Productivity is one of the most vital aspects that contribute to personal & professional success. Maximizing our time can help anyone achieve success, regardless of financial or physical limitations. Productivity is the key to “crushing life.” However, more often than not, people find themselves reading myths & false narratives which leads them to adopt harmful habits.
I hope you are not in a situation where you don’t know what to do next. This blog will provide evidence and strategies that are backed by research. These strategies can help you become more productive by dispelling common myths. I plan to include my own experience in this post. Additionally, I will offer practical advice that is easy to follow.
Myth #1: Multitasking Increases Productivity
The idea of multitasking, or handling multiple tasks simultaneously, is often seen as a way to boost productivity. I was a huge proponent of Multitasking back in the day. Something captivated me when I saw my favorite YouTubers juggling between different tabs and screens. It demonstrated how much they can accomplish by multitasking.
I realized I was compromising the quality of my work instead of improving it. Each input should have resulted in better output.
Globally, research has shown that multitasking is less effective than focusing on one task at a time. Stanford University conducted a study. It revealed that heavy multitaskers had difficulty filtering out irrelevant information. Additionally, they experienced decreased cognitive control.
I struggled to focus on multiple tasks at once during my free time. I became increasingly confused as I tried to switch between them. I used to write articles while shuffling between various training materials. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to anything. To be honest, it was a dead end.
How did I get rid of this, then? It’s simple – I gave myself a ‘reality check’. I learned away from the task than towards it and thought to myself, “what the hell am I achieving”? I had a feeling that multi-tasking was not the best approach.
Watching videos from productivity gurus like Ali Abdaal, Thomas Frank, and Matt D’Avella reinforced that feeling. Therefore, I chose to stop multitasking and never returned to it.
Myth #2: Working Longer Hours Leads to Higher Productivity
The belief that working longer hours increases productivity is deeply ingrained in many cultures. However, research indicates that working excessive hours can lead to diminishing returns and even decrease productivity. This notion of ‘more hard work equating to more success’ was promoted a lot back in the days of ‘Hustle Culture’.
For those of you who forgot, Hustle Culture was a toxic phenomenon that once threatened the very belief in success.
Hustle culture was meant to encourage hard work. People were expected to put in long hours. The goal was to get things done. Guess what? It did the opposite.
If you want to read more about it, I already have a brief article on the ‘Threat of Hustle Culture’.
John Pencavel of Stanford University conducted a study in 2014. He discovered that productivity significantly declined after 50 hours of work per week. There was almost no improvement in productivity after 55 hours. Other studies, over the years, have resulted in eerily similar results.
So! Why do we like to subject ourselves to longer hours thinking we’d be more productive?
I believe a lot of this mentality has been promoted by gurus like Gary Vaynerchuk (no offense, Gary) who have a somewhat biased view of what success looks and feels like. For me, everyone has a different definition and hence, a different trajectory of success. To get so influenced by someone else that you risk your health and relationships is borderline toxic.
Overworking can – has resulted in burnout and negatively affects our mental and physical well-being.
If you want to get more done without stepping over your limits, emphasizing work-life balance and time management is important.
Myth #3: You don’t need to wake up at 4 am in the morning
It’s a common belief that early birds are inherently more productive than night owls. However, this notion overlooks the fact that individuals have different chronotypes, or natural sleep-wake patterns, that influence their optimal productivity times.
There hasn’t been much evidence that suggests waking up early leads to bigger growth and more success. Hence, it’s a flawed definition promoted by people who are out of touch with reality.
I’ve seen ‘so-called influencers’ making statements that waking up early gives you more time. It could not be any more incorrect.
Let me make it clear here:
- There’s no perfect morning routine
- There’s no one standard for achieving peak productivity
- Comparing yourself to those so-called gurus is only detrimental to your health
A study by Till Roenneberg and colleagues found that both morning and evening chronotypes can be equally productive when working during their preferred hours.
To keep the jargon out, a Chronotype is your ‘body’s default settings of going to sleep’. Recognizing your own chronotype and tailoring your schedule accordingly can help you optimize your productivity, regardless of whether you’re a morning or evening person.
Myth #4: Productivity Equals Busyness
There’s a widespread misconception that being constantly busy signifies high productivity. In truth, busyness and productivity are not synonymous. ‘Seriously, who’s making such kind of myths’?
I personally believe that a lot of people equate busyness to getting things done. Now, this isn’t false per se. You can definitely achieve more by putting in more hours or being busier. However, more often than not, people tend to sacrifice quality just to keep up the charade of being busy.
There’s also the aspect of ‘Social Approval’. Do you find yourself pretending to ‘look busy’ when someone walks by you? Whether it’s a loved one or a complete stranger, social approval makes us look for constant validation from others. Unfortunately, this aspect also comes into play when we’re working.
Harvard Business School conducted a study on this back in 2009 where they revealed that people who are always busy tend to overestimate their productivity and may focus on low-impact tasks.
To truly be productive, it’s essential to concentrate on results and prioritize tasks that have the most significant impact on your goals, rather than simply filling your time with endless to-do lists.
Myth #5: Perfectionism is a Productivity Booster
Perfectionism, or the pursuit of flawlessness, is often mistakenly believed to be a hallmark of high productivity. In reality, perfectionism hinders productivity by fostering procrastination, stress, and reduced creativity.
People who strive for perfectionism don’t realize how much time they waste while doing so. This has affected me in my personal life too.
There have been numerous times when I wrote an article only to find myself fixing up literally every small grammatical or structural mistake, all to write a perfect article.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that it’s the imperfections that are more attractive. I’ve got a question for all of you!
Would you prefer reading an article from me that is perfect but lacks emotional appeal OR an article where I make mistakes but I’m not afraid to embrace those mistakes?
Luckily for you, this part has no shortage of studies either. Perfectionism isn’t a new vice. In fact, in 1995, Flett and colleagues found that perfectionism was positively correlated with procrastination.
By embracing progress over perfection, we can focus on accomplishing tasks and continuously improving our work, ultimately leading to greater productivity and satisfaction.
Myth #6: You Need to Be Constantly Connected to Stay Productive
In today’s digital age, many people believe that staying connected through technology is necessary for productivity. Although technology can provide numerous benefits, constant connectivity can also have adverse effects on our efficiency and well-being.
Technology is here to make life easier and add convenience. It should not be used as a reminder of our weaknesses. Unfortunately, I feel like so-called ‘Productivity Boosting Apps’ try to mimic that aspect.
Instead, I’d invite you to completely shun such apps and take a pen & paper and just write to your heart’s content. The biggest productivity gaps arise when we overthink and writing those down do the trick, at least for me.
Professor Gloria Mark, from the University of California, Irvine, found that interruptions from emails and other notifications lead to higher stress levels and increased task-switching, resulting in a loss of up to 2.1 hours of productivity per day.
Moreover, studies by the American Psychological Association showed that even brief mental breaks from digital devices can significantly improve focus and creativity.
To maintain optimal productivity, it’s essential to strike a balance between staying connected and managing technology use, allowing time for focused uninterrupted work.
Myth #7: Breaks are a Waste of Time
The belief that breaks are a waste of time and an impediment to productivity is a common misconception. In fact, research suggests that regular breaks can enhance focus, creativity, and overall productivity.
I always advise people to strive for the “flow state.” I describe this as an “uninterrupted period of time where your senses are at their peak.” This comes from my own experience. A flow state generally lasts 30 minutes and we start losing focus shortly after.
Here’s a hack from yours truly:
“Set a timer for 30-45 minutes and work on one task only. Don’t let yourself get distracted during this time. Aim to complete as much of it as possible.
When the timer ends, leave your workspace. Take a break by drinking some water or having a laugh at a funny meme. The goal here is to give breathing space to your senses.
The Draugiem Group conducted a study about breaks. They found that the most productive workers take a 17-minute break after 52 minutes of focused work.
Research from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign showed that taking short breaks can improve focus and performance. This was true even over long periods of time.
In conclusion, it’s important to validate and embrace different perspectives before you start incorporating any particular fact in life. Productivity & Mindset is still a subject of great debate.
We are fortunate to live in a time when coaches and practitioners prioritize a balance between work and personal life. This helps us to be productive both at home and in the workplace.
By reevaluating these misconceptions, we can adopt evidence-based & realistic strategies that genuinely enhance our life. It’s essential to consider our limitations to develop a tailored approach to productivity.
Sustainable habits and practices are the key to creating a balanced lifestyle. This lifestyle encourages productivity and boosts success, well-being, and personal growth.
Zane James is a Digital Marketer who runs a freelance marketing practice alongside growing ProductivePreneur; a free newsletter for Entrepreneurs, Marketers & Designers helping them to reach peak productivity in a realistic and mindful way.