4 Causes of Low Productivity
September 10, 2009
Low productivity is often at the root of frustration and anxiety for many people. Maybe you know you’re unproductive, but you haven’t been able to pinpoint why. And because you don’t know why, you haven’t been successful at changing and becoming a more productive person. Here are four basic reasons why many people aren’t productive.
1. Poor time management skills
For many lacking in productivity, it simply boils down to the fact that you have little or no time management skills. You probably flounder away much of your day because you spend way too much time on one project. Learn how to better manage your time and you will begin to see an increase in your productivity right away.
2. Zero goals
An extremely important aspect of productivity is setting personal goals. When you don’t have any goals, you are like a world traveler with no road map. You know where you want to go, but don’t have a clue how to get there. So you often end up taking the long way around, and lose lots of time in the process. Set some goals for yourself.
3. Lack of vision
Like goals, vision is the gas that fuels your engine. What do you hope for yourself in the future? Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? Being able to envision better things for yourself is the best motivator there is. Start dreaming about how you want to improve your life.
4. Too many distractions
Distractions are the enemy of the soul. Ringing phones, co-worker chats, and incessant texting are just a few things that will kill your time. Create a work plan for your day, then stick to it. Turn off your cell phone during working hours. Let your family know when it is and isn’t okay to call during the day. Eliminating a number of distractions can boost your productivity very quickly.
If you are struggling to get a grip on your productivity, changing even just one of these areas of your life can lead to a big improvement.
