How to Change Your Mindset and Maximise Productivity
Although most of us strive for maximum productivity, none of us perform at our peak all the time.
When you think of productivity, you might assume it means getting more things done.
But, in reality, productivity is about prioritising your time to get the most important tasks done efficiently and effectively.
It’s normal to have days where you don’t get as much done as you initially planned, but ideally you want to be making the most of your time.
Productivity is important because it allows you to work smarter and get through tasks quicker.
This means you have more time to get your work done, keep yourself well and do more of what you love.
There are many reasons why we aren’t productive, it could be linked to personal struggles in your life, or it might be that you’re not enjoying your job and lack the drive to perform.
But generally, it all comes down to mindset.
Low productivity is often the result of a fixed mindset, one that can leave you feeling unmotivated and complacent.
So, what’s holding you back from reaching your full potential?
What is a fixed mindset?
The concept of growth and fixed mindsets was coined by psychologist, Dr Carol Dweck, in her book, “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”.
According to Dweck, those who have a fixed mindset:
- Are set in their beliefs
- View challenges as threats
- Allow obstacles to stop them reaching their goals
Often, these people aren’t flexible or open to new ideas, making them less productive in fast-paced environments.
To truly be productive and perform at your best, you need to have a growth mindset…
What is a growth mindset?
When it comes to productivity, it’s much better to have a growth mindset.
Dweck’s research shows that people with a growth mindset:
- Learn from failures
- Adapt to challenging situations
-
Keep themselves open to opportunities
These types of individuals are much more likely to be productive because they learn from their mistakes and use that learning to improve their performance.
Is it possible to change your mindset?
The short answer is yes.
Of course, change is never easy, but it’s possible if you’re hard-working, consistent and determined.
Sometimes you might find yourself waiting around for good things to happen, but the truth is, you need to step up and make a change.
We are all guilty of letting life get in the way of what we really want and this often means we let it influence our choices.
But it's time to take back control and stop making excuses.
Changing your mindset is very similar to breaking bad habits: it’s not simple but not impossible.
The first step is having a real desire to change.
If you have that, you’re already halfway there.
So, how do you do it ?
How to change your mindset
Here are a few ways you can change your mindset and improve productivity :
Get motivated!
There is a direct link between motivation and productivity.
If you aren’t motivated, then it’s pretty much impossible to be productive at work.
Having that drive is what gets us out of bed in the morning and makes us want to achieve and succeed.
Establishing clear motivations is what helps you stay focused throughout the day.
To boost motivation, set yourself weekly targets and keep track of them.
It's important these goals are realistic and doable, so you’re more likely to reach them.
This will help give you a sense of accomplishment each day, making you feel more productive and giving you that edge.
It could also be helpful to find support from like-minded people - inspiration and accountability feed creativity and productivity.
In reality though, no one else can force you to make a change; you have to be responsible for yourself.
Motivation feeds motivation, so you can start by just showing up.
Define your vision
Hold a clear vision of the goal you want to achieve.
Lack of clarity about what you’re actually trying to accomplish can cause you to lose focus.
Envisioning what your version of success looks like can help you stay driven because you know that the end result is worth the effort.
It could be helpful to physically write down this vision on paper.
Note down exactly what you want your future to look like and what steps you are planning to take to get there.
Keep referring back to this journal and make sure you’re taking action each day to move yourself closer to your dream life.
Develop a positive mental attitude
Whilst there are many factors in life we can’t control, our attitude is one we can.
Having a positive mindset helps you work through problems, generate ideas and come up with solutions more effectively.
When you look at life with a ‘glass half full’ mentality, it can make you much more productive because you approach tasks with more energy and enthusiasm.
But how do you develop a positive attitude?
Practicing gratitude is a great way to work on a positive mindset.
This can be anything as small as writing down the things you’re grateful for to expressing verbal appreciation for the positive things in your life.
You could also try reframing your negative thoughts and putting them in a more positive light.
For example, instead of thinking ‘I feel obligated to go to the gym’, try to acknowledge how lucky you are to be able to go to the gym when you feel like it.
This can help you appreciate the good in your life rather than being drawn into negative thought patterns.
It’s also a good idea to surround yourself with positive people.
When you’re around others who exude optimism, it tends to rub off on you too.
None of us feel positive all the time, but there are changes you can make to improve your outlook on life.
Establish a daily routine
Establishing a daily routine is one of the best ways to boost productivity.
In the evening, make a quick list of what you want to achieve the following day. This allows you to wake up with a clear plan of what your day will look like.
This can give you more control over your life as well as allowing you to make the most of your time.
Take one thing at a time
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you have a lot of tasks to do and that’s one of the main reasons we procrastinate.
Not knowing where to start can mean we don’t start at all.
Most of us have started a task, only to get distracted by all the other activities we have on our to-do list.
Sometimes, this means we end up getting little to no work done because we’re so worried about our other priorities.
This is known as toxic productivity.
To overcome this, try focusing on one thing at a time.
Perhaps, you could make a priority list of 2 or 3 activities you need to get done and don’t do anything else until those tasks are complete.
You can do this using the Pomodoro Technique.
This is a time-management method where you pick a high priority activity, set a timer for 25 minutes and work on that task until your time is up.
After this, you can reward yourself with a 5 minute break so you don’t get too overtired or lose concentration.
Of course, the amount of time you set yourself depends on your attention span. Just do whatever works best for you.
It may also be helpful to switch off your mobile phone or turn off app notifications if you don’t need it for work.
Constant messages, emails and social media announcements can make it very hard to get your head down and crack on with the task at hand.
Everyone is different, so the way you work will depend on your mind and your approach, but these are just a few ideas that may help if you struggle to reach productivity targets.
How does your health impact productivity?
Physical and mental health are intrinsically linked to each other.
This means if your mental health is poor, your physical health will suffer and vice versa.
In terms of productivity, your mental and physical wellbeing should always be top priority.
If you’re suffering with stress, anxiety, depression or any other mental ailments, it’s much harder to focus on given tasks and perform at your best.
In the same way, if you have poor immunity or you’re physically fatigued, being productive becomes a real struggle.
STAIT has been clinically formulated to improve your physical and cognitive abilities, giving you the boost you need to reach your goals.
If you feel you’ve tried all these methods to boost productivity and nothing’s worked, why not give STAIT a chance?
The STAIT Supplement can help you to start your day right and give you the energy and concentration to be productive every day.