4 Ways Youre Lying to Yourself About Being Productive

4 Ways Youre Lying to Yourself About Being Productive4 Ways Youre Lying to Yourself About Being ProductiveIts easy to spot when people are lying to themselves- like when a co-worker confidently departures a huge project at 430, but has a 5 PM deadline. Whos he kidding? you might chuckle. But when youre telling lies to yourself- well, thats another story.When it comes to productivity, you may think you have it mastered. You check tasks off your to-do list, multitask like the best of them, and stay insanely busy from morning until night. But it turns out, your so-called productivity may actually be a jumble of popular myths that make you think youre getting mora done than you actually are.Think youre using your time wisely? Check out these four lies you might be telling yourself about being productive- and how you can free yourself from that false reality.Lie 1 My Days Full of Activity, So I Must Be Super ProductiveThese days, theres no shortage of digital time-fillers that can make yo u feel productive. You can easily spend all day emailing, tweeting, searching, instant messaging, texting, and whatever else it takes to stay in the online loop. But while your fingers are busy typing and your eyes busy reading, all youre really doing is getting hits of information- over and over again- instead of working toward a goal.Or, you might pack your schedule to the brim- coffee meetings in the morning and networking events after work- which forces you to spend all night responding to all the emails in your overflowing inbox. Sure, that makes you feel (and look) busy, but are you really getting anything significant done?Solution The Done ListTo make aya youre actually accomplishing substantial tasks each day, keep a done list- that is, a list of tasks youve completed instead of things you have left to do. When you stop to recognize each days accomplishments, youll be able to reflect more constructively Did you spend your time wisely? Did you make any significant progression today? If instapapered some super-useful articles is the only item that made it onto your done list, you may need to reevaluate how youre spending your time.Lie 2 Please, Im a Multitasking MasterMultitasking can trick you into feeling like youre a productivity superhero. After all, if you have the skills to simultaneously compile a budget, listen to a podcast, and catch up on your email, you must be running circles around your single-tasking co-workers, right?Actually, multitasking can make you perform worse in whatever youre doing. Studies show that when you try to focus on too many things at the same time, youre less likely to be able to filter out irrelevant facts, switch between tasks effectively, and remember important information.Solution Practice Single FocusTry focusing on one task at a time. Why should you work against what you believe are your natural multitasking talents? Hear me out It might feel less productive- or even be less enjoyable- to work on one thing at a time , but extreme focus will bring out your best.To help you get out of your task-juggling habits, work in ones Keep one simple to-do list. Complete at least one significant task toward the beginning of your day. If youre really up for a challenge, try working in only one browser tab When you single-task, youll boost your brainpower- and since youre not spending partial attention on multiple tasks, youll get the task at hand done faster.Lie 3 Schedule, Schmedule I Go With the Flow Some people relish planning. I, on the other hand, tend to go with the flow and work from a mental to-do list, starting with whatever seems most appealing at the moment. Usually, this isnt a problem, and Im able to get my work done, but Ive noticed that I get stressed from trying to hold everything in my head.You may think that having a flexibile and open schedule can be conducive to creativity (and it can be, to a certain extent), but that doesnt mean all forms of scheduling should go out the window. A little structure can help you clarify your goals and think more clearly- so you wont waste time trying to figure out if you overlooked anything from your mental to-do list.Solution Get Into Rhythms Rather than TimetablesDont worry- if youre a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type, you dont need to start scheduling out your day by the minute. But what you can do is create a more reliable rhythm for yourself. Instead of scheduling your day down to the very last detail and task, try working with broader goals in mind.With this strategy, I still recommend to-do lists- but not necessarily filled with specific tasks. Instead, list categories of what youre working on. For example, replace itemized tasks like write one blog post or contact Beth, with higher-level goals, like complete one task that supports growing my network or do two things that will broaden my expertise as an analyst.This will allow you to work productively toward your goals without locking yourself into turn-by-turn directions. T hen, set aside a dedicated block of time for you to work on each category, so you can minimize distractions and focus on actually producing.Lie 4 No Worries Ill Do it TomorrowThe power of procrastination is, well, pretty powerful. Without much thought, the top task on your to-do list can get pushed to tomorrow, and then to the next day, and then to the next. And in your mind, you truly believe youll get to it eventually- but eventually keeps getting pushed further and further away.Solution Find an Accountability AllyThe root of procrastination is often a lack of accountability- if no one knows whats on your to-do list, no one knows that youre not actually making any progress on it. To stay on track, partner up with a co-worker or group of peers- people who are committed to helping each other do what they say theyre going to do- and plan to check in with each other at least once a week. Whenever you meet (whether virtually or in person), review your progress, share your upcoming goal s, and provide feedback and encouragement. Youll be a lot more likely to finish your blog post if you have a friend who checks up on you I havent seen an update on your blog today- when are you going to post it?If you cant find an accountability partner, technology can help you become your own coach. Check out apps like iDoneThis, Lift, and Email Game, which keep you updated on your progress toward specific goals- which can help keep you on track and motivated to stay productive.Admitting our productivity lies can be tough. In fact, you may even go through a mini-cycle of grief when you first hear them denial (I dont procrastinate), indignation (I get plenty done), bargaining (Ill start tomorrow), and a bit of blues- all before finally accepting them and taking the next steps. But, those steps arent as hard as you think With these solutions and a hearty dose of honesty, youll be on your way to unmatched productivity in no time.Tell us What productivity lies do you tell yourself- and how do you overcome them?Photo of man writing courtesy of Unsplash.