7 Productivity Pitfalls You Need to Avoid
29. Jan, 2012 
39 Comments
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7 Productivity Pitfalls You Need to Avoid
As we are all crafting and in business, our time is valuable—we build our careers with our own two hands. You’re probably starting the year off with new goals and resolutions, so it’s a great time to review these 7 productivity pitfalls to avoid:
1. Clicking. You might remember me from an online meeting. My name is Lisa, and I’m a Clickaholic. How many times per day do you spend 15 minutes clicking through Facebook, email, your handmade site, Paypal, one more quick stop by Facebook … and oh goodness, add Pinterest to the list because those boards have become my latest fix. To avoid this pitfall, schedule email time (for example, write and return emails every day from 8-9 AM) and turn off the computer during business hours, or work in a room where it’s not.
2. Unfinished Business. Unfinished business means that you’re not getting tasks done, or you’re putting off necessary actions that you must take. These little buggers manifest as energy drains that suck the productivity out of you every. single. day. To resolve unfinished business, create a to-do list of all of those nagging issues in your life and ask yourself, “What’s the next step I need to take in getting this finished?” For example, if you need to make an appointment for your car, the next step might be to get the number for the garage. Start taking next steps for each item on the list, and before you know it you’ll have them all crossed off.
When unfinished business gets out of hand, it turns into number 3 ….
3. Clutter. The state of your physical space is a direct reflection of the state of your mind. If there’s garbage in the car, or mold in the shower, or a stack of loose papers on the desk, you might also notice that your mind is racing, ruminating, or otherwise engaged in useless chatter. Clutter represents speed bumps and stop signs on your road to productivity. Where there’s clutter, there’s a mind that needs rest, organization, and direction. Start tackling one little pile at a time. You’ll also want to bring awareness to where your thought goes during the day. Are you following an unconscious, rambling train of thought? Or, are you training your thoughts and putting your mind to good use?
4. Procrastination. You know that feeling … it happens when you really should be doing something productive, but you’re watching reruns of Jersey Shore instead. Procrastination builds gradually, like noise. I recently wrote about my own personal account with procrastination in a post titled, Reduce Your Influence, Increase Your Inspiration. Procrastination feels lazy and chaotic; it’s an uncomfortable, restless state. I invite you to read my story, and ask yourself, “What’s the volume of my life?”
5. Troublesome Relationships. When you do some digging into productivity pitfalls, sometimes you’ll find the real reasons behind them. Difficult relationships are one of the many things that might really be bothering you. If you’re struggling with someone in your life, or your feelings are going unheard or unsaid, you might want to ask yourself what you really need. For example, your life could be noisy because you’ve just gone through an unhappy period, and you’re not quite back on top of your game yet. Are you seeking a sense of security? Control? Maybe recognition or approval? Figure out how you can give that to yourself. What action or change can you make to feel better? Filling the emotional voids for yourself, by yourself, will put you back on the road to productivity.
6. Debt. I believe that where there is fear, there cannot be love; where there is love, there cannot be fear. In that same sense, I believe that where there is debt, there cannot be abundance; and where there is abundance, there cannot be debt. Debt is a result of fear, lack, and want. It is the exact opposite of prosperity, wealth, and abundance. Make a conscious choice to reduce debt and move toward abundance, it will increase your productivity and enhance the overall quality of your life.
7. Neglected Priorities. Our productivity suffers when our priorities are out of whack. I’m talking more specifically than listing family, God, me-time, career–although, that is all very important to consider. For the purpose of this article, I ask you to question the priorities within your creations. Are you offering impeccable service? Is there integrity, passion, and honesty in everything that you do? Build your business to serve others, and before you know it, it will begin to serve you.
Wishing you fruitful productivity and all the best. Until next time, Lisa
About The Author
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Nice post. I’m reading this over breakfast and now ready to tackle my to do list!
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Yes! Thanks for posting, Jenn
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EXCELLENT Lisa
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Thank you, Anna <3
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Interesting – if you read the list backwards, from #7 to #1, you see a clear cause and effect. Think about it!
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Very interesting! Thanks for adding that, Grace
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Hello I’m Rachael and I’M a clickaholic. Going to stick to my 9.30am cut-off after reading this though! Thanks.
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Hello, Rachael
See you at the next meeting, lol.
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So true. Everything in life is totally inter connected!
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Absolutely! Thank you for the positive feedback.
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This is the best post I have read in a long time. I am getting out of a bad, long term relationship that was a suck to my energy and still is a suck to my energy… but it is getting better. In the process, I have noticed that nobody ever talks about the effect relationships have on productivity. The realization that I need a supportive TEAM instead of just being the support team is huge!
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Love this: “The realization that I need a supportive TEAM instead of just being the support team is huge!” … EXACTLY!
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Great post…I see several of the things listed here causing issues with my own productivity. Thanks for pointing them out so clearly…and also letting me know I’m not alone!
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Staci. All the best!
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Very Helpful, common sense advice…that I needed this morning. Thank you.
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Thanks, Leisa
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Wow this was the perfect thing for me to hear this am. I have been going in so many different directions lately. I keep thinking I need to make a priority list,well I’m off to do that now. And thanks for calling all us clickaholics out! I needed that too
Awesome article I will be bookmarking to read again.
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Thank you, Marion. All the best <3
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Thanks for not being afraid to get down to the nitty-gritty! Awesome article. Really good stuff.
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Thank you for the positive feedback, Julie!
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Very helpful advices with words to live by.
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Thank you, Tisha <3
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Bravo! I must admit… I am blushing as I can see myself in all 7 pitfalls….. yikes
I am pinning a copy of this on my inspiration board .. right in front of my sewing machine!
Thanks bunches………..♦
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Thanks, Lisa! Best to you <3
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I neglected my house for almost a week. Time to clean before the new month rolls in!
No being a clickaholic! Bye bye gotta go and clean up!
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Understood! Good luck <3
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“The state of your physical space is a direct reflection of the state of your mind.”
Oh dear, I’m in trouble. LOL
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Writing lists is my saving grace! I don’t know what I’d do without my little notepad to orangize all of my To Do!
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Same here!
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Fantastic post! I’d best get up and get moving!
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I think that’s the article that I needed to read! I’m all 7!
Thank you for pointing all these out. I like your ideas-solutions and I may – SHOULD- start changing, one step at a time (or even 2)
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Thanks, Angela! Good luck
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The last two points ring the most true with me. I have set a budget for my new company and set hours that don’t take time away from chores, errands, family, and time with God. Thanks for the encouraging article!
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Thank you. This rings true for me too. Creativity & disorganization go hand in hand & discipline is what is needed to keep focused. Personally I have very little discipline but I have realized recently that it is not the enemy I thought it was, more of a reliable friend that helps me to keep on top of things. I no longer resist it but am thankful for it as it stops me from wasting time. It works. I am going to print your list & keep it close for when I relapse!!!
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Great Points from start to finish. Being that i am great at visually expressing things but suck with words at times, I appreciate how you clearly summed it all up and took time to understand what leads to an unproductive life.
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*definitely
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LOL – I can’t follow #1: I *work* on the darn computer
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