Thoughts on how to 10x your Productivity
‘Where some people find their cap, others find their springboard’ — H.E. Steele
Productivity means different levels to different people. This is true for every aspect of life, and also stands true for paid work.
I have a friend, Tope, who is a Product Designer, and a budding entrepreneur. I stay at Tope’s place once in a while. I do it for the free food. But I also do it to learn from him.
Tope is a very social person, yet somehow highly focused person. He works remotely for a firm in the US, and also runs a design agency on the side. His US job runs from 4pm to 1am Nigerian time. For this reason, during my stay with him, he generally goes to sleep after I have, and yet I’ll wake up at 6:30am (I’m on vacation) to find him already active (he’s a fitness freak). After his exercise, he prepares breakfast, and is ready for work at 8am. This is pretty much his weekday routine. It is simply amazing.
Before the week I spent with him, I used to think I was a very hard worker, but my perspective changed in those few days. I went on to ask him some questions about his routine, and he revealed he took up that practice while stuck at home in the lockdown of 2020, during which he taught himself Product Design. In the space of a year, Tope had picked up enough skill and experience to start a Design Agency. Productivity.
The most important tip he shared is getting out of bed consistently early, before the sun was up. This allows him to get his exercise, which leaves him feeling accomplished. You will find that starting early in the morning you naturally have more time to so the things you set out to do. Plus there’s a fair amount to quiet that the morning brings, that only early risers get to experience. This leaves you with a sense of calm, and readiness for your day. Furthermore, the consistency helps with a predictability that your body will thank you for, and reward with mental stability.
Next tip is accountable time management. Develop a strong habit of doing things when they are supposed to be done. My mother had a saying, ‘Work when you are to work, and when its time to play, we’ll play to no end’. Do not mix them up, even you’re the best multi-tasker on the planet. If you’ve allocated 2 hours (or a target) for work before a break, hit that time/target before taking the break. You’ll see you have more time for play, and you’d have increase your work output and quality. This also means that you have to invest quality time for play; whether by yourself, with friends or family. One has to strive for accountable balance of work and play.
Tip number three is learning (and understanding). When you know something or understand a requirement, it becomes easier to get it done, and therefore more enjoyable and faster. Take your time to learn what you need to be good at your job/task. This brings a level of intentionality to your work process that will generally show in the results and execution. Anyone can be anything, but it takes practice and understanding to develop expertise which will lead to an assuredness in decision-making.
In all, these tips help to increase your general approach to work and your mindset, which is the most important tool a person can possess. With conscious practice and realignment, they have helped my up my productivity. And although the example used was one of someone who works remotely, these tips could easily apply to anyone who has to work; whether remote or office based. I’ll appreciate further tips on how to further increase my productivity.