October 16, 2018
3 productivity myths that are actually slowing you down
Everyone wants to be their best, most effective self, especially at work. Discover the 3 myths you’ve probably been believing in the hope to be more productive. Spoiler alert! They’re actually slowing you down.
It’s not too late. With a few adjustments to your working habits, and a little help from DropTask [Ayoa], you’ll uncover the secrets to getting more done, without doing any more work.
Myth 1: “Being busy means being productive”
In a world where everything is so fast-moving, we feel as though we need to be constantly doing something just to keep up with the pace. But, the idea of being ‘busy’ actually has more to do with overwhelm and chaos than it does with productivity. Look at it this way: the more organized and productive you are, the less ‘busy’ and overwhelmed you’ll probably feel.
That brings us onto another myth. Being productive doesn’t always mean getting everything done. Whatever the task, it’s almost inevitable that there will be hurdles to overcome whether it’s because real life presents unforeseen circumstances, or another unanticipated problem crops up. Giving yourself contingency time to manage the unexpected is essential. Be flexible and put things on pause when necessary.
Try this: Since you can’t actually do everything at once, with DropTask’s [Ayoa] My Planner, you can decide whether tasks need to be completed Now, Next or Soon, depending on urgency and priority. No one has an infinite number of hours in one day so being flexible is key. If you’re working something and a more urgent task pops up, don’t be afraid to reshuffle your priorities by pushing less pressing tasks into the Next and Soon columns. Not sure when you’ll be able to continue with a task? Hit the pause button on the task’s progress bar so both you and your team know the task is on hold.
Myth 2: “Multitasking is a good thing”
Not only is multitasking not a good thing, but according to recent scientific studies, there is no such thing as cognitive multitasking. Speaking on the phone, reading an email and writing a report all at the same time is counter-productive. That’s because all these tasks engage the same part of the brain so it’s not actually possible to action these simultaneously.
Try this: Organize your workload. DropTask [Ayoa] doesn’t encourage you to multitask (don’t forget, that’s not actually possible), but it does help you to recognize upcoming due dates and overlapping tasks so that you can prioritize your workload in the best way possible.
So, you’ve used your Planner to decide what needs to be done Now, Next and Soon. But, if too many things have become urgent, instead of trying to focus on too many things at once, ask for some help. Invite team members to your projects and delegate tasks to colleagues to reduce your workload. Simply click and drag your team member’s avatars to assign them to specific tasks.
Myth 3: “Keep powering through”
Whether you’re trying to power through a sick day, lunch break or a late night, it’s more than likely going to lead to mediocre results, that you’ll end up redoing anyway. Working for long periods without taking a break to recover can cause our brains to perceive the task as less important and we end up losing concentration. The early bird doesn’t always catch the worm, not when it’s burnt out. Flexible working hours allow you to work at the times when you know you perform at your best.
Try this: Going to be out of the office? DropTask’s [Ayoa] shared digital workspace means nothing gets missed. By attaching your files, updating progress percentages and adding notes to specific tasks, everything needed for that task will all be in one place. Whether or not you’re in the office, your whole team will always be kept in the loop, meaning your projects can continue at full power, even if you can’t. So, don’t hesitate in taking a break when you need to.
Watch your productivity skyrocket. Try DropTask [Ayoa] for free today and make simple improvements to your working habits with our myth-busting tips.