Do you ever feel like you spend hours upon hours at your desk without actually getting much done? This can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you have tight deadlines to meet. It’s only natural to wish that you could be more productive with your time.

Productivity is a popular topic among personal growth enthusiasts. There’s a lot of information out there about different ways to be more productive, but not all of these methods are created equal.

As someone who is passionate about personal growth and achieving maximum results, I want to share some of the key habits that differentiate super productive people from less productive individuals. By not implementing these habits, you will naturally have a dip in your productivity level, no matter how disciplined or hardworking you are.

1. You have not set any goals

The first and foremost habit of a highly productive person is goal-setting. It’s surprising how many people either don’t set goals or set the wrong ones.

Without having set goals in place, you won’t have a personal vision for what you want your life to be like. This can lead to the “floater” syndrome – where you float from one task to the next without any higher purpose, being subject to other people’s demands and never achieving anything significant.

To fix this issue, you need to set goals for the most important areas of your life, such as career, relationships, finance, health, and personal growth. Ask yourself where you want to be in each of these areas in one, three, and five years’ time.

Write these goals down and keep them in view every day. Create a vision board to help you stay on track and remind yourself of your goals.

2. You don’t have the right goals

Setting goals is crucial, but it’s also important to set the right goals. If you set the wrong goals, you’ll only set yourself up for failure.

So what makes a goal the right one? In my book, “10 Rules of Super Productive People,” I share the four criteria of great goals. They should be inspiring, huge, specific, and time-bound.

If your goals don’t meet these criteria, it’s much less likely that you’ll achieve them. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that you set goals that you want for yourself rather than goals that others want for you.

Go for huge, inspiring goals that are specific in nature and have a deadline.

3. You don’t have a deadline

Regardless of how hardworking or efficient you are, you need to have a deadline in place for all your tasks and goals. In Rule #2 of my book, I talk about the importance of setting deadlines, specifically timelines.

When you set a deadline for a task, you’ll make sure that you complete it within that time-frame. If you don’t set any deadline at all, the task can virtually take forever to complete or won’t be finished at all.

Therefore, it’s crucial to set deadlines for your tasks and goals. Use timelines and create a roadmap for your goals with practical examples and watchouts.

4. You’re trying to do everything

The saying goes, “Less is more,” and when it comes to productivity, trying to do everything leads to the accomplishment of nothing.

As much as we believe in doing more and getting more done, trying to do everything can cause a lack of focus, which results in overwhelm and stress.

Focus on the most important tasks and do them well. Determine which tasks have high-impact and prioritize them. For the less important tasks, either dump them, batch them (to be done in one shot), or delegate them.

5. You’re trying to do everything yourself

Perfectionists can make the mistake of trying to do everything themselves. It’s important to delegate tasks to others. You’ll never be able to accomplish the same amount of work as multiple people during the same time-frame.

Let go of the need to do everything yourself. Delegate tasks to team members, employees, or outsourced vendors. You may encounter hiccups, but it’s about coaching them to get things right.

6. You don’t have a conducive work environment

Assessing your current work environment is important. If you’re working in less than ideal conditions, you won’t be as productive as you could be. You might feel like you’re constantly battling your environment just to get things done.

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the best possible environment for work, how would you rate your current workspace? If it falls on the lower side, consider making changes to the space or moving to a different area that can provide a better work environment.

In conclusion, being productive isn’t just about working hard and having discipline. It’s about aligning your efforts with the right habits that help you achieve more in less time. By practising the habits outlined above, you’ll be on your way to becoming a super productive person.