Too busy to be productive? Try Mindful Productivity
Do you often feel you’re racing against time? No matter how many productivity strategies you try, the clock always wins.
The truth is, that many of us face this struggle. We’re often too busy to be productive.
And I don’t think there’s one secret to dealing with this.
But…
There’s something you can try that will make a big difference.
I know it does because I’ve been doing this for about a year now and it has been working really well for me.
Your situation and mine will be different but what I’ll share with you is just the idea.
Take what resonates and use it based on your unique situation.
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September 2024
You can skip this part if you’re not interested in what happens behind this blog.
I just thought it’s helpful to include this because it’ll add more context to the idea of what I’m trying to share here.
September has been full, and busy, and it looked like chaos from the outside. But I promise, it was calm and organised. Though my husband prefers calling it a super strategic month for us.
Before I continue, I better tell you a bit about me first just in case this is your first time here.
I have a day job, my husband and I have 2 young kids and I have a blog, which has now evolved into a business: a proper side hustle or side gig.
So you can imagine how much I have on my plate, just like any parent who’s juggling family, day job and business.
The turning point
And last month. Something crazy happened.
In the middle of soccer games, day job commitments, blogging projects and family commitments, we had to move to a new home.
Now the old me would have easily dropped everything else and chose to move. (cause it’s more exciting).
But I’ve been practising intentional productivity so I thought it was a good opportunity for me to put Mindful Productivity in the mix.
And through Mindful Productivity, I didn’t burn any pots on the burner.
What is Mindful Productivity?
Mindful Productivity is a type of productivity that focuses on being present or fully in the present moment as you work.
It’s done by being conscious of your actions and being mindful of your thoughts and surroundings.
It is process-oriented rather than goal-oriented.
So, it encourages slowing down and focusing on “how you’re working” rather than “what you’re working on”.
The goal is to reduce distractions, stress and overwhelm by keeping a clear and focused mind while doing the tasks.
Unlike traditional productivity which often focuses on speed and quantity, and can potentially cause stress and burnout, mindful productivity promotes a more balanced approach.
An approach that is kinder to your capacity and creates a sustainable output.
Benefits of Mindful Productivity
Increased Focus
One of the biggest benefits of being mindfully productive is the increased focus on meaningful tasks. Because you’re prioritising the tasks that are aligned with your values and your goals, mindful productivity helps you truly focus on what really matters.
What does it look like?
When you operate based on your meaningful goals, you’re more focused on the actions that will move you closer to your goals. Let’s say you’re working on Goal X. And now you’re doing Task A which aligns with Goal X. When you’re mindfully productive, no matter how more exciting and how more tempting to switch to doing Task B and C if these tasks aren’t aligned with your Goal X, you would be continuing to do task A until it’s completed.
Mindful Productivity also releases you from the shackles of being hung up on a goal itself. Instead, you’re able to truly experience the process while you’re working on that goal. And sometimes what you learn while you do a “thing” is more important than the “good feeling” you get when you finish the thing.
Decreased Stress
Stress and overwhelm naturally arise when working on tasks. Instead of trying to eliminate them, focus on managing them. They improve your resilience.
Achieve mindful productivity by deliberately choosing your tasks and setting clear boundaries. This approach minimizes overwhelm, as you remain clear on what to do, when to do it, and what to expect while doing it.
Healthy balance between life and work
Life and work should never compete against each other, ever. That’s just me and my own opinion. What I mean by that is that life and Work can be treated as extensions of each other.
What can you do? Create a habit of thoughtful planning and mindful decision-making. Always plan with intention and use the power of a planner.
Here’s a couple of helpful blog posts I published to help you with planning.
And if you want to create an intentional and productive day, here are some tips on How to create a productive day.
How to practise mindful productivity
The purpose of practising mindful productivity is to work on whatever goal you want to achieve with consciousness. And when I say goal, it can be as big as your most audacious goals or as small as surviving a busy day.
The point is to practise mindful productivity to achieve goals by being present while you do so.
I hope this sparks an idea that will help you become intentional with your productivity.
Before giving the steps on How to practise Mindful Productivity, let’s determine first its difference from Intentional Productivity in terms of focus.
Intentional productivity is focused on thoughtful planning and aligned action steps to achieve goals or specific objectives.
Mindful Productivity is focused on being fully present while working. Intentional Productivity and Mindful Productivity complement each other by balancing structured goal-setting and an intentional execution.
Five tips on how to be mindfully Productive
1. Set intentions
Begin each day by setting an intention that aligns with your values and what you’re working on for the week
2. Prioritise
No matter how well you plan your week, each day is potentially different from other days of the week. Disruptions and interruptions are always going to be part of life. So use prioritisation techniques that work for you.
My best tip: When prioritising, always go back to your main purpose. What’s your purpose with what you’re doing?
And remember to prioritise your health. I really leaned on this a lot in September and I think I did pretty well. I completed what I was supposed to complete.
If you’re over 40, read about productivity questions in your 40s and beyond.
3. Single Task
When doing your most important work, always single-task. Commit to giving your full attention to increase focus and lessen stress.
4. Use the right Productivity Method
The right productivity method is the one that you use and works for you.
So, keep trying a few methods and stop once you find what works for you.
5. Practise Mindfulness
Try these ideas to incorporate mindfulness in your productivity.
- Pause and breathe to centre yourself and bring your attention to the present.
- Reflect regularly. It can be a few minutes daily, once a week or once a month: you choose the time.
- Practise Gratitude. Be grateful that you have an able body, time and resources to do what you need to do.
- Take mindful breaks or pauses.
Suggested Productivity Techniques
Getting Things Done Method [GTD]
The Getting things done Method (GTD): A task management system for capturing to-do, turning them into actionable items, and reviewing them regularly. The main focus is breaking down big projects into manageable steps.
This is good for you if you want a clear process for getting things out of your head and into a trusted system, reducing mental overload. I think the MoSCoW Prioritization Method will work well with GTD.
Pomodoro Technique
This is done by breaking work into intervals, typically 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. After four intervals, take a longer break.
This is for you if you want to increase your focus and reduce mental fatigue through bursts of intense work.
Time Blocking
A method where you schedule your day into specific blocks of time for each task or activity. Each block is dedicated to a specific task with no interruptions.
This is for you if you have a packed schedule and you need structure to manage your time efficiently.
Your Next Steps
You just learned how to practise Mindful Productivity.
Your next step is to make time and reflect on how your current productivity is. This will help you decide where you need to adjust and what you can improve.
Find out what’s working for you. What would you like to try and change? Then go back to your purpose.
Determine your main goals, and make sure these goals are aligned with your values.
If they aren’t, then it’s a good idea to assess those goals and make them meaningful.
Then…. You can start applying the mindful productivity that I just shared. with you.
And if you haven’t already, check out free these planners. You need a planner for productivity.
