Being unproductive is one of my worst traits. I am that guy jumping around, doing a million and one things, and yet never getting one thing done. That, maybe, is exaggerating a tad, but for the most part I am one of the worst procrastinators and least focused people out there.

When I am focused on a goal and in a setting that is not distracting, I can and will get more done than ten unproductive “me’s”. I will work hard, accurate and fast completing as many tasks as possible. The problem is when unproductive nuances stop me in my tracks, diverting my attention from what I should be doing to that which I definitely should not be doing at that time.

There are a million excuses we can have for not getting something done. But the usual case is that we did not make it a priority to stay focused and complete the task. We have too many distractions around us that we tend to forget what we were supposed to be doing.

At times I am more focused than others. What my goal is is to try and harness the traits I have when focused into my daily lifestyle. If I can do such, I can continually improve my productivity levels.

Here are 5 of my top Unproductive Traits:

• Being Connected: I love the internet and all of it’s information. However, I have probably wasted a good portion of my life on unnecessary internet time.
• Sleeping In: I am not too bad about this when I set up a schedule for myself. But when I am ‘freelancing’ my life, it is easier said then done to be productive.
• Watching the Tube: I can stay away from the TV, but if I turn it on, I am guaranteed to watch more than I intended.
• Wandering: Whether it’s staring into the abyss or trying to multi-task, I tend to wander and do a little or a lot and not get much done.
• Procrastinate: Do I really need to elaborate?

The following are ways that I have found improve my unproductive ways:

• Set an Alarm: I haven’t done this one in a while and when I move back to California I intend on restarting this practice. I think it is safe to say that 95% of my reports/projects/papers in college were started and finished within the last 5% of time from when I received the assignment. When I am under the gun, I tend to perform at my best. As I saw the few remaining hours to get a project done approaching, my focus was honed in and I would perform at impressive levels. My greatest paper in college was 20 pages long, all written in the last 24 hours and I received an A-. So next time you have a task, determine a logical time that it needs to get done in, set the kitchen timer, and accomplish your goal under the gun.
• Work Out the Kinks: I have undiagnosed A.D.D., I think at least. If I haven’t been outside or in the gym working my muscles and energy out, then I tend to be more fidgity and less productive. If time permits, get outside and take a walk, stretch, or maybe even a little jog. Then go back to whatever task you are about to start or have started and you should be able to focus a little more. Exercise does two things for me. It gets the unnecessary built up energy out and makes me more focused. It also gets the creative blood flowing.
• Write a list: I know, I know. You have heard this a million times. Every minimalist and productive blogger writes this. Why repeat? Because it is very important. Stop reading after this line, grab a piece of paper and write three things you want to get done by the end of today. More than likely you will become accountable to that bit of ink you used on that piece of paper and get that task done today. Every single time I see my life meandering nowhere, I write a list of things I want or need to do and somehow the paper demands me to get those things done. And it works 99% of the time.
• Tell Friends/Family Your Goals: I hate saying I am going to do something and then not. What I hate more is that feeling when I told others I was going to do something and then failing to complete such. So, if I tell others that I am going to swim across the lake, then I am going to die doing so because I feel obligated to succeeding and proving to those I told that I can get things done.
• Make Goals of All Sizes: It doesn’t matter if your goal is to get all the laundry done today or if it is to climb Mount Everest, just making goals will help you get things done. I suggest setting different types of goals, writing them out, and posting them everywhere. If your goals keep staring you down then you will probably stay focused on productively achieving those goals.

I am sure you all have thought of these before and/or have read them on another blog. I am not saying I am original in all of these ideas. Nor am I saying these will all work for you. However, these are the things I do to try and be more productive and hopefully, they will help you as well. Sometimes, reiterating them or hearing them from another mouth helps reinvigorate the desire to achieve more in one’s life than ever thought possible.

Share your thoughts in the comments section on how you are unproductive and ways you try and be more productive.

Thanks for reading….Have a great day!!!

DCD