Productivity is required if we are to prosper and flourish. Productive people know how to eliminate distractions. They are better able to stay focused on essential tasks and complete them more efficiently. All of this leads to higher-quality work and better results. That’s why productivity matters.
The Power of Personal Productivity
This is a story about a fellow named Mark. Mark is a working professional with a demanding career, a loving father of a big family, and an amateur artist with a passion for painting. His life was an overloaded juggling act, and like many of us, he often found himself struggling to keep all the balls in the air.
One day, he stumbled upon an old photograph of his art studio – a tranquil space filled with canvases, colors, and creative inspiration. It had been years since he had stepped into that room other than to retrieve some random object. Work commitments, household chores, and endless to-do lists had taken precedence. Mark had grown used to the idea that there was no time for painting, and he had pushed his passion aside.
But that photograph was a wake-up call. Mark realized that his dreams, hobbies, and personal well-being had been overshadowed by his daily obligations. And he decided it was time to reclaim his passion for painting, even with his busy life.
This awakening wasn’t just about finding time for art; it was about learning to be more productive and purposeful in his daily routines. By focusing on productivity, Mark soon discovered that he could manage his work, spend quality time with his family, maintain his car, house, and yard, and still have precious hours left to nurture his creativity.
Mark’s journey to reignite his passion for painting reflects a universal truth: personal productivity isn’t just about checking tasks off a list. It’s about regaining control of your life, rediscovering your passions, and pursuing what truly matters to you. Let’s explore why personal productivity matters on an individual level and how it can lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life.
What Is Productivity?
Before we can say why (or even if) productivity matters, let’s define what we’re talking about. Productivity, as we’re using it, refers to how much work a person does. Of course, work doesn’t necessarily mean employment or something you get paid for. It can be any activity or task completion that takes you in the direction of your objective.
We can measure productivity by the accomplishments achieved, the number of tasks completed, and the quality of the work done. High productivity means you do more and your work is of a high quality.
We recognize two main types of productivity, economic and personal. [Indeed] Economic productivity is the measurement of a business, an industry, or even a nation as a factor of output divided by input. However, we are interested today in personal productivity, individual accomplishments compared to the time and effort spent on the accomplishments. [Indeed]
Why Is Productivity Important?
An obvious benefit of enhanced productivity is efficiency. And while productivity is necessary if a business is to prosper, it is also required if we as individuals are to prosper and flourish.
Productive people know how to eliminate distractions. They are better able to stay focused on essential tasks and complete them more efficiently. All of this leads to higher-quality work and better results.
There are other important advantages that accompany improved productivity.
- Personal well-being: people with higher levels of productivity can reduce their stress levels because they use less excess energy and resources to accomplish their tasks.
- Goal achievement: having a clear goal or objective can make it easier to know what needs to be done next.
- Better time management: which, as we’ll see, really means better self-management and improved event control.
- Improved life balance: better productivity frees up time to spend enhancing our relationships with family, friends, and ourselves.
- Continuous improvement: productive people can do more with less time so they can take on harder, more important tasks.
Let’s look at each of these in more detail.
Personal Well-Being
There is a link between productivity and a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in one’s personal life. Being productive can lead to reduced stress, improved mental health, and overall well-being. [Indeed] A high level of productivity allows you to complete tasks on time and with higher quality. This helps reduce the stress of deadlines or having to revise or do a job over.
Becoming more productive boosts your mood. Improved quality and quantity of your work causes your body to release endorphins, “nature’s happy drug” because as you complete tasks, it’s like crossing the finish line and winning the race. Also, highly productive people are more aware of their own physical and mental states and are more likely to know when they need to take a break. [Indeed]
And it helps reduce stress. The more productive you are, the less energy and resources you expend to get things done. This can reduce the chemicals in your body associated with stress. Plus your confidence in your ability to get jobs done quickly and correctly increases with experience. [Indeed] You become even more productive.
Goal Achievement
Productivity is essential for setting and reaching personal goals. After you’ve broken your goal down into the smallest possible steps, you still must take the steps. And to take those steps, you need the time and energy to do the work.
Improve your productivity and marshall your resources so you can focus on and actually do the important tasks that lead your life forward. Otherwise, you risk diffusing (and wasting) your time, energy, money, love, and any other resources you need to help you move toward your BIG goal.
On the flip side, setting clear goals can help to improve your productivity. When you know where you are, where you want to go, and how to take those first steps that lead you in the desired direction, it’s easier to know what you must do and to get busy doing it.
Time Management
Productivity can help individuals manage their time effectively. However, time management is a misnomer — you can’t really manage time. You can, however, manage yourself and the way you use time. Executive, teacher, doctor, student, stay-at-home mom (or dad), artist, builder, unemployed – all have the same number of hours in a day. It’s how they – and you and I – use these hours that make a difference in our productivity and in our lives.
Remember the four rules of time and put them to work for you. [Tracy]
- Time is perishable. Use it wisely.
- Time is indispensable. Use it mindfully.
- Time is irreplaceable. Give it to those you love.
- Time is essential for accomplishment. Choose carefully where you spend yours.
Improving your productivity helps you more closely observe these rules. And observing them can improve your productivity.
Life Balance
I don’t really like the phrase “work-life balance”, as if “work” and “life” are two separate things. Sometimes we have to be out of balance but enhancing productivity, just like improving time management, gives us more discretionary time. You easily see that balance can’t mean spending an equal amount of time in all areas of your life each day. There is another perspective on balance. I like to think of it as the “seasons” of life. You put your time and attention where it is needed most; you don’t try to equally divide it across all domains.
Wherever you need to focus your time and energy right now, becoming more productive frees up resources so you also have time for the other important things, such as family, leisure, and self-care.
Continuous Learning and Self-Improvement
Productivity can foster continuous learning and self-improvement. We learn by doing. As you do more, you learn more, provided you are engaged in activities that stretch you and stretch your comfort zone.
Continuous improvement is also a factor to help you increase efficiency and productivity. It equips you with advanced skills and expanded knowledge, both of which help you complete tasks efficiently and effectively. [Pandey]
Why Productivity Matters
The factors we’ve discussed for improving productivity are mostly two-way streets. Goal achievement, time management, life balance, and continuous improvement – as you improve in any area, your productivity improves. And as you become more productive in that area, you get better at it.
So try this. Pick one of the areas to focus on this week. What is one small step you can take to be a little more productive in that area? Take that step. Do it every day. You may not see a huge improvement in just one week, but I’ll bet you begin to see the possibilities. And that may be enough to keep you working to become more productive in all areas.
As we’ve discussed many times before, your objective isn’t simply to get more things done. It is to get the right things done as efficiently as possible so you have more time to be with the ones you love. That is the true reason for embracing Excelerated Productivity™. And it is one step in embracing your Excelerated Life™!
Did you pick your area for improving your personal productivity?
What will you do to become more productive in that area?
Share your comments by leaving a post below.
Excelerated Productivity™ — improving efficiency and effectiveness — is one practice for creating your Excelerated Life™, a life of flourishing and well-being, and a life of meaning, purpose, and service.
Read more about the Excelerated Life™.
Resources:
Pandey, Nikhil. “What is Productivity and Why it Matters.” Emeritus. Emeritus, October 18, 2023. Web. November 4, 2023.
https://emeritus.org/in/learn/what-is-productivity-and-its-importance/
Indeed Editorial Team. “What Is Productivity and Why Is It Important?.” Indeed. Indeed, November 30, 2022. Web. November 4, 2023.
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-productivity
Tracy, Brian. “Four Rules Of Time.” Brian Tracy International. Brian Tracy International,. Web. 21 August 2019.
https://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/four-rules-of-time/
This blog post includes research information and suggestions provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. Please note that the suggestions are not official statements from OpenAI. To learn more about ChatGPT and its capabilities, you can visit the OpenAI website.