How to be (not so) productive
Written by Zoé Willem & Illustrated by James Merritt
Published 25th May
This article is not really about how much you’ll be able to do in a day if you put your mind to it, but more about how you can approach those tasks with more serenity.
I can’t teach you how to nail those 100 tasks on your to-do list, I’m not that good. But I can give some useful tips that helped me approach productivity in a healthier way. How you can work with yourself instead of against.
Let’s jump right into it, shall we?
© James Merritt
The Pomodoro technique
Invented by Francesco Cirillo, named after the shape of his timer, (Pomodoro = Tomato), this technique is a great productivity trick. The idea behind it was that we can’t multi-task while being fully present and deeply focused. Using a timer for each task, allows you to work on different projects during your day while being focused on one thing at a time.
How does it work? You set a timer for 25min and focus on one task. After the 25mins has passed you get a 5 min break. After repeating this cycle 5 times, you get yourself a 30min break.
Why does it work? By allowing moments for distractions, you can fully focus on the task at hand. And it makes it seem less daunting. With the timer, I’m tricking my brain into thinking it’s not going to be as hard, even if I do have to suffer, it will only last 25min. Bearable, right?
In my case, it works well with tasks where my focus is easily distracted, starting big projects by breaking them into smaller tasks and/or dealing with things I don’t enjoy, like administrative tasks, replying to emails, and other fun activities. A small warning, you have to be flexible with it! Find your own approach, use it as a tool, not a rule.
© James Merritt
The 70% rule
This rule is revolutionary for my fellow perfectionists out there. Perfectionism pushes you to improve yourself but reaching for perfection can also limit you. By getting in the way of your productivity for starters. I came across this rule by watching this youtube video, and it changed my mindset a bit. The idea is to aim for 70%, not 100%. Instead of asking yourself, ‘Can I make it perfect?’, which will be answered by a dreadful ‘No’. Ask yourself ‘Can I make it at least 70% of perfect?’ which should be answered by an encouraging ‘Yes’.
Keep this in mind when you assess a project and are not fully satisfied. Don’t ask what’s wrong with it, ask yourself is it better than 70%? After a while, it will help you think that your work does not equal your worth. By aiming to make it at least 70% great, you make your goals achievable. This means you can finish things more easily, share the projects and activate a positive feedback loop.
Quick reminder: perfection doesn’t exist. By trying to reach something that doesn’t exist you ultimately set yourself up to fail. As for reaching 70%... You get my point.
Focus on the essential
Think about your different priorities and make a list. Try to organise them by order of importance at this moment in your life. Be honest, assess your own goals, desires, and needs. You can always update it. Some of your priorities might change in the future. A great tool to refer to when you have small periods of time to use or just don’t know where to start. Instead of trying to do 30 things at the same time, pick only activities that serve the top 3 priorities on your list.
Another great tool is to keep your to-do list short. Set yourself 3 goals per day, 5 goals per week, 3 goals per month. That way, you can avoid the trap of the never-ending to-do list and focus on the essential. Get a clear idea of what has been done and some satisfaction when you see those boxes ticked. Those tools can offer you some clarity on the bigger picture, what truly matters to you, and show kindness to the productivity freaks that live inside you.
© James Merritt
Divide it into smaller tasks
In order to make big projects seems less daunting, divide big tasks into smaller ones.
Instead of saying ‘I’m going to write an article about productivity’ or any other goals/project you could have, divide it into small reachable goals. On your to-do list allow some time for research, making a list of topics you want to approach, writing your first shitty paragraph, then another, then a first draft, etc. etc.
If a task still seems too daunting it just means, it’s still too big. We usually plan too much for one day, when we should think about what we could do in a week, a month, a year.
© James Merritt
Rest Is productive
I know it sounds cheesy as hell, you have probably seen it on a lot of motivational posters lately, but it’s essential. Just like drinking 1,5l of water per day, we should all do it more.
Sometimes not doing anything with your day is the most productive way to spend it. You’ll actually get back with your brain working again, flooding with ideas and sharply focused. Sometimes, stopping to take a nap, bake a cake, or dance to Britney Spears is the best way to spend your time.
I hope this was slightly useful or that you had a mildly pleasant time reading this. If you like this subject, you should have a look at some of our previous articles, such as ‘keep yourself accountable’ and ‘prioritise your time better’.
About the author
I’m Zoé (with an accent), a multi-disciplinary designer, coming straight from Belgium (great chocolate, great beers). I studied illustration, graphic design and fashion design. I have an unhealthy obsession for the colours red and blue, sustainable or independent streetwear and love to reflect on ambivalent feelings. I tend to approach topics through visual metaphors, with a weird sense of humour or a poetic outlook. And my big goal is to create understanding and spread compassion.
