3 Ideas To Boost Your Productivity

This week, I want to talk about productivity. I hope these 3 ideas will boost yours.

I.

Several times throughout the day, I ask myself the extrapolation question:

"If I did what I did today for the next 10 years, what would be my results?"

Let's say I worked several hours on my blog, went to the gym, and talked to an attractive stranger.

The results in 10 years from now? I would have a successful personal brand, be healthy and look athletic, as well as have a fulfilling love life.

But if I went to my 9 to 5 today, watched two hours of Netflix afterward, and threw a box of Hot Pockets in the microwave?

10 years from now, the consequences would be disastrous. I would be overweight, lethargic, hate my job, and have no romantic prospects.

It all comes down to compound interest. Do the right things for long enough, and you will achieve whatever you desire. The longer you keep at it, the more your results will skyrocket.

But do the wrong things for long enough and your life will eventually spiral out of control. Compound interest works both ways.

In theory, all of us understand this. But on an everyday basis, we struggle to connect the dots.

Asking yourself the extrapolation question will prevent this. It makes sure you are doing the things you should be doing.

II.

At this point, we are all addicts — we are addicted to our screens.

If you think I am being dramatic, just try going without your smartphone and your laptop for a week. The withdrawal symptoms you will experience are just as real as with alcohol or drugs.

This screen addiction is a massive productivity killer. Our digital notifications now dictate what we pay attention to. Waste that precious attention on Instagram, and you won't get much else done.

To be clear, I am not saying you shouldn't use digital tools. I am looking at a screen as I type this.

But I am doing so as a creator.

Digital devices are fantastic for creating. You can write blog articles with them, do graphic design, or develop software.

All of these behaviors are non-addictive. On the contrary, they require self-discipline.

They also create value for others. Do them for long enough, and you will get paid for them.

Always be a creator, never a consumer. If you are not creating, be away from all screens.

III.

True productivity is not about ticking off items on your to-do list. That is just a means to an end.

True productivity is about creation.

Did you build that business? Did you write that software? Did you compose that symphony?

More often than not, what stops us from doing these things is not a question of time management.

Rather, it is about being afraid of putting yourself out there. Because once we put ourselves out there, we will be criticized.

I am as guilty of that as the next person. I put off writing my first blog post for over a year. Then it took me about 6 months to write my first two blog posts. I wanted them to be perfect, bulletproof.

But all I did was postpone true productivity.

Understand — being bad at something is part of the process. So are looking ridiculous and contradicting yourself.

These phases can't be skipped, they just have to be passed. The sooner you can get them out of the way, the better.

In the end, you will be remembered for your best work, not your worst work. But if you don't start, you won't be remembered for anything.

What are your favorite "productivity hacks?" Let me know! Maybe I will feature them in another newsletter.

Until next week,

Niels