Original author: Thomas Oppong Translation: JoyceCheng, first published on Jianshu Source: Mantou Business School Habits define our lives. To live a balanced, productive life and have a long-term satisfying career, getting rid of your inefficient habits is an important investment. Have you noticed that you've been busy all year... but most of the things you decided to do at the beginning of the year haven't actually been completed? It's much easier to rush along than to take a minute to think, plan, and see what you really need to change to create a productive week, month, or year for yourself. Your productivity may be getting worse, and you don't even know it. It's time to pay attention to the bad habits that are holding you back. The following twelve habits are killing your productivity.

  1. The habit of multitasking Stop multitasking, really, stop. Of all the bad habits, multitasking is the worst and most common. Multitasking doesn't necessarily make you more efficient as you might think. In fact, when you single-task and focus on doing one thing well, you can get twice the results with half the effort. According to Gloria Mark, professor at the University of California, Irvine, and Fast Company, it takes about 23 minutes and 15 seconds to fully return to a previous task after an interruption. So, you might be wasting more time than you think. More doesn't mean better. In fact, in many cases, quality over quantity. Focusing on the things that bring the greatest returns or achievements is a good strategy.
  2. The habit of starting the day with your inbox How many times have you checked your email today? Too many people spend too much time in their inbox: reading and replying to emails, instead of doing real work. The more emails you send, the more emails you're likely to receive. Set boundaries for yourself, check email only a specific number of times a day, and stick to it.
  3. The habit of not delegating Doing everything yourself will hurt both you and your business. You don't need to do everything yourself. If possible, ask for help and delegate tasks to others. You should focus on what you're good at.
  4. The habit of not saying no As Warren Buffett said, "You can't let other people set your life's agenda." Saying "no" means you have time to focus on your own needs, rather than constantly serving others.
  5. The habit of not tracking results Use apps—there are hundreds of productivity apps that help you record what you do every day. These products will help you figure out where you're inefficient and make changes.
  6. The habit of overworking and not taking breaks Sometimes you just need a break. Listen to your body and allow yourself to recover from fatigue. Your ability to focus on a task lasts only a certain length of time (reportedly up to 90 minutes). Break tasks into smaller chunks and take breaks in between (10-15 minutes).
  7. The habit of working without a routine A work routine is essential; it gets your mind into the gears of production. Without a routine, you'll always waste time figuring out how to start when you have to do actual work.
  8. The habit of having too long a to-do list Don't get too enthusiastic and then fill your to-do list with dozens or more tasks. You're very likely to not finish them all by the end of the workday, and then you'll feel frustrated and think you're not efficient enough. And once that overwhelmed feeling starts, you'll face some trouble: stress is just one of them.
  9. The habit of being always online If people can reach you via smartphone, email, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, then you're too easy to find, and all these channels are connections that distract you from your goals. Disconnect, just see, your productivity is already a problem. Your smartphone might be the biggest productivity killer ever. Most people just can't put their phone down. If your phone is connected to the internet, the temptation to stay updated on everything is very high. If possible, put your phone down (or turn it off) for a while when you're in the office, and see the impact it has on your productivity level.
  10. The habit of reading the news Set aside blocks of time for reading or watching the news. Use a critical mindset and think about what you see. Use quality media. Stop clicking on news headlines and reading short news—read quality news reports or blogs from experts you choose.
  11. The habit of indecisiveness A common problem is that people have long to-do lists but don't know what they want to accomplish after that intense meeting. Prioritize what needs to be done today and act on it as soon as possible.
  12. The habit of reinventing the wheel There is always a better, smarter way to accomplish most tasks. Don't reinvent the wheel. Time is the most important resource you shouldn't waste. Find what works and stick with it. Save time.

"A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life." — Charles Darwin -END- Content Selection Reply with the following keywords to categorize and read related articles: Sales Supervisor, Second-tier Management, Regional Manager, Distributor Management, New Channels, City Manager, Competition, 2015, Manufacturer-Dealer Game, Product Stagnation, Terminal Visit Management, Route Management, Deep Distribution, Internal Management, Sales Skills, Profit Improvement, Recruitment, Distribution, Daily Management, Team Motivation, Trade Promotion, Sales Misconceptions, New Product Launch, Township Market, New Product Pricing, Sales Target Achievement, Forcing Orders, Market Visit Inspection, Baijiu, Beer, Sales Increase, Agency Products, Channel Crossing, KA, Terminal Merchandising, New Market, Market Operation, Learning, Book Recommendations, Inventory Management, Sales Novice, Consumer Promotion, Execution, Old Products, Expired Product Handling, Model Market, Investment Promotion, New Media, Distributor Development, Performance Appraisal, Assessment, Annual Planning, Shopping Guide, Morning Meeting, Display, Transformation, Inventory Pressure, Holidays, Distributor Cost Control, Channel Operation, Marketing Theory and Laws, Brand Truth, Order Meeting, Team Management, Training, Debriefing, Debriefing Report.