LET’S TALK ABOUT PRODUCTIVITY
Generalizations are not typically my thing. However, I do think that I speak for the vast majority when I say that 2020 took “normal” and flipped it up, down and all around.
Beginning in mid- to late-March, we saw a global lifestyle transformation, the likes of which few people alive today may have experienced before. As a necessity of COVID-19, work-from-home and school-from-home became norms that sustain us well into the second half of the year. Socio-political climates rose up and carried with them cries for justice and equality. The global environmental crisis hit new levels of international panic as bushfires raged in Australia, all while the International Climate Clock kept tick-tick-ticking away.
All this, and add in the confinements of a self-isolation and quarantine, not to mention the continuance of a constant workload, is bound to result in some repercussions. Following the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, people around the world have felt the impacts of deteriorating mental health. Ranging from issues such as isolation, job loss, depression, and anxiety, many have found their ability to carry on with day-to-day activities hindered. So with all of these hindrances, and little reprieve from chaos, the question to ask here is how do we motivate ourselves to be productive?
It’s a valid question. Working from home is a new challenge and hence presents an entirely different set of benefits and disadvantages. Physical distancing from colleagues, peers, workplaces and resources can be a difficult reality to still continue persevering, but as we finish up the last little bit of summer and head into the new school year, it feels imperative to crack this code once and for all.
So how do we become more productive? Surely everyone has tried a variety of different methods throughout their lifetimes to become better and quicker at what they do. But does there exist a one-size-fits-all method to becoming more productive? Seems unlikely. In lieu, a concept that has gained a lot of popularity recently is that of “deep work”.
Deep Work
Author and professor Cal Newport writes of this concept designed to do extraordinary work to receive extraordinary results. The theory goes such that
“Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It’s a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time.”
Ever modestly, it has been described as a “super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy” with the underlying message disparaging modern communication methods (such as emails, social media, etc) to be a waste of time and ultimate distractions. Deep work operates on a few base principles that ultimately help the psyche achieve a higher level of concentration and focus, while also training the mind to function with absolute elimination of distractions. Newport suggests a variety of tricks to achieve a state of deep work, examples being:
- Avoid Shallow Work: tasks such as email checks, routine slide deck updates, or other smaller duties performed in a half-distracted state are described to be “noncognitively demanding” and do not “create much new value in the world”.
- Work during strict time periods: to prevent taking the work day home with you, deep work suggests that a structured, smaller work period is better than a prolonged, distracted one.
- Social Media distancing: deep work is a practice that aims to create a work habit free of distractions, and as one of the leading distractors of the 21st century, social media serves as the perfect hindrance.
Now all this being said, I am sure some of these methods would work better for some people than they would others. Imagine telling a CEO to stop replying to emails, or telling a Social Media Manager to delete their apps — it’s simply not feasible. Productivity looks different in each industry, career, or individual, and it’s crucial to understand that what works for one may not work for another.
So perhaps instead of giving a generalized “100% success guaranteed!” method to becoming more productive, it might be more worthwhile to look into habits that efficient workers have. In no way are these exhaustive, as there exist as many productive habits as there are productive people, but with all that being said, let’s delve into a few things that might be able to help boost productivity during these turbulent times.
- A scheduled day keeps the anxiety away.
It’s a fact: physical distancing is increasing the amount of anxiety people are experiencing on a daily basis, and a good chunk of that may have to do with the fact that we are all of us working and living in the same physical environment day after day without change.
Break it down.
Much like a mirage in the desert, the To-Do List monster seems giant in our heads, when in reality it’s much smaller in size and fear. Writing down every task you need to complete makes it much easier to organize your thoughts and to allocate your time. Tasks that need more concentration probably deserve a work session dedicated specifically towards them, whereas tasks requiring less concentration can be done in sequence with others like them. Allocate how much time each task will take.
The use of certain scheduling apps can also be incredibly helpful in keeping track of your responsibilities. Tyler Taaca, of Project RED, uses an app called Notion, which is essentially an all-in-one planner and data-base, which is free for students. And it helps that it looks amazing and is free for students.
3pm to 4pm: do nothing
I joke, but scheduling in time to recharge is so incredibly important. I learned this lesson the hard way but academic or professional burnouts are a very real thing and require lots of effort to curb. As we finish up the summer, many of us are juggling a plethora of responsibilities, some more time consuming than others, some more tiring than others. Take the time to reflect upon which ones cause you to tire quickest and take the steps to prevent becoming drained.
Whether you relax with a good nap, talking with friends/family, or by engaging in an activity or exercise, take the time to figure out what recharges you and gets you back in the spirit after a long day.
2. This isn’t Mean Girls — the limit DOES exist.
Despite the infinite number of opportunities that exist to advance yourself and learn new skills, as human beings there are only so many things that you can do, and only a finite amount of hours to do them in.
Learn to say ‘no’.
Overloading ourselves in the interest of not missing out is incredibly tempting but perhaps more important to remember is the fact that at the bright young ages of undergrad, we are only just beginning our professional journeys. It is exciting and tempting to pick up every new thing coming our way but don’t put yourself in the position where you end up burnt out by the time you graduate. Prioritization is key — it is more beneficial to pick up a small quantity of relevant opportunities than it is to overload ourselves with a large quantity mixed bag. Knowing your capabilities and knowing your limits ensures that you are able to give your full focus to the things that you do. Ensure that you are learning new things and improving upon your skills in everything that you do: learn from your peers, give a helping hand to the younger years, and make an effort to walk out of every experience a better person than you were when you started.
Ask for help
As many of us begin to fully immerse ourselves into the leadership positions or other opportunities that we hold, we begin experiencing the struggle of balancing multiple priorities, as well as a work-life balance. Take advantage of the teams you work in, ask for guidance when you need it, and offer some in return to the people around you. It is undoubtedly difficult to juggle multiple responsibilities, especially during busy times. Remember that delegation, planning and teamwork are incredibly useful skills that will come in handy every single time, so make sure to put them to use!
3. Recognize that productivity is non-linear
Unlike time, the passage of productivity cannot be measured in an ever-continuous cycle. Instead, the most productive work sessions are filled with breaks and pauses. To sustain a high level of productivity it is imperative to understand that short, concentrated bursts yield better results than long drawn sessions, which deteriorate in quality every passing hour.
If you are only able to work for 3 hours a day, then make those 3 focused hours, as opposed to a 7 hour work session filled with distractions and procrastination. Productivity is sustained in even, controlled amounts, not in a long ceaseless cycle — the knowledge of this is liberating in the sense that not only do you feel more satisfied about the things you accomplish, but you also maintain a high quality in the work that you do.
Above all, keep in mind that staying productive during these troubled times is difficult and important, but never at the sake of your mental health. Take the time to recharge, find the right environment and people to help you. This year is full of surprises, a new twist or turn at every moment, but take the time for yourself as needed, and be ready to face every new challenge with a fresh attitude and the willingness to do what needs to get done.