Using Self-Development to Improve Productivity

Ever feel like you are running in circles? If you could have one wish, would it be to do more in less time? What if you could accomplish your goals in less time or complete projects in half the time? You can do this by working on your self-development.

The motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job, you can make a living, but if you work hard on yourself, you’ll make a fortune.” Wouldn’t you rather work hard on yourself and make a living?

Self-Development For Productivity

Self-development is a never-ending journey in bettering yourself by learning new skills and controlling your thoughts, emotions, and mindset. All aspects of your character and personality come into play with self-development. You can use the skills you learn to increase productivity, accomplish more in less time, and give yourself more rest.

The following are tips for increasing your productivity while working on self-development.

Enjoy your work

Enjoying your work will make productivity increase automatically. When you can smile while you work, feel that you are making a difference, or fulfilling your purpose, work does not seem like work. However, if you dread Sunday nights because you go back to work Monday morning, then dragging yourself from your bed will set the tone for your day.

You have two options if you do not enjoy your work:

• Find another job in an area that excites you
• Change your mindset

You can begin making strides to change jobs. You can learn new skills, gain certifications, and update your resume to start looking for a position in your desired field actively.

Or you can change how you view your job. What are the pros of working there? Do you get to meet new people? Are you helping sick people or people in financial trouble?

How you behave as an employee makes a difference in your experience. Do you show up late for work every day or make side comments to others during meetings? Is your work subpar? Perhaps you are clashing with your supervisor because of your work ethic or tone of voice. What skills do you need to communicate better? What would make you a diligent employee?

Engage in a positive mindset

No one likes a grumbler. If you speak negatively throughout the day, you will eventually push people away or attract people with the same mindset. Misery loves company. But what good does it do to complain all day long? You will only increase your chances of developing anxiety as you feel unhappy and overwhelmed.

Instead of voicing your negative or critical thoughts, reframe them into a positive mindset. Look for the benefits of a situation. For example, do you have to work mandatory overtime this Monday? How can you make this a good opportunity? You could focus on helping more clients during a stressful season. Or you can look at it as an opportunity to make yourself indispensable to the company and make a good impression on the supervisor.

Business owners want employees who work with diligence and excellence and focus on their work, not office politics or gossip. Show them what you can do and how excited you are to do it, and you may find yourself in a leadership position in the future.

Learn time management skills

Managing your time is a skill that will serve you in every area of your life. If you struggle with a mental condition that makes distractions an issue, then time management skills are critical to your success.

Have you tried the Pomodoro Technique? With this method, you use a timer to work in blocks of time. Set a timer for 25 minutes and focus solely on your task. Block out all distractions and refuse to take a break until the timer goes off. When the timer goes off, take a five-minute break. Work in as many blocks as necessary to complete your work.

Choose a somewhat challenging block that allows you to make a dent in your work. For example, imagine how many words you could type in twenty-five minutes of uninterrupted time if you have a report to write. How many sales calls can you make in twenty-five minutes?

You can apply this technique to other areas besides your job. What if you took a foreign language class or decluttered your home in twenty-five-minute blocks? You will find you can do more in less time.

Never stop learning

To grow mentally and emotionally, you should never stop learning. Do you want to be better at your job, relationships, interests, and hobbies? Do you need skills to move ahead in your career? Stay teachable.

Often, we believe we have mastered a subject, so we become arrogant and refuse to admit that there might be more to learn. But your mind craves education. The more you learn and problem-solve, the healthier the connections in your brain. Not only will you gain knowledge, but you will also improve cognitive functioning.

Find books and videos on subjects that interest you or can increase your skill set. Take courses and attend conferences to learn more. Make knowledge a priority.

Give yourself a successful sanctuary

Your environment can determine your success. You are less likely to do your best work in a cluttered space. It does not matter if you work from an office, a cubicle, or a desk in the corner; you can surround yourself with motivation and create a sanctuary for success.

Clear your space of clutter and trash. Get organized with totes, baskets, containers, and folders. Try to keep the top of your desk to a minimum. It only takes a few minutes to clear your desk in the evening to prepare for the next day.

Think about your desk being the kitchen table of your home. Do you reset the table after a meal? Do you clear it off so that it is ready for the next dinner? Your desk operates in the same way. Make sure you are prepared to start your day as soon as you sit down.

Create a vision board of your goals. Where do you see yourself in five years? Draw or cut out pictures from magazines to represent your dreams. Having these images in front of you and your workspace will keep them in your mind so that your actions will contribute to your goals.

Your workspace should be a place of motivation and little stress. Do what you can to reduce the stress levels around you.

Growth comes from operating outside of the comfort zone

Do you want to grow professionally and personally? Then you are going to have to do scary things. You must operate outside of your comfort zone. You will have to stretch beyond what you think you can do to meet challenges.

You may need to delegate some of your tasks to others so you can focus on actions that will move the needle. Operating outside your comfort zone might mean saying yes to opportunities you never considered, such as speaking in front of a packed room or teaching a class.

Considering your goals, if nothing could stop you, what crazy thing would you do? Would you travel to New York City to meet with an editor? Would you travel overseas for a conference? Would you chase down your next big client with a pitch?

Your comfort zone is customized to you, but if you want to grow, you need to take steps outside of it.

Need help with self-development?

Does working on yourself to change your life sound exciting? Self-development is an area that everyone needs help with. We often do not realize that we are following certain behavioral patterns or ways of thinking, which derail us from our dreams. If you want to lead a successful life, then your goal should be to become the person who leads that life with integrity.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a counselor to strategize how self-development skills can increase productivity and give back your precious time.