I know—if you had a nickel for every time you’ve ever been asked this question, you’d have maybe a quarter at most.
We think (and talk) a lot about the mechanics of productivity. We focus on the planning and the execution, but what we often overlook is the importance of mindset when it comes to productivity.
Here are three elements of a productive mindset that you should incorporate into your life.
Intentional
Being intentional is a huge part of a productivity mindset. This one thing fuels everything from planning to follow-thru, while helping avoid one the paralysis of indecision.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? When our family decides to go out to eat, it’s very common for us to not know where we want to go. All of us, including the kids, are easy to please. I’ve actually said as we’re pulling out of the driveway, “I need to know where we’re going before I start driving in the wrong direction.
When you are intentional, you have a clear understanding of the goal and can create a road map for how to get there.
Focused
Let’s face it. Distractions are everywhere. To be productive, we must cut through the noise and focus on the task at hand.
A 2024 report shows the average smartphone user clicks, taps, or swipes their phone 2,617 times per day. Assuming you get 8 hours of sleep, that’s 163.5 times per hour (and yes, I picked up my cellphone to use the calculator to get that number).
Overcoming distractions requires discipline. But without focus we will fall prey to everything trying to distract us.
Resilient
Even with the best intentions and focused energy, we’re not always going to reach our goal the first time. That’s when resilience comes in.
I love stories where people faced setbacks and challenges and kept moving forward. NBA legend Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Thomas Edison failed thousands of times trying before finally inventing the light bulb. And Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa after 27 years as a political prisoner.
The fact is, if it weren’t for their resilience, we might never know the names of these amazing people
Having a productivity mindset will drive your actions, which will increase your productivity. Without the right mindset, it will be hard to sustain productive actions long-term.
So, try it out. Take some time to focus on your mindset and see the difference it can make for your productivity.