Do you want to get into a productive mindset that will help you get more done? When it comes to productivity, mindset is key. Your mind is often what limits you from reaching your full potential. The wrong mindset will leave you with fear, insecurity, and other negative emotions that hold you back.
You have to change your belief system to overcome those feelings. You should believe in yourself, but in order to do so, you have to build the base for that confidence.
Otherwise, you’ll be building your confidence castle on precarious sand.
Here are some actionable tips on how to get into a productive mindset to get more done.
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Set SMART goals.
How you set goals can set you up for success or failure. It’s hard to take action towards achieving a vague or unrealistic goal.
I like to use the SMART method to evaluate if a goal is set in the right way. SMART is an acronym for the following.
- Specific – clear and unambiguous
- Measurable – quantifiable in objective measures such as numbers
- Attainable – something you can realistically achieve
- Relevant – serve your greater purpose
- Timely – attached to a specific time frame
“I want to have more money” is not SMART, but “I will increase my net income by 15% each year and save 50% of it to have security and comfort in retirement” is SMARTer.
Remind yourself of your goals and values daily.
We often lose sight of our goals and allow them to be sidelined. To stay on track, you have to remember what you’re doing and what you’re doing it for.
A great way to do this is to put together a vision board and save it as a background of your electronics. That way you see it every day.
Related- How to make a vision board for your future dreams?
It’s easy to create one. Go on Pinterest to collect photos and quote graphics that inspire you, throw them together in Canva, and you’re good to go! It’s so simple to do but has a great effect on your mindset.
Rely on habits, not motivation.
“Motivation” is fleeting. You should absolutely take advantage of it when you’re super motivated, but you can’t expect to feel that way always and forever.
Some say that’s why one should focus on discipline, not motivation. While there’s truth to that, “discipline” sounds too rigid and harsh to me. Perhaps it’s because I associate it with my Catholic education.
What I like to do instead is focus on building habits that support my goals. It takes a while for something to really become a habit, but once it is a part of your routine, it will feel natural and more effortless.
Take one thing at a time to incorporate into your daily life.
Done is better than perfect.
Perfectionism is often the underlying cause of procrastination. The pressure of having to produce a “perfect” outcome and the fear that you might not make you put off getting to work.
Understand that the first try is not going to be anywhere near perfect, but you’ll need it to build on. Also, understand that “perfect” is an illusion you probably shouldn’t pursue.
It’s better to have an “imperfect” something because nothing will be perfect. Of course, we want the best so it’s a hard mindset to let go of, but it is necessary to break out of it.
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Start small.
Another thing that leads to overwhelming and procrastination is the scale of a task. Goals and tasks should be broken down into smaller, more manageable ones.
Instead of thinking that you need to study for a whole final, start with going over the notes from one lecture. It will boost your confidence and lower your resistance to starting.
Work with your brain, not against it.
Forcing your brain into doing things unnatural for it is inefficient and just leads to burnout. We are all wired differently; there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Just because someone says doing things a certain way makes them productive, doesn’t mean it will actually work for you.
Learn how different things affect your productivity through trial and error and stick to what works for you.
For many people, batching similar tasks together makes them more effective because they don’t have to shift their focus. For me, doing similar things for a long period of time actually makes me bored and lose interest.
I need to switch it up every hour or so to keep the momentum going.
Some people do their best work at night, others are more productive in the morning. You have to learn by doing and apply what you learn as you go.
Use productivity tools that suit you.
Am I the only one that gets excited about a good productivity tool? And there are so many to choose from! You shouldn’t waste too much time on finding a “perfect” tool or fiddling with it.
You do need to focus on doing things that need to be done. But choosing a productivity tool that’s right for you and sticking with it can really help you stay on course.
Start with something really simple, like a to-do list app or a calendar. And as you refine your productivity routine, you will learn what you need and what works for you.
Most productivity apps these days have features that allow you to import and migrate your data, so you can always move to one that is better for you as you find out what you want.
But digital apps are not for everyone. They come with having to get used to the tech and a lot of distractions that live on our electronics.
Good old pen and paper might be best for some! While the paper doesn’t have a click-to-import function, you can always refine the way you use your paper planner or bullet journal.
About the blogger- My name is Jihyun and my blog Jihyun’s Journey is all about self-improvement and mental health. Come find out more productivity and mindset tips for managing your mental health and living your best life!
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