Productivity Challenges and How to Overcome Them

The first step to finding solutions is acknowledging that you have a problem. Next, you have to identify the factors contributing to your situation. If your problem is not getting work done when you need them done, then you have efficiency issues you need to overcome.

Here are some common productivity challenges that everybody experiences as well as steps you can take so that they can stop interfering with your output.

Clutter 

Everybody has clutter. “Physical” clutter might be the easiest to solve. Maybe it’s the Tower of Babel printouts beside your desk or the sea of document icons on your desktop screen. Clutter can put a damper on your efforts to stay on top of your work. “Mental” clutter happens when you have a lot of things on your mind that keeps you from your focus and adds to your stress levels

The Solution:

Get a notebook where you can make lists to gather your thoughts. It’s easier to understand things when you are able to see the bigger picture. Schedule a regular cleanup for as often as you need to prevent your physical clutter from piling up.

Multitasking

Apologies to the champions of multitasking, because according to science, it’s not for everyone! On the outset, it seems like the logical thing to do, like hitting two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, that’s really not the case when it comes to work quality because your focus can really suffer and give you mediocre results. This wouldn’t be the case if you are able to plan proper time management. Multitasking happens when you are trying to get more done in only half the time.

The solution:

Try to plan your day before it even happens. Getting enough sleep is also key so that you can wake up refreshed and ready to take on any load of work without having to rush.

Unrealistic Goals

It’s often a good idea to shoot for the moon. But this is more for the long term, our dreams and aspirations. In the meantime, setting unrealistic goals for the short term can lower your productivity levels especially when you are unable to meet them. This can lead to stress, disappointment, and demotivation.

The solution:

Identify your biggest challenges and be kind to yourself. It is good to acknowledge your limitations and this awareness can even become your secret superpower. When you know the areas that you need to work on, this provides you with the opportunity to improve yourself.

Burnout

We need to take care of ourselves so that we don’t get sick and miss out on our work. Do you always feel sleepy, get tired easily, or find that you dread seeing your tasks? These are all the classic hallmarks of a burnout and if you are not careful, it can also turn into a massive health issue. 

The solution:

Don’t forget to give yourself breaks and don’t skip on your greens whenever you get them. This is your body telling you that you need to give it some rest. Remember, there is more to life than just our jobs and we were not put on this earth to simply work till our lives run out.