There are
many who would consider themselves gurus of productivity, an endless
source of wisdom on the matter, ready to dispense advice to all who ask.
And, those who don’t. While they may be correct in many of their tips,
there are a number of common myths regarding productivity which are
regularly shared around. Even those who are already very productive can
be misguided by them, and they may just be what is holding you back.
Knowing these myths for what they are, then acting to avoid them, will
certainly help you dodge the reaching tendrils of reduced productivity.
These ten myths might very well be affecting you even today, and should
be carefully disregarded when presented.
1. Working Longer Hours
How many times have you thought that
staying longer at work will let you get more done? Chances are, the
answer is many. At face value, this is just common sense: the more time
you dedicate to a task, the more complete it will be. However, this is
not always true. By adding more hours, you’re working beyond your
already long day. Chances are, you’re exhausted at this point, and very
inefficient in your work. Sure, you’ll get more done, but could you have
done more in the same amount of time the next morning? Carefully
weighing your hours is important, and you should take care not to
overwork yourself.
2. You Work Better Under Pressure
Many will convince themselves that they
work better under pressure, or even actively seek to pressure themselves
in order to get the task done. While this may have some benefits in the
short-term, overall, this is a very unwise practice. By adding more
pressure to your workday, you’re also increasing your stress levels.
Stress negatively affects both your work and your health, and keeping it
at a minimum is a must. So, while a bit of pressure can be a good
motivator, excessive amounts will have lasting negative effects on your
life and work.
3. Multitasking Increases Efficiency
This is, again, a fairly simple concept
in theory. If you can get a lot done on one task, then just think of how
much you can do doing two or more! However, in practice, multitasking
can sometimes prove disastrous. You’re forced to split your attention
and thoughts between two tasks, meaning that you’ll only be allocating
half of your potential to each. Even in a perfect system there would be
zero net increase in productivity, but because you have to constantly
switch between the tasks, you’re actually losing a lot of your
efficiency. This is reinforced in The Myth of Multitasking, an article published by The New Atlantis.
4. Being Busy is the Same as Being Productive
This is simply not true. Busying
yourself with useless but time-consuming tasks is perhaps one of the
least efficient practices possible, and you should seek to avoid doing
this. Instead of focusing your efforts on things that don’t matter,
focus on relevant matters. Even if there is none available, then you
should perhaps help others with their business.
5. Higher Salaries Keep Workers Engaged
The logic behind this statement is that
if they are rewarded, workers will attempt to match their pay increase
with deserving work. However, this simply is not the case. If the worker
is already fairly compensated, he will likely be performing to the best
of his ability, and no pay raise will change that. After all, everyone
has his limits. While it will be much appreciated, a higher salary won’t
really cue an increase in productivity.
6. Breaks are a Waste of Time
Having a solid break schedule is
massively important in any workday. Breaks help relieve stress, and make
sure that you can mentally and physically handle the tasks at hand.
Anyone saying that they are a waste of time is very much incorrect, and
in fact, you might want to take longer breaks than you are currently. As
reported by FastCompany,
the Draugiem Group recently performed a study on their employees to
find the optimal break times. It was revealed that 52 minutes of work
followed by 17 minutes of break was the optimal schedule, and setting up
your workday in a similar fashion might just be the key to success.
7. The Same Productivity System Works for Everyone
Everyone is different. From occupation
to personality, every person is radically different from another. Thus,
one particular productivity regime can’t possibly work for everyone.
Finding what is right for you, through experimentation and trials, may
be a solid investment of time. Don’t let others tell you what is best
for you, only you can know that. Thus, it is up to you to determine your
own productivity system.
8. Working Remotely isn’t Effective
While this myth may have been true years
ago, it simply does not hold truth in this day and age. With modern
digital technology, tasks which would otherwise require an office
environment are increasingly possible at home. As long as your
environment is free from distractions, anywhere is a viable place to
work in the 21st century.
9. Keeping a Clean Workspace Helps You to Stay Organized
Having a clean workspace is not a
necessity for proper organization. It is entirely possible to have a
messy workspace and high organization, or the other way around. Again,
it all depends on the person, and his individual needs. If you like
things clean and neat, absolutely keep them that way. But if you don’t?
Don’t bother.
10. It’s Better to do Everything Yourself than Ask for Help
While you should try to do as much as
you can in a task, if you ever need help, you shouldn’t be afraid to
ask. Most workplaces would prefer you to ask another for help than to do
something yourself improperly. Conversely, if you are ever approached
with a plea for help, do attempt to help, as it will help the coworker
to improve his productivity. Know what you are capable of, and don’t try
to go beyond that. If you do, chances are that it will end badly.
Keeping clear of these myths is
essential to ensuring a high level of productivity. Don’t let yourself
be tempted by their seemingly logical advice, and be wary of their
consequences. Arm yourself with knowledge, and stay safe from these ten
productivity myths.
—–
Danny Donchev is a marketing manager of AdaptRM
, a revolutionary time-tracking tool. Danny writes more posts about
productivity and efficiency on the AdaptRM blog. Hit him up on Twitter @DannyDonchev anytime.
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