you try to do too many things at once, it often takes longer than if you were to focus your attention on thing one at a time. Not to mention, when you multi-task, the quality of each project will typically suffer as a result.
The Overworked
Of course, your work is important – but you also need to be giving yourself the time and attention that you deserve. You should not sacrifice your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing for a work project. These things need to come first, otherwise your work will suffer as a result. As the saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup. This means making sure that you eat healthy, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and spend time doing things that bring you joy.
The Procrastinator
This is something that most of us are guilty of from time to time. In many circumstances, we push off the things that we dread doing because of one of the reasons listed above. One of the best ways to combat this? Start your day with the most difficult or stressful task – everything that follows will seem like a breeze.
It is important to recognize the specific ways that we misuse our time. By understanding the reasons behind poor time management, we can effectively address the issues and start to become more efficient at work, giving us more time to focus on the things we truly enjoy.
