Productivity is one of our favorite things to have a love-hate relationship with, isn’t it?

So many of us find ourselves frustrated with productivity, feeling like we don’t understand it, but strive for it just the same each and every day. And no matter what kind of productivity you’re searching for, whether it’s in your job or in your personal life, there will always be problems that arise. But there are things you can do to plan ahead and set yourself up for success, no matter what challenges cross your path!

3 of the Most Common Productivity Problems (and How to Beat Them)

1. Planning Paralysis

If you’re a planning junkie like me, this one might resonate with you. We get so excited about all the different tools and methods and calendars and schedules that we end up stuck in limbo. We wrap ourselves up in the process of planning, but never take the next step forward into doing the actual work.

If you identify with this issue, recognize it and know your tendencies. Are you searching for the perfect planning strategy because you don’t actually feel prepared to do the work? Beat the sense of overwhelm or dread by creating a 1-Task To-Do List. At the end of the day, write down 1 single thing you will do tomorrow. This is your only priority, big or small. This way, you don’t feel like you’re diving into the work without a fully developed sense of what needs done. Instead, you can start the process and find the next steps along the way.

2. Too Many Tools

Similar to the overwhelm we can encounter with planning processes, we can also be too focused on what tools we’re using. Project management tools come with hundreds of different features — it can be a challenge to know which one is right for you. Sometimes, we try to solve this problem by trying out every single tool, resulting in wasted time and sometimes, wasted money.

Plan ahead for this issue by assessing what you need in a tool and making a decision. Do you work best off a pen-and-paper list? Are you more digitally driven? Know what you want and find it, or at least find something similar that will get the job done. Instead of spending time on trial and error, plan ahead and get right into the work!

3. People

People are a productivity problem all the time. Whether they’re in your phone or in your living room, the people around you can quickly become a major distraction when you’re trying to get work done.

Avoid this issue by anticipating it. Set ‘Do Not Disturb’ on your phone when it’s time to get into work mode. Shut the door to the office, and hire a babysitter if you need to. And above all, don’t be afraid to communicate. Let others know when you’ll need time and space to work, and they can have your attention afterwards. It’s okay to ask for help from others, even if that help is just staying busy while you stay as productive as possible.

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QOTD: What productivity problems do you run into the most?