5 Ways You’re More Productive Than You Thought

On this blog I write about the things you can do to be more productive. But what about the things you are already doing? Whether you realize it or not you’re always improving. Don’t believe me? Think back to the person you where a year ago, or five years ago. You’re probably doing a lot better than you thought.

Today I encourage you to take a moment, think about all the productive things you do and give yourself a pat on the back. Here are some productive things you might do without even knowing it!

Taking a Shower – So many people think of good ideas when they’re in the shower and it’s because the falling water releases negative ions which generate clearer thinking and more energy. Also many of us start planning our day in the shower without even thinking about it. You may have only just woken up, but you’re already being productive!

Email Batching – We tend to be more focused if we only take on one task at a time. So if you reply to your emails in one shot when you first get to work then you’re well on your way to a productive day.

You Keep Going – Okay so maybe today didn’t quite go as planned, maybe your phone died and you missed an important call or your project isn’t as far along as you’d hoped. But if you get up and keep trying then your on your way to success! Not giving up is one of the most important things you can do. As Edison famously said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Playing with Your Pet – I was very happy when I recently discovered a study showing that cute animals trigger our care-giving impulses, which improves work performance. Which means that even if your just hanging out with your cat on the sofa – you’re actually being productive!

You’ve Bought my Book – (Ha! I had to fit in some shameless self promotion in the name of productivity!) Listful Thinking is full of great tips on productivity and time management. So if you’ve ordered my book you’re clearly well prepared and ready to make changes in your life.