Ditch These 10 Dumb Habits & Watch Your Productivity Explode
It’s time to liberate yourself with the sacred “Not-to-Do” List. Because let’s be honest, sometimes the best path to productivity is ditching the dumb stuff.
I used to be a slave to my to-do list. A phone-answering ninja, an email-obsessed zombie, a slave to the pointless meeting.
Then I discovered the magic of not doing. Trust me, this list changed my life. Maybe it’ll change yours too.
1. The random Phone Call Menace
Unknown number? Nope, not for me. It’s either a telemarketer or my long-lost, secretly wealthy great-aunt finally remembering her favorite nephew. Since the latter is less likely than winning the IPL, you can bet I’m not interrupting my flow for random chatter.
Just don’t pick up random numbers. I used to pick up every random call and waste enormous amount of time and focus as I believed that I may be missing a potential business. This is a great myth and “Truecaller” and “do not disturb” has stopped working. Just do not pick random calls and block them.
2. The Email Vampire
Checking your inbox first thing in the morning is like inviting Dracula into your house. One sip of those electronic demands and your whole day’s priorities are gone.
Let those emails simmer until you’ve knocked out your most important tasks. (And hey, the 3-5 pm window is the sweet spot for maximum email impact).
3. Meetings: The Time-Sucking Vortex
Agendas? Who needs those? Apparently not most people, since countless meetings meander aimlessly into oblivion. Always demand a reason and a proposed end time. Short and sweet is the motto.
If you are boss, insist on having no chairs for visitors. Any meeting when you and you visitors are standing will not last more than 5 minutes. You have just saved one hour of agony.
4. Ramblers Gonna Ramble
We Indians just LOVE to talk. Sadly, workplace efficiency isn’t always the priority. Tactfully steering conversations back to the point saves everyone precious minutes. And if “Gotta run!” fails, blame a fake meeting. We all do it.
5. WhatsApp Mania
Those enticing little green bubbles… RESIST! Batch your WhatsApp time or risk getting swept away by a tide of memes and forwarded jokes when you should be deep in work mode.
Three checks a day keeps the insanity at bay.
6. Pleasing the Unpleasable
Some clients are energy vampires. You try to bend over backwards, yet nothing’s ever enough. It’s time to break free! Put them on autopilot. Outsource their drama. They’ll drain less time and you’ll miraculously discover they weren’t the backbone of your business after all.
7. Workaholism is SO Last Season
Endless to-do lists? It’s about identifying what REALLY moves the needle. Let insignificant tasks slide. It might feel wrong at first, but you’ll soon revel in the power of the strategic shrug-off.
8. Phone: Master or Mistress?
Take back control. Designate a “Digital Detox” day. Leave your phone at home, go for a walk, watch a sunset without documenting it (the horror!).
Remember, the world won’t end if you’re unreachable for a few hours.
I have my Sunday as my “Digital Detox “ day when I am only. allowed to take calls from family and friends
9. Forget “Work-Life Balance.” Live a Big Life.
Work is important, but it ain’t the whole Nirvana. Friends, hobbies, adventures – make time for those things or burnout’s coming for you.
Emailing on weekends is the new smoking – cool in the 90s, tragically misguided now.
- Don’t Say “But…”
Every time you feel the urge to justify ditching a time-wasting habit, stop. Your time is precious. You deserve better than feeling guilty about optimizing your life.
#workfail #lifemess #careerlessons #bounceback #resilience #behindthescenes #realstories #inspiringstories #messytruth #learnings
Hemant Mishrra
About the author: Hemant is the Founder & CEO of branding and marketing firm ”Neeti Brand Accelerator” in Mumbai. He is a brand strategist and has worked with more than 150 brands during last two decades. He is also mentor and coach to SMEs and startups. You can visit the website www.www.neeti.biz. You can contact him at hemant@neeti.biz
