Productivity is key as a business owner. Whether you are a freelancer, startup founder, or seasoned CEO, your productivity habits can make a big impact on your success.
In the past, I’ve written about bad habits sapping your productivity. While we don’t always like a long list of “don’t”s, the reality is that some of the habits we find ourselves with can reduce our effectiveness.
Here are five habits that could be destroying your ability to do more with your time:
1. Powering Through Your Day
We all have times that we work best. Trying to power through during other times of the day can be counterproductive. We like to think that we should just muscle through, but the reality is that it can be detrimental to your ability to do your best work.
When you power through, you might not do the best work you can. It’s also possible that you might miss something important that could cost you later. If you aren’t feeling it, switch to a less demanding task and tackle the tough task when you’re refreshed.
2. Meetings
Sometimes, meetings are unavoidable. But they are also one of the worst bad habits. Do you really need as many meetings as you have? Chances are, the answer is no. Meetings tend to get off track, and they take you out of your workflow.
Plan better meetings when you need to have them. But only have meetings when it’s necessary. Aim for the goal of getting more done without meetings.
3. Answering Emails (and Texts) Immediately
Do yourself a favor and shut the email window. Turn off the desktop notification for your email. For the most part, you don’t need to answer email immediately.
The same goes for texts. Just because your phone buzzes at you, it doesn’t mean you have to answer.
Immediately answering emails and texts takes you out of your work mindset. These bad habits can mean that it takes you more time to get back to the task at hand. Try to avoid getting out of your zone.
Instead, schedule specific times to check your email. You can also make it a rule to answer texts only after you complete a task. My only exception is when my son texts. I have a special tone for him so that I am aware of it and can address any emergency.
4. Electronics in Bed
This is one of those bad habits that spill over into your business. You might think that it doesn’t matter to your productivity if you watch a few videos before bed or update your Facebook status.
However, one thing that can kill your productivity is poor sleep. Poor sleep makes it harder to focus. You can’t do your best work when you’re tired. Electronics in bed can disrupt your sleep cycle and impact your productivity and your business the next day.
5. Poor Eating Habits
Are you getting too much sugar and not enough protein? Bad habits related to eating can be a real drain on your productivity. It’s not just about the crash after you’ve had an energy boost, either.
There is some evidence that high blood sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s. That’s a bummer in and of itself. But go beyond that. How do you feel when you eat foods high in sugar and fat? You probably know that you feel sluggish overall — not your most productive.
Now, what happens when you eat well? You probably feel much better, and more alert. This is because protein is what helps your brain cells communicate with each other. If you eat lean proteins, you are on the right track to boosting your brain power and productivity.
Get rid of these bad habits, and you will see better returns in productivity and boost your ability to get more done.
