3 Ways to Eliminate Bad Habits and Boost Productivity

Ever find yourself getting to the end of the day and feeling like you haven’t even done one productive thing? Well I’ve been there! Every morning we wake up thinking about just how productive we’re going to be. We have a nice little schedule laid out, and even did some prep-work the night before.

It’s all great and good to be able to effectively plan out your day, but the truth of the matter is, if you can’t stick to the plan your productivity won’t improve and you’ll just be right back where you started.

This is why I think it’s so important to go to the source: our habits. Habits can be great when we’ve trained ourselves in positive ways, such as brushing our teeth and combing our hair – those are pretty instinctual by now, and aren’t you glad you taught yourself that? I sure am!

So how can you eliminate bad, non-productive habits? Well first you have to look at what exactly those bad habits are, and how they are holding you back from getting the most out of your day.

For me there were 3 big ones that stood out, and I wanted to share them with you today to help you take notice of these things in your own life in order to finally start to be more productive.

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1. Realize the Power of Writing Things Down!

So to be completely honest, this is one of those things that I’ve struggled with the most. “Write it down,” they say. “It’ll clear your mind,” they say. Well I didn’t believe it until I actually did it! So often we try to organize our tasks in our heads. It becomes a game of mental pin-board, and instead of structuring a productive day, all you’ve managed to do is convince yourself that you’re so super busy!

This in fact is not true, but since everything is floating around inside your head it becomes so overwhelming that the only conclusion you can make is that you must just be extremely busy, or something? Now I know some of you are great with making to-do lists and carrying it out effortlessly. But for those of you who are more like me, I guarantee you, you’ve got to try this writing down thing everyone’s always talking about!

This week I’ve been working hard at trying to establish this new habit of writing down my list of things that I need to do for the week, spacing it out between my days, and merely shifting things over when I don’t get around to doing it. My mind has been much calmer, and I don’t feel that complete overwhelm. Instead I can just focus on one task at a time, without everything else hampering my productivity.

[fancy_box id=2]Suggested Read: 7 Productivity Tips to Beat Procrastination Once and For All[/fancy_box]

2. Stop Looking at Everyone Else!

Often times we spend so much time worrying about what others are doing that we forget to tend to what we have set out to do. Wondering what this looks like? Often times this is evident when you’re spending hours scrolling through your Instagram feed, and checking all 10 Facebook Groups you’re in to see what they’re posting next.

Now I’m not saying that you shouldn’t invest in personal growth or seeking out ways to learn, but if your own progress is suffering because of it, then you should definitely stop to re-evaluate. If you’re learning from to improve your skills and gain a new edge in the market, then I encourage you 100%! However, if you’re just filling your head with everyone else’s ideas and not taking the time to foster your own, then I will definitely support you in taking a step back and really focusing on your own business.

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So before you get lost in the “other-sphere”, set up some boundaries for yourself. For example, designate a specific time of the day where you actively participate in social media and connect with others, whether that’s through commenting in groups or attending a periscope session. Also, be sure to take the time to sign up for that masterclass you’ve been looking forward to, enrol in a course you’ve always wanted to learn more about, or even buy that new book you’ve been dying to read.

[fancy_box id=2]Suggested Read: 3 Steps to Better Investing in Yourself[/fancy_box]

Investing in yourself is very important, just don’t leave your goals and dreams behind.

3. Re-evalute Your “Why”

One of the values that I hold very dear to my heard is understanding my “why”. Hard work and determination comes a lot more naturally when you really understand why you’re doing it, and who you’re doing it for. Constantly reminding yourself of your specific and unique “why” enables you to stay motivated and get up that extra 2 or 3 hours earlier in the mornings – or perhaps even pull an all-nighter!?

So you say you’re not getting up earlier to do what you do? You aren’t motivated to get the work done? Well perhaps it’s time to re-evalute exactly what your “why” is. We can’t forget that as creatives, entrepreneurs, or career-driven individuals, we are also extremely dynamic. Always learning, always seeking out new things and ways to improve our skill sets. With this being said, all this change can sometimes lead to a change in your purpose, passion, and ultimate “why”.

Now don’t worry, it’s okay to change! Sometimes life just takes us in a completely different direction; your desires change, your internal drive changes, and even your motivators. However, when you look closely this usually isn’t a MAJOR change, but it can be enough of a shift to significantly decrease your interest in the tasks at hand. So instead of fluttering on doing something you thought you were passionate about, take the time to really think about it and perhaps consider the possibility of a “pivot”.

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This new direction might light a flame inside that will give you the motivation you need to bust those bad habits and achieve those productive days that you’ve always wanted!

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As always, desire to inspire!