Just before we head into February...
Some sobering facts:
Statistics say that “55% of respondents keep their New Year’s resolution for less than a year, with 11% lasting at least six months, 14% lasting at least three months, 19% lasting at least one month and just 11% lasting less than a month.”
Did you say, you want to exercise, meditate, journal, get your project off the ground, send out 21 proposals and so on?
Whatever you miss out to accomplish, give yourself permission to begin again.
Check out these practical strategies to take your productivity up a notch!
1) Make your goals positive and action-oriented.
2) Smash your goals in micro-steps.
3) Design an environment that helps you accomplish goals.
4) Create a programme that enables you to do it.
5) Rest.
Example
1) By December 31, 2023, I must have created 52 articles on Financial Wellness for Women. That means 4 articles in February. One article is to be published on Thursdays.
2) Scale down your goals into small increments. Say write for 25 minutes this week. Next week, make it 35 minutes and so on but not beyond 52 minutes. Science explains that the mind becomes less engaged with the task.
If the article is to be published by Thursday, what strategy will you consider to accomplish it?
3) For the topic each week, make sure notepads are handy so you can scribble ideas and inspirations quickly as they come which you can go back to develop when you sit down to write it.
Prepare your desk and what you need e.g. water or coffee.
Surround yourself with a community that supports your goals.
Do you have daily routines to set you up for increased productivity? Maybe you want to start with a prayer, meditation, exercise, journaling or reading your life manifesto.
4) Set aside time for writing, say on a Saturday morning maybe after yoga or meditation. Keep your mobile phone away from your desk and other distractions. If you can, arrange your meetings on specific days of the week.
Involuntary distraction [push notifications from e-commerce sites] “takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the task” according to the University of California Irvine.
5) Rest is productive. According to neuroscience, the brain is busy "processing while sleeping and is thus able to retain new information we may have learned throughout the day." So, get enough sleep, eat healthy food, hydrate, exercise and take a break.
After focusing on a task for "52 minutes, take a break for 17 minutes." Scientists suggest allowing the mind to wander [activities that do not process information] like walking, pottering in the garden, and "sitting and staring into space" helps recharge energy and boost creativity.
Most importantly, show up! Decide that you will see the tangible result of what you set for the day.
It takes practice. Just begin again and again. Muscles become stronger with frequent practice.
Small wins add up. Celebrate them! Continue learning and moving forward. It's a journey.
How will you apply these strategies to yourself?
References:
New Year's Resolutions Statistics 2023
This Is Nuts: It Takes Nearly 30 Minutes to Refocus After You Get Distracted
Why Downtime Is Essential for Brain Health
7 Science-Backed Ways to Take Better Breaks
The secret of the 10% most productive people? Breaking!
