Designing Stress-Free Productivity
Let’s face it here and now, before 2021 steam rolls over us.
You know what needs to be done every single day, but for so many reasons, you are not doing it on a consistent and meaningful basis. Even with the best intention, even after writing a list or creating brand new commitments, the old routines and thought patterns persist. The same end game reveals itself, with stress levels increasing and productivity decreasing.
But why?
While some may think that productivity is just a matter of working hard and having discipline, this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, there are key habits that differentiate between productive people and less productive people, and not practicing these habits naturally leads to decreased productivity, no matter who you are.
Habits practiced by the super productive:
Setting sustainable goals
Uncovering roadblocks
Prioritizing urgency vs importance
Creating accountability systems
Implementing organized daily systems
Do you practice some of these? Have you at least tried one of these, maybe more than one time? Do you find that even then you feel frustrated in your productivity level?
That’s because the list above does not cover the ‘stress-free’ part at all. As a matter of fact, if I mention stress-free productivity to my husband, he will say,
“That’s impossible. Stress is a human way of being. Everyone experiences stress…good or bad.”
That is a common belief. Which also explains why we allow it to continue without attempting to change it.
Yet when I ask my 26 year old son, a high level Engineer who works with the best of the tech giants, he responds differently.
“I don’t understand stress at all,” he says. “Some days I am busy and some days there is more work than actual time, but I don’t feel stressed out. I just feel like I have a-lot on my plate.” He explains that even when his work is overflowing, he understands that he can only get done what he can and assumes that it will all work out. And then it either does, or does not.
Two perspectives.
Let’s make it three. I am much more like my son on most days of the year. I do feel overloaded at times and have a migraine or two to show for it, but it just doesn’t register as stress while I am working. While I am working, I am working. When there seems to be too much to do, I feel jittery at times, but I keep to my list and tasks at hand and simply keep at it. Some days are easier than others. Often at the days end I readjust the schedule to make it fit better for the following day.
This way of thinking can also be described as a personal management system that fosters stress-free productivity.
According to author, David Allen, “it is based on the premise that our productivity is directly proportional to our ability to relax.”
While being effective and precise are critical to our productivity, the ability to be mindfully relaxed even while working is what allows you to tap into your true potential of productivity. The skill of being relaxed, and mindfully balanced is a natural contributor to being productive and obvious when we think about the opposite of those.
How many times have you sat in a meeting and been so frustrated that you can’t even hear the words coming at you? Have you ever tried to negotiate with a colleague or client while feeling overloaded and stressed about work pending on your desk? Isn’t it easier to communicate with everyone when there is no tension, or when you are feeling relaxed and calm?
Of course! Which is why these habits are needed for Stress-Free Productivity:
Fostering mindfulness
Balancing relaxation, concentration and focus
Establishing work/life balance
Let’s begin small. The next time you sit down to focus, plant your feet firmly on the floor and lower your shoulders. Then begin to clear your mind by inhaling and exhaling deeply. Make sure the list of the very next thing you need to work on is clear, as well as what will need to be done next. This way you will be able to focus in a relaxed state. Let the stress-free productivity begin!
How about an online course to help?
Click the link below for more details about this online course!
Now is the right time to get started!