Let’s look at some productivity tips I’ve learned the hard way as a recovering perfectionist.
I tend to be too hard on myself when I think I haven’t gotten enough done on a particular day. Can you relate? Especially on a day off. I have grand visions of checking things off a long, aggressive to-do list.
At the end of the day, my husband will often ask, “How did things go today?” Almost without fail, I say some variation of, “Well, it was OK, but I didn’t get as much done as I wanted.” This happens so regularly that it almost makes me crazy.
Fortunately, I’m realizing the trap my perfectionism continually sets for me. I outlined a few things I learned in a previous post about productivity. Building on that, here are some unconventional productivity tips I often need to remind myself of.
Productivity tip #1: Communication counts as productivity
One of my trademark moves is forgetting to account for the time it takes to communicate, and the necessity of it for getting things done. Not many of us accomplish things entirely in a vacuum; we must work with others somehow.
A big mistake I often make is limiting my sense of accomplishment to only tasks that appear on my list. When I don’t count human interaction item(s), I am setting myself up for disappointment in the amount I have gotten done, when in fact, I have done much more than I think. You have, too.
A work example
Let’s say you walk into the office at 9 a.m.
From there, you greet co-workers, check your email, and write your to-do list for the day. Then, a co-worker stops by your desk, and you chat about an upcoming project for 10-15 minutes.
Afterward, you reply to time-sensitive emails from clients and employees, which get interrupted multiple times due to incoming phone calls, and a text from a co-worker, which requires a thoughtful response.
Amidst all that, you get an urgent, drop-everything-and-do-it-now email from the boss. To respond to it, you need to research, check with employees on various items, and write a well-thought-out, detailed reply.
Next thing you know, it is pushing 11 a.m., and you haven’t gotten a single thing on your list done. Have you been utterly unproductive? No, quite the opposite. You’ve been humming with productivity and collaborating with others to help them get things done.
My problem, at least partially, is failing to acknowledge the task of communication as something achieved. If I would reframe my thinking, I would realize that I have, in fact, gotten quite a bit done — just different things than I planned.
Caveat: I know there are 100s of articles and books from high achievers on how to set up your day for productivity. That is not the focus of this post.
Productivity tip #2: Make room for the unexpected
Just like that surprise email from the boss that can change the entire trajectory of the day, there are unlimited amounts of other surprises that crop up to veer me from the path I planned for myself.
An older relative needs to be taken to the doctor.
Traffic is worse than normal, and getting home takes an extra hour.
I run into an old friend at the store and end up chatting for a long time in the parking lot etc. etc., etc.
Productivity tip #3: Everything takes longer than you think it will. Everything.
The winning productivity tip formula: Take a simple task, estimate honestly how long it would take to do it while thinking vigorously and without interruptions, and then add 50% or more. That is how long it may actually take with all factors.
The one who knows to build in a cushion for the unknown when estimating a time budget is wise.
Now multiply that process for every project. It suddenly becomes clearer why you or I don’t get done as much as we think we will.
Conclusion
There are always 1-12 more things that should have been done, and of the 78 things that were done, they weren’t done well enough. This type of thinking is a joy-stealer.
I am not advocating that we all loosen our standards of hard work or pat ourselves on the back after a lazy day.
What I am saying is that, if you struggle as I do with often feeling like an under-achiever, despite working hard constantly, it may be time to take a closer look these productivity tips.
Realize that communication is work and worthy of recognition as such. Acknowledge that unplanned items will pop up, and that is OK. Realize that everything might take longer than you think, and plan for it.
Once you’ve done all these things, adjust your expectations accordingly and give yourself grace when you don’t get as much done as you thought you would. Tomorrow is another day.
What productivity tips would you add? Thanks for reading!
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