What Productivity Systems Don’t Solve
If you are like me, you are always looking for the perfect productivity enhancing system. Unfortunately it doesn’t exist. The problem is not productivity systems – the problem is that no system can solve: procrastination, fear of uncertainty, and fear of discomfort.
This post was originally published on the Zen Habits site .
For example, at the top of my to-do list today is “write a post on Zen Habits” and “write an introduction to a course of clearing the clutter” … pretty simple, isn’t it? Two fairly simple tasks. But when I started this post, I went to check my email and reply to it, texted my wife, checked my finances, cleaned up the kitchen a bit. I am very productive at small things when I put off big things !
No matter how good a productivity system is, it falls apart when I start procrastinating .
When the task is inconvenient, I procrastinate, like most people. When faced with great uncertainty about completing a task, I procrastinate. Most of us do. Often we are working on a new productivity system, trying a new to-do list app, getting organized or starting to zero out the inbox, or starting to read about a new way to be productive (like you are now) … All as a way to postpone undefined or awkward tasks .
And it’s much easier to follow the path of distractions and small tasks than to face a big, important but daunting task. It’s easy to go to your bank website to check your balance, check your favorite blogs and news sites, open your favorite social network, etc. They have no barriers to entry and will always give you some reward while how difficult tasks give you negative feedback and discourage you from getting started. Not a fair fight, huh?
So how do we deal with this? Several important methods:
- Take a step back . You need to get away from distractions and small tasks. Step away from your computer and go outside, take a walk, shower, meditate, or just sit for one minute doing nothing. That’s all it takes. Take a step back and think about what you should be doing right now, not what is easier and more seductive.
- Remember who you are doing this for . As you take a step back, think of the person you will benefit from in this important task. Employee, customer, customer, loved one? It’s you? How will it make their lives better? Maybe it will make it easier for them, but maybe it will solve a real problem or satisfy an important need. I found myself procrastinating when I was focused on my own comfort, but progressing through procrastination when I was focused on helping others .
- Let yourself sink into discomfort . Remove distractions, just have what you need to complete this single task, and allow yourself to feel uncomfortable for a few minutes. Yes, it sucks, but it really isn’t that bad when you start. It’s like diving into cold water – just dive, don’t think about it. Once inside, relax and feel uncomfortable and make sure things are not as bad as you feared.
- Embrace uncertainty . Most of the time, we are held back by fear of uncertainty. We do not know how to do something and how it will end, and this scares us a little. We don’t want to work on something like that or even think about it. We avoid, procrastinate and rationalize. Instead, see uncertainty as a necessary part of life (who needs a life that you know how things turn out to be? Super boring) and see it as an exciting part of life filled with wonder, curiosity, learning, exploration. and adventure. Instead of looking at uncertainty as bad, embrace it and see if you can learn to explore it. As discomfort, plunge into it and relax.
- Do it piece by piece . Yes, insecurity and discomfort can be difficult. So don’t kill yourself trying to deal with them, just do it in small doses. Work on the problem for just a few minutes, then take a walk and take a break. Then sit down and focus again, relaxing in discomfort and insecurity. Repetition.
Through this kind of mindful practice, you train yourself to deal with discomfort and insecurity. This is a wonderful skill to master well!
And in the end, you will not only face the most difficult aspect of productivity, but you will also be doing something good for others in the process.
What Productivity Systems Don’t Solve | Zen habits