Boost Your Efficiency: Secrets to Being Productive

Life often feels like a relentless whirlwind, charging at us with an unceasing array of demands and expectations. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks that vie for our attention. When faced with this barrage, many individuals find themselves retreating into a state of inertia, hiding from responsibilities and allowing anxiety over unfinished work to mount. This cycle leads to a pervasive feeling of being trapped in “unfinished” anxiety—a mental space where important tasks linger ominously in the background while we distract ourselves with less meaningful activities.

However, it’s crucial to understand that productivity isn’t solely about completing every task on our to-do list; rather, it revolves around efficiently prioritizing what truly matters. Productive individuals possess an uncanny ability to focus their energies on high-impact tasks that drive significant results while gracefully letting go of less critical pursuits. They may not finish everything they set out to do, but they are adept at navigating the complexities of life’s demands by honing in on what is genuinely essential—an art that allows them not just to survive but thrive amidst chaos.

Procrastination

A basic fact of life is there is always more to do than there is time available. I have found that as important tasks accumulate, my anxiety rises. Yet, oddly, instead of starting on the tasks, I drown the anxiety with unimportant busy work, allowing the growing mass of essential projects to annoyingly sit in the back of my mind, however, they continually break through the distractions and harass my peace.​

I’m not alone. Research suggests everyone has a problem with procrastination. However, Dan Ariely, a Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University, explains that those “who recognize and admit their weakness are in a better position to utilize available tools for precommitment and by doing so, help themselves overcome it” (Ariely, 2010).

Basically, when I recognize that I’m stalling with busy work, I’m more likely to halt my procrastination and become productive. 

Flourishing Demands Efficient Productivity

Recently, my news feed has shown a slew of links downplaying productivity. Perhaps, a new age attitude that life should be wonderfully stress free. I agree that we often get dragged into the unrelenting need to do, while neglecting essential activities of wellness. However, the burdensome pushes for productivity are not evil; we shouldn’t stigmatize productivity as evil.

Some of the recent studies bashing productivity as a thorn in the side of wellness are ill-constructed designed to yield a predetermined result. 

Dianne Tice, a professor of psychology, conducted an interesting study on wellness and procrastination that more accurately reflects the benefits and costs of postponing productive activity. Tice interestingly discovered that student procrastinators enjoyed greater wellness (and health) than productive students at the beginning of the semester. Tice’s study was limited to measuring wellness throughout a school semester. We are left to wonder how these costs multiply over a lifetime (Baumeister et al., 1994).

Does the impacts of procrastination reflect on future employment? Does patterns of procrastination weigh on relationships? I would presume that they do.

Throughout human history survival has demanded work. Food, shelter, and relationships require productive behaviors. Just because survival (and flourishing) arouses anxiety does not imply that survival demands are harmful. We must productively accomplish some tasks to create a flourishing life. We usually have an inkling of some of the things necessary to improve our lives. It’s not that we don’t know what to do, it’s we just don’t do them.

If every time there is a chance to improve our lives, we find a trivial need to fill, allowing the nonsensical to take priority, our lives will stagnate. The bliss of momentary escape will eventually compound, leaving a mess of unfinished business.

Being Productive by Riding the Wave of Motivation

Part of our productivity woes is we keep reaching for the same tool—willpower. Motivation is a complex creature. We usual commit during a momentary flash of motivation. I need to do “this” to make my life better. Our momentary hope sufficiently drives a commitment but the flash dies out and lacks sufficient fuel to motivate action throughout the grueling processes of change. Our flashes of motivation typically involve episodic foresight. Basically, we see the benefit of behaviors in the present on the creation of our selves in the future.

We commit, try for  little while, backslide, and then return to old habits. The problem isn’t we lack willpower. The failure comes from misdirected use of the initial desires for change. I call productively utilizing momentary bursts of desire as “riding the wave of motivation.” When life motivates, for whatever reason, take advantage of the energy by setting up a framework for change, protecting against future depletion of willpower.

During these momentary flashes of strength gather resources and make escape plans to assist when willpower wanes.

Roy F. Baumeister, director of Florida State University social psychology program wrote that “there comes a point when no amount of willpower will save you. But most people, even chronic procrastinators, can avoid that fate by learning to play offense” (Baumeister, 2012).

​Efficiency Tools for More Productivity

Next time you catch a wave of motivation consider implementing a few tools to make the most of momentary desires for change. Here are a few tools worthy of consideration: Gregg Krech, the leading American authority on Japanese psychology, has an interesting take on procrastination. He suggests that procrastination is a positive quality. We just need to prioritize what we do and what we procrastinate. He writes, “This is the art of procrastinating. Procrastinating isn’t something you need to stop doing – it’s something you need to get better at” (Krech, 2014).

1. List Priorities

Early in the process of change, we need to identify the things we are doing that will be sacrificed by giving priority to the things we want to start doing. Since time is limited, we can’t just add without reorganizing. Somethings must move down on our priority list, other things might need to be eliminate all together. 

2. Getting Started

Getting started is one of the most efficient tools in my personal tool box. I routinely plan big projects that require substantial time and new skills. My plans, however, tend to lie dormant. Nothing happens as I constantly ruminate over the entirety of the project, making a mental list. Honestly, thinking can be exhausting, the entirety of a project is overwhelming and I slip into an activity much less demanding.

My best weapon against continued procrastination is just getting started on a simple step of the overwhelming  project. The first step leads to the next, and soon I am in the flow, whether it is building a new wall or writing an article on procrastination. 

3. Spending More Time on Impactful Work

The pareto rule theorizes that 80 percent of outcomes are the result of 20 percent of inputs. Basically, 20 percent of what we do has a substantial impact on the final outcome. We like to diddle around with the 80 percent that has much less impact on desired results.  

Productivity requires shifting the percentages. Spending more time on the most impactful inputs and scaling down wasted time on less important details. 

4. Sharpening Skill

For me, as a blog content writer, this would mean spending less time formatting ten-year old articles and more time researching and writing new articles.  Abraham Lincoln has been credited with saying, “give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” 

Most large undertakings require expertise. We waste time muddling through actions, learning from painful trial and error. Sometimes this is necessary and courageous. Other times, however, this is foolishness.

A task already mastered by others usually has published wisdom ready for our consumption. YouTube, books, and classes sharpen our skill, give knowledge, and prevent stupid mistakes. Time sacrificed researching often pays high dividends.

5. Self-Care

Research confirms that productivity suffers when we constantly borrow time from other wellness activities. We need nourishing food, plenty of sleep, relaxing meditations, and nurturing relationships. We need a well balanced life.

A recent study found that companies that implemented wellness programs that aided employees sleep cycles fostered healthier, more productive workers (Palo & Das, 2021). 

Self-care prevents devastating burnout. A complete collapse from over work and over stress destroys productivity, wellness, and can have lingering effects for years following the collapse. We must maintain a healthy mental hygiene to maintain the health of our bodies and mind.

​See Burnout and Self-Care for more on this topic

6. Limit Distractions

Working without distraction is rare. Our world of social connections routinely pulls us away from focused attention to wandering nothingness. 

Cal Newport in his must read book Deep Work writes, “to produce at your peak level, you need to work for extended periods with full concentration on a single task free from distraction” (Newport, 2016).

Multi-Tasking

Our stop and go approach to important work not only handicaps productivity, but severely harms the quality of our output. Undistracted work optimizes time and quality. Multi-tasking is a farce. We can only focus on one thing at a time. When multiple calls for attention interrupt our top priority, we stop focused thought, redirect attention, and gravely damage productively. We spend more of our limited cognitive resources bouncing around and reacquainting ourselves with where we left off then reaping the joys of polished, focused thought.

Protecting our minds from distraction is difficult. We need more than simple willpower. We must design a work area that protects against distraction. Newport adds, “efforts to deepen your focus will struggle if you don’t simultaneously wean your mind from a dependence on distraction (Newport, 2016).

Associated Concepts

• Goal Setting Theory: This theory is a pivotal concept in human psychology, emphasizing specific and challenging goals coupled with feedback and self-belief as key drivers of performance and motivation.
• Possible Selves: This concept by Hazel Markus and Paula Nurius is about our visions of our future selves based on personal knowledge and experiences. These visions include goals, aspirations, fears, and are deeply rooted in enduring characteristics, shaping motivation and behavior toward personal growth and well-being.
• Procrastination: This concept refers to the act of delaying or postponing tasks, usually out of habit or for personal reasons. It often involves avoiding a task or decision and choosing to do something else instead, despite knowing that this might lead to negative consequences.
• Staying Motivated: A key hurdle in accomplishing tasks is staying motivated. In this article, I present several techniques to keep the motivational fires burning.
• Persistence: This refers to the characteristic to stick with effort that move you towards your goals.
• Opportunity Mindset: This mindset is characterized by recognizing and seizing opportunities for growth and success. By shifting from justifying failure to seeking opportunity, individuals can reduce stress, encourage growth, and find new directions.

A Few Words by Psychology Fanatic

Productivity is often misunderstood as simply requiring more work, but in reality, it hinges on the principle of smarter work. In a world inundated with tasks and responsibilities, the ability to discern what truly matters becomes paramount. By learning to separate essential activities from those that are merely distractions, we can channel our focused attention toward high-priority projects that yield meaningful results.

This intentional approach enables us not only to manage our time effectively but also to align our efforts with our core values and goals. As we refine this skill, we can transform overwhelming demands into manageable challenges that propel us forward rather than hold us back.

Through consistent practice and dedicated effort, achieving balance in our lives becomes an attainable goal. Embracing a mindset oriented towards productivity allows us to engage deeply with the most rewarding aspects of life—whether it’s pursuing personal passions or nurturing relationships that bring joy and fulfillment.

By prioritizing wisely and investing energy where it counts, we open ourselves up to the possibility of accomplishing many life-affirming projects while simultaneously cultivating a sense of well-being. Ultimately, by redefining productivity in terms of quality over quantity, we create space for flourishing—a state where both our professional aspirations and personal happiness coexist harmoniously.

Last Update: January 11, 2026

References:

Ariely, Dan (2010). Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Harper Perennial; Revised and Expanded ed. edition. ISBN 10: 0061353248
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Baumeister, Roy F., Tierney, John (2012). Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength. Penguin Books; Reprint edition.ISBN: 9780143122234; APA Record: 2011-16843-000
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Baumeister, R. F., Heatherton, T. F., & Tice, D. M. (1994). Losing control: How and why people fail at self-regulation (1st ed.). Academic Press. ISBN-10: 0120831406; APA Record: 1994-98882-000
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Krech, Gregg (2014). The Art of Taking Action: Lessons from Japanese Psychology. ToDo Institute Books. ISBN-10: 0982427387
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Newport, Cal (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Grand Central Publishing; 1st edition. ISBN: 9781455586691
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Palo, S., & Das, M. (2021). Sleeping Well: The Gateway to Employee Wellness. NHRD Network Journal,14(1), 103-114. DOI: 10.1177/2631454120972497
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