Lazy Productivity: Get More Done by Doing Less

Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), GRI, e-PRO, ASP

Everyone’s looking for a healthy, happy, and productive lifestyle. Whether you are a new or seasoned entrepreneur, building a business is unquestionably an arduous task. There are millions of things that you need to handle every day. You have to become a deft master of constant prioritization and reprioritization. The unceasing workload may sometimes drive you crazy. While you’re putting one task to bed, ten others may pop up — some with urgent deadlines.

We all have 24 hours a day, but truly successful people know how to make the best out of those limited 24 hours. If you’re seeking to have a comfortable lifestyle while taking your business to new heights, it is essential to understand how to become productive. Productivity can be achieved by working harder, naturally. But what about working “smarter?” And what of working harder and smarter when what you’d REALLY rather be doing is binge-watching The Serpent on Netflix while munching on a Grubhub delivery?

Is there a place for laziness in the realm of productivity?

But before we talk about how to boost your work efficiency, it is vital to turn our attention to how some entrepreneurs have turned their natural laziness into productivity. Although society has always frowned upon the habit of laziness, at some point, it can also turn out to be a talent. Sometimes, even the laziest people turn out to be the most successful and well-driven.

It is laborious for many entrepreneurs to plan their slate of products and services and then release them successfully to the world. And sometimes, regardless of your 30,000-foot plan, you just want to coast. So, consider if there’s a way to make your natural tendency toward laziness pay off. Bill Gates once said that it is better to hire lazy people to do challenging tasks because they will find an easier way to get that job done.

Here are a few trusted tips from experts to help you get more done by doing less — and with enhanced productivity levels:

Find the most suitable working hours for you

Most people struggle to get things done on time because they work at odd times. You can be more productive when you identify the best time for you to work. Some people perform better in the morning hours; others can enjoy total productivity at midnight.

If you find that you cannot force yourself to work at any specific time of the day or cannot get rid of the lazy behaviors, try to figure out if there’s a particular time when you feel motivated to get things done. At that particular time, you will find it easier to accomplish tasks sooner, and then you will find more time to relax.

After identifying the right time to work, eliminate distractions

The great news is that many technological advancements have become an integral part of human life these days. On one side, they offer significant growth opportunities to the current generation of entrepreneurs and consumers, but these modern age devices can also prove to be distractions when you’re trying to work. Studies reveal that gadgets and devices have become the most significant source of procrastination. Monotasking — the practice of dedicating oneself to a given task — is a recent productivity buzzword, but the science backs up its value. Doing one thing at a time, rather than “multitasking,” does make you more productive. That said, monotasking is virtually impossible when all your gadgets are constantly alerting you to incoming e-mail, texts, upcoming calendar appointments, etc. Learn how to minimize your interruptions, and you’ll get more done.

If you want to become more productive, it is crucial to block distractions from your routines. The best idea is to turn off notifications for your e-mails and social media; thus, you will be able to stop wasting time checking the alerts time and again. People who know how to eliminate distractions from day-to-day life are likely to become more productive. You can also use some modern age apps that are designed to help people to eliminate distractions.

Cut work that doesn’t matter

This is probably the hardest thing to do. But you need to analyze where you spend most of your time and what results you are getting from that. It is essential to understand that 80% of your overall results come from 20% of your work; therefore, it is vital to eliminate tasks with a low return on your investment of time. You should only focus on things that bring some positive output for you.

If you are a business owner, you have to analyze the outcomes of every task you do routinely. Make sure you prioritize tasks based on how much time they will take and how much profit they can make for you. Experts advise cutting the work that doesn’t matter at all for your business. When you stay focused only on the essential tasks, you can automatically be more efficient and productive. Moreover, you will be able to complete things on time and spare more time to relax.

The key takeaway

To boost your productivity levels, you might try taking a nap. This is the fastest way to restore your energy magically. You may also need to take a break after completing exhausting tasks; it can help you regain your strength to work efficiently on the following tasks. Other than this, you need to organize your routines in such a manner that you can stay more focused on productive tasks.

Bottom line

Experts advise following the 80/20 method to become more productive in life. This method involves analyzing 20% of activities that consume 80% of your routine time. This technique can help you to prioritize next steps and get them done on time, with more time to spare for fun with your loved ones!