6 Mistakes That Kill Productivity

Last Updated on 21 July 2022 by Jack

How much time do you spend looking out the window wishing you were out enjoying a beautiful day, but instead you’re stuck at your computer working? You see the sun shining, hear the hustle and bustle of the city below, and all you can focus on is what you’re going to do when you’re finished working. 

These thoughts put your free time further and further away from you though! The more time you spend thinking about what you want to be doing, the less time you spend focused on working, therefore killing your productivity. 

Life is too short to waste time not being productive! These are some of the most common mistakes people make that kill their productivity. If you find yourself with these habits, it’s time to change! 

You Don’t Have a Morning Routine

Having a morning routine will set you up for success every single day. When you don’t have a routine, you are more likely to wake up feeling sluggish. This is because you spend your energy thinking about what you have to do to get ready for the day. 

With a routine, you can get dressed, eat breakfast, workout, or whatever you want, without thinking about it. You will automatically know what you have to do. 

Wake up at the same time every day and spend the first half-hour of your morning away from screens. Take this time to read, meditate, or take a shower. This will clear your mind and set you up for a successful and productive day. 

You Don’t Have a Designated Work Space

When you work from somewhere new every day, you tend to get distracted and lose concentration much faster than if you had a designated space. Sitting down at a new cafe or even a new area of your apartment can be distracting because you have a new view and atmosphere. 

Try to have a handful of designated work areas that you frequent. This can be a favorite cafe, a desk in your apartment, or a coworking space. But when you sit down at your designated work space, you know that it’s time to be productive and get to work. 

You Don’t Turn Off Notifications

All day long we are harassed by notifications from social media, text messages, calls, and emails. It seems like every other minute our phones are lighting up to let us know that someone wants to get in touch. When you’re trying to focus on work, these can be distracting and lead you down a rabbit hole of Instagram pictures and TikTok videos. 

Pause all of your notifications to increase your productivity. There are many tools out there to help you stay focused and decrease distractions. Our favorite notification blocker is Freedom.

You Try to Multitask

Nobody wants to admit to themselves that they can’t multitask. While there are some things that can be done while multitasking, like folding laundry and making a phone call, it’s one of the biggest productivity mistakes when it comes to working. When you spend time trying to do two things at once, neither project has your full focus and attention. 

Ultimately, this means you are spending twice the amount of time on a project, but only doing half the job that’s required of you. 

You Don’t Set Goals for the Day

If you don’t set goals for yourself, how do you expect to achieve anything? One mistake you’re making that is killing your productivity is not making a to-do list in the morning. Writing down everything you want to for the day helps you stay organized, focused, and plan how to tackle each item. 

Without a to-do list, you’ll feel lost as to what you are supposed to do. You’ll spend more time trying to think of what needs to be done than it would take to just look over at your list. 

This also helps you manage your time to make sure you meet important deadlines. 

You Don’t Take Time For Yourself

While it may sound contradictory when trying to increase productivity, you should make sure to take some time for yourself. This means stepping away from your work and doing something you enjoy. When you spend too much time focused on your work, you can end up feeling burnt out. This ultimately decreases your productivity. 

Clear your head, partake in a digital detox, and do something that you truly enjoy. It’s important to find a balance between work and living your life. 

Avoid These Mistakes At All Costs

When you’re trying to increase your productivity, make sure you aren’t making these mistakes. They cause you to become distracted and waste precious time. 

For more tips on how to increase your productivity and get the most out of working remotely, join Nomads Embassy: The Official Global Digital Nomads Network