Four surprising productivity tips!

This week I continue my book club rounds ups! If you are newer to the blog, let me introduce you to the personal development book club. Each month I pick a book that can support you to have a career to enjoy, which is then reviewed on my blog! The key elements are picked out each month, as part of my “Clara Cliff Notes”; lessons learned if you will! The joy of this approach is that even if you don’t read the entire book, you can bring these insights into your everyday life. However, sometimes it helps to have a little reminder of the power of these books; so today, I’m sharing four productivity tips I’ve taken from over five years of book reviews. Which will work for you?

 

 Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed

 We can’t ignore the impact of cognitive dissonance. Here, the brain will ignore any evidence that doesn’t support its belief. Either actively seeking it out or very merely ignoring anything that is presented (aka “Alternative Facts”). Consider the beliefs you hold about yourself, your abilities and your potential; what would happen if you sought out information that challenged these? Ask yourself, do you need to be more productive? What if you told yourself you are doing enough? 

 

How to be REALLY productive by Grace Marshall

Ok, so if I’m honest, the WHOLE book is a lesson in productivity. The hint is in the title. But, if I am going to pick out one must-have lesson, it’s this. Grace advocates that productivity isn’t 100% energy, 100% efficiency or 100% effort 100% of the time. It is a life where you feel in control, and that your actions have a purposeful result.

 In the words of Bertrand Russell, remember that:

 

“Time you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted time”

 

How to find your Thing by Lucy Whittington

Don’t equate success with hard work. Don’t get stuck in the loop of stress = quality work. If you find this happening, think of everything you have learned, experienced and the challenges you have gone through to get to the point of the “ease” of your work. When you look at it that way and count up the hours you have under your belt, you will realise that productivity is outcomes-based, not time. 

 

 

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

I’m going to close off this blog with a productivity lesson that may surprise you.

 

Accept you won’t get it all done!

 

So many of us battle with the wish to rest and to take every opportunity, often sacrificing health, relationships or our own needs to make sure they happen. The simple message here is simply accepting that you can do everything. That isn’t a personality failure, or an issue of discipline, but human nature. You will have to let things go to live a decent life!

 

Some of these books may have come up recently in other round-ups, and others may be new to you. Either way, all of these lessons learned will help you reframe your thoughts around productivity and to support you to feel more balanced.

 

Which lessons resonate with you the most? Come along to Creating Careers to Enjoy and uncover the latest book, or catch up on the previous reviews on the site.