You may ask yourself, why is being productive so important? You’ve probably been told (repeatedly) that being productive is important, but you may not know exactly why. And the answer honestly isn’t that easy, as being productive can affect different parts of your life. So what is the importance of being productive?
You Manage Your Time More Effectively
One thing that being productive does is that it allows you to have more control over your life. This way you will have time to do all the activities which truly make you happy while still balancing work life. Not only that, but you won’t ever feel like you’re wasting your time either. And who knows, you might finally have time to try that one thing that has always been on your bucket list.
It Keeps Your Mind Active
As you grow older, according to scientists at Harvard Health, it’s just as important to keep your mind active as it is to keep your body healthy. This is because your mind starts to deteriorate if you don’t constantly keep working and learning new things.
And a deteriorating mind can lead to a plethora of other problems and diseases, which could lead to an early death. Therefore, focusing on being productive not only keeps your mind engaged but also keeps it active and functioning for years to come—all while you are accomplishing the things you aspire to achieve.
Your Quality of Life Increases
In this world, everyone knows time is money. So, when you have more time, you’ll likely have more money as well. Just look at some of the most famous CEOs and their productivity levels, and all the fun they get to have.
Honestly, they live a pretty high-quality life no matter how you look at it. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make more money by being productive, but it does mean you’ll finally have time to start that side business you always wanted to.
The importance of productivity? It could be the key to happiness!
Money can’t buy happiness, but being productive can. The Anxiety and Depression Association for America has found numerous studies that conclude some people can achieve similar results with medication for their depression by increasing productivity only.
Of course, this doesn’t work for everyone, but productivity boosts your mood and motivates you, which will likely increase your outlook on life and emotional health.
The point is, most people don’t prioritize productivity as they should. Productivity is truly the key to better time management, which has proven to keep your mind healthy and happy for years to come. And don’t forget to check out these tips for proactive time management!
What about the pitfalls of not being productive?
Everyone has a day or two now and then when they aren’t as productive as they could have been. And that’s ok. Really — it’s okay. But if you find yourself constantly working but not being productive, this is likely to cause several lasting implications not only on your morale but your future work as well.
You May Experience Guilt
When you feel you aren’t productive, you may start to feel guilty about it. And this guilt is a vicious cycle. When you feel feelings of guilt, you are much less likely to be able to focus on a project to be productive. So even not being productive for a single day can impact your entire week.
You’ll Lose Motivation
A huge aspect of motivation is the feeling of accomplishment. If you aren’t feeling productive in your work, you’re likely to miss out on the feeling of accomplishment, and then you won’t have any motivation to work. Like guilt, the lack of motivation is also a vicious cycle that is difficult to escape once initiated.
You’ll Leave a Trail of Half-Finished Projects
If you aren’t accomplishing anything, you will probably leave a trail of unfinished projects in your wake. And this won’t just affect your morale, but it may make you look bad to your employer or coworkers who have to finish these projects you are constantly abandoning.
It Could Lead to Depression
Often, when people feel they don’t have a purpose in life, they could experience melancholy or depression. This is because humans often tie their emotional well-being in with their sense of accomplishment. And just like everything else on this list, once you’ve fallen into the pit of despair of thinking you don’t have a purpose, it can be difficult to recover.
Although remaining productive is a difficult and challenging task, it is necessary to maintain your sense of emotional well-being. That is one of the biggest keys to the importance of being productive. Without productivity, you’re likely to feel guilty, unmotivated, and maybe even depressed, and it’s likely those around you won’t feel too great about having to pick up your slack either.
The best way to avoid these pitfalls is to do your best to remain productive in your everyday life. And remember, even if one day you may not finish what you want, the next day is a new and productive day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the importance of being productive when it comes to success?
It’s all about momentum and self-confidence! The more productive you are, the more productive you will want to be. The sense of accomplishment when you “finish all the things” will make you want to get up the next day and do it again. And that’s where the success comes in — the forward and upward momentum.
What is the importance of being productive every day?
Truthfully, it’s not about changing all the habits all at once. Improving daily habits is a step-by-step process. The first step I suggest is to work on your to-do list strategies. Every night, my dad used to write out his to-do list for the next day. Such a goal!
Why do I struggle with being productive?
I think one of the biggest struggles with being productive is how overwhelming everything can be. And when it becomes overwhelming, it can seem easier to just forget about it. I would highly recommend checking out these 5 steps to finishing what you start to give you some ideas on keeping your momentum going forward!