Productivity. How can one be in a productive state? Or what’s classified as productive? I spent three years researching the subject and in manufacturing it makes perfects sense. A simple equation- output per resources.
But what about in other situations? Can it be that simple? Maybe or maybe not ...
I kept going home from work each day this week with a sense of accomplishment. It was a four day week and I did nothing work related on my three day weekend.
I left work Friday afternoon with a smile on my face. I picked up my husband from work and not even ten minutes into our commute, my eyes closed. I was exhausted.
Most people think of their weekend ahead the moment their eyes shut. Some reflect. I did the latter.
What was it that made me feel productive?
Eliminate Clutter.
My email is almost always full but I have dedicated about ten hours per week reviewing and organizing my inbox. I voluntarily restart my computer which forces me to review open files and save.
So on my computer, everything was in its place. I cleaned up my cube and even wiped down my desk.
At home, I finally folded my daughters laundry (from the previous weekend) and the kitchen island was clear. Nothing but a candle.
Removing clutter helps remove the noise. You will constantly feel like there’s something extra weighing on your shoulder, which goes into my next topic.
Keep a list.
I love checklists. There are many scholars and consultants around the world who will preach lists. Most recently, I have taken up a OneNotebook for all of my tasks.
It gets it out of my head, on “paper” and gives me a clear view of what needs to be done.
As I’m reviewing my inbox, there are items that may not be pressing but to hold my credibility, I need to complete them. So I add it to my list.
Every Monday and Friday, I review my list and highlight completed items green. Once I’ve reached more green items then not, I clear the green ones out. This reminds me to stay focused on what needs to be done but keeping it on the list for a short time, actually helps my mood and keeps me motivated.
But we can all get caught up in the tasks.
Remember the End Goal.
I’ve learned over the course of my career, that we lose a sense of productivity when we’re caught up or even drowning in tasks. Depending on your role, you step into work not knowing whether you will have to react to something or actually get your planned tasks completed.
It is important to stop and review your goals.
Your project goals. What phase am I in? What are my critical path inputs holding me back?
Or even your development goals. I keep my top three or four projects on my white board. I see it every morning because it lies just above where I put my bag down.
I’ve quoted Lewis Carroll in previous posts - “if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
It’s important to keep the end in sight. I honestly think that focus is the root of my productivity this week. I wasn’t able to check a lot of things off my list but I did move the needle on my destination.
We took a weekend drive up to Prescott, AZ and I found myself within endless pine trees.
I lied back on the wooden bench and submerged in Mother Nature. Almost like the movies, all sights and sounds around me disappeared. As I zeroed in on the trees above me, I couldn’t help but think -
The pines are the tasks.
The branches are the projects.
The trunk was me.
The tree must’ve been over 100 years old and must’ve been why it was able to hold thousands of pines and hundreds of branches.
But I just entered my thirties. How much weight can we really carry on our shoulders?
Not much.
For now, declutter and put all those items rolling around in your head on paper. Remember the end result.
As corny as it sounds, emulate the trees and only hold what you’re physically able to. In time, you will grow and you will learn to carry more.
Link for photo credit
Link for photo credit
