I guarantee that you have heard of all these productivity tips.
I’m pretty obsessed with being productive and learning about a new productivity hack/tip/strategy to try out.
But, over the years, I have noticed that while there are many productivity tips that are popular, there are also popular productivity tips that suck.
This blog post will outline all these productivity tips that may be popular, but it can suck. You will learn why it sucks, and also some alternative solutions to make the tip suck a little less.
Let’s get into this.
1 – Waking Up Early
Waking up early is one of the most popular productivity tips out there. The whole idea behind waking up early is that you become more productive.
Why does it suck? Well, not everyone gets to wake up early. For example, someone could finish a night shift at 11pm, and could not realistically wake up at 5am feeling energetic.
If you wake up early and it causes you to have less sleep, it hurts your productivity more than helping it.
So what can you do instead? Here’s the thing, it doesn’t matter what time you wake up, it’s what you do in your waking hours.
Instead of focusing on a strict early wake-up time, focus on establishing a consistent sleep schedule more aligned with your lifestyle.
RELATED: 6 lifestyle tips to improve your life
2 – Tackling your hardest task first
The idea behind this productivity tip is that you tackle your hardest tasks when your energy and focus are at their peak (this being, first thing in the morning).
Why it sucks? This can backfire for people only because the idea of starting your hardest (and most dreadful task) can make you procrastinate and feel even more overwhelmed. Overall, it’s not a satisfying part of your day.
So what can you do instead? Even if you don’t start your day with your hardest task, you can still have a productive week.
First things first, if it works for you, you can still tackle your hardest task first… there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s great if this productivity tip works for you.
However, if it doesn’t work for you, you have the freedom to choose which tasks you want to work on first, considering the following:
- Urgency;
- Importance; and
- Personal energy levels.
3 – Theming your Days
Theming your days involves assigning each specific day to specific tasks. This strategy aims to increase productivity by batching similar tasks together.
Why it sucks? Truthfully, it may not be suitable for everyone.
For instance, sticking to themed days can limit flexibility and adaptability, and it doesn’t consider other unexpected tasks that may arise.
On top of that, for some people’s work/studies, they can’t theme their days.
For example, as a law student, I cannot simply theme my days because every day is going to look different.
What to do instead? Theming your days can still be great if it works for you, if it doesn’t, just simply find a system that works best for you and can help you prioritize what is needed to get done.
RELATED: 5 Mistakes You Are Making with Productivity Apps
4 – Strict To-Do Lists
Another major & very common productivity tip is sticking with to-do lists.
To-do lists are great to make sure that you are prioritizing your tasks and getting things done.
Why does it suck (sometimes)? Having strict to-do lists (or not-to do lists) can backfire at times because if you don’t complete them, you can feel this unnecessary feeling of pressure and guilt.
We do not need any unnecessary pressure and guilt, and we do not need to beat ourselves up.
What to do instead? I am not going to tell you to stop creating to-do lists completely, because to-do lists can be an amazing tool for helping you stay consistent and get things done.
However, the alternative to a strict adherence to a to-do list is having other approaches to managing your tasks. Some examples include:
- Time blocking
- Creating a schedule
- Task batching
- We are just being flexible in general, because it happens. Life gets in the way and we need to adjust.
5 – Overscheduling
This is a common productivity mistake.
Overscheduling pretty much involves scheduling several tasks and appointments. It’s “filling up your calendar”.
Why it can suck? I love creating a schedule because it’s great for time management, however, it can lead to burnout if you schedule too much.
When you overload your schedule, you leave little room for breaks, relaxation, and unexpected delays.
What to do instead? By all means, keep having a schedule. However, don’t forget to take into account unexpected delays and breaks as well.
You need some time to relevel your focus and energy levels, especially if you do have a large workload.
It’s all about being more flexible and being able to adjust when needed and give yourself a break if needed.
RELATED: 10 Actual Ways to Live a More Productive Life
6 – Hustle
“If you have time to watch Netflix, scroll on social media, etc, you have time to work on your side hustle”.
This statement makes me mad LMAO.
Why it sucks? Well, if you have a busy job and a hectic schedule already, you deserve to spend some of your free time watching TV shows and scrolling.
For example, if you have a 9 to 5, and you go home feeling drained and tired, you’re understandably not going to be able to have the energy to work on that side hustle.
The reason why the above statement annoys me is because it puts the people down on who needs rest. Yes, it’s admirable if you’re able to spend your time doing more work, however, constant hustle is going to lead to burnout and stress.
Plus, the additional aspect I disagree with is that it ties your self-worth to your productivity, and your productivity should not determine your self-worth.
What to do instead? Instead of focusing on hustling, prioritize sustainable productivity by creating habits, establishing your boundaries, and scheduling time for rest and recharge.
It’s all about working smarter, and not harder.
7 – Do not watch TV at night
This a common productivity tip to improve sleep quality and be more productive in the evening.
Why it sucks? Well, simply put…
If you want to watch TV to relax at night, do it.
Yes, excessive screen time can disrupt sleep patterns due to the blue light. However, a moderate amount of TV can be a relaxing wind-down activity.
What to do instead? Your evenings are supposed to make you feel relaxed and wind down, and those activities are up to you. If watching your favorite TV show is a way to make you feel relaxed, then watch that TV show.
Everyone has different preferences and it’s going to look different for everyone.
Take a SMALL STEP:
So this blog post gave you 7 of the most popular productivity tips.
Maybe some work for you, or some don’t help at all.
For the ones that don’t help at all, think of other alternative solutions that can help your productivity instead (HINT: it’s in the What to do instead section of every tip).
To Wrap Up
With all these 7 popular productivity tips that were just mentioned, it’s okay if there are some that you don’t resonate with. What matters most is choosing the productivity strategies/tips/hacks that work for you and suit your lifestyle.
If you are looking for ways to improve your productivity, I have got a free mini e-book called Small Steps to Your Productivity which you can download for free in the Free Resources Library.
In the meantime, your productivity is not associated with your self-worth, so don’t forget that.
-Lauren 🙂
P.S I suggest you read these blog posts next.
- Popular Productivity Tips: What Worked For Me & What Didn’t
- Busting These Four Productivity Myths
- Habits for Better Productivity
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, this is Lauren! I’m a law grad from Melbourne, Australia. On laurenbarri.com, I create content on all things personal development, productivity, self-care, and habits! I am super passionate about these topics because of how they helped me in all areas of my life, and I want to share it with others!
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