9 Quotes from Ancient Philosophers About Productivity
1. Start Small, But Go Strong
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Lao Tzu
Every goal you set for yourself in life requires you to take the first step, which is the most crucial step. Of course, that is easier said than done; whether it is your confidence or your concern about burnout, it is difficult to take the first step. So, how can you get over this?
“There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time,” said philosopher Desmond Tutu. This means that you should break tasks down into smaller parts if they seem insurmountable to you.
It is a simple way to make the impossible more achievable, and better yet, it makes it much easier to get started. Additionally, you will build great motivation within yourself, and as the old saying goes, "He who settles wins."
Make sure you start strong, but avoid getting caught up in the trap of trying to complete your work perfectly. Instead, do your best, and it will seem as if everything else will be accomplished more easily if you do so. As Plato once said, “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”
2. Be Productive, Not Busy
“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” - Socrates
“Are you a productive or busy person?” asks blogger Chonce Maddox. “Determining the difference between being busy and productive is key if you ever want to be able to come up for air and still know that you’re reaching your goals.”
Because it is overused, the word "busy" annoys Chonce. “A lot of us have packed schedules and things going on," she says. “I still don’t like to see ‘busy’ being worn as a badge of honor.” Instead, Chonce concentrated on achieving goals and moving forward.
How can you achieve this?
Instead of adding more tasks to their to-do lists, productive people prioritize the quality of the work over getting it done quickly.
They are even more selective and do not accept any task that is offered to them. In other words, productive people choose to focus their time and effort on tasks that are pertinent to their priorities, resist being distracted, avoid multitasking, and work smarter rather than harder.
3. Live in the Present
“Nothing, to my way of thinking, is a better proof of a well-ordered mind than a man’s ability to stop just where he is and pass some time in his own company.” – Seneca
I believe that many of us struggle to survive, but that does not mean that you should adopt the YOLO mentality of "You Only Live Once" in everything you do. All it means is that you must take your time and acknowledge the reality you are living in.
One of the best ways to achieve this is through meditation, but you can also achieve it by going for a walk after lunch while leaving your phone at home, and if you have any free time in between meetings, simply gazing out the window or starting to write in your journal.
You will feel less stressed and more creative when you can sense your own presence. Additionally, it can boost your self-confidence and social skills. It might also inspire you to take risks and have more fun.
4. Concentrate on the Crucial and Eliminate Everything Else
“If you seek tranquility, do less. Or (more accurately) do what is essential. To do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you will have more time, and more tranquility." - Marcus Aurelius.
Being productive does not require working nonstop, as we already mentioned. It all comes down to concentrating your time and efforts on finishing the few but crucial tasks. And if you are a curious person, these tasks will help you achieve your priorities, such as finishing the most crucial task you have to do today or spending quality time with your family.
Eliminate the unnecessary once you have determined the few crucial tasks that need to be completed. How will you have time to work on your priorities if you spend the entire day doing tasks that you can delegate?
In addition to delegating and outsourcing, you should completely eliminate non-crucial tasks from your to-do list. Also, you should eliminate distractions, such as stopping using your phone, and if there is anything else holding you back, such as toxic people, you may want to eliminate them from your life.
5. Focus on What You Can Control
“Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.” – Epictetus
Do not waste your time on things that are out of your control; for instance, suppose one of your colleagues is sick and they will be two days late to finish their part of the work. It is frustrating, but just focus on what you need to accomplish. At the very least, avoid trying to emulate others.
6. Keep in Mind Your Destination
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds.” - Patanjali.
Why do you get out of bed every morning? How do you expect to remain motivated and productive if you cannot respond to this question? In the end, your motivation for rising early is what fuels your enthusiasm and pushes you to become more determined to conserve time.
But you must keep in mind that inspiration rarely comes to you, so go out and see if you get lost. One simple way to do this is to spend some time alone and think about how you spend your time. Do not rule out the possibility of turning to inspirational books, podcasts, or quotes in addition to practicing gratitude.
7. Enjoy What You Do
“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” - Aristotle
True productivity occurs when tasks are completed with enthusiasm. While some people—like businessman Mark Cuban—might disagree with this idea of Aristotle, others—like businessmen Steve Jobs and Richard Branson—support it, as following your passion keeps you active and focused in what you do because it is good for your health and also strengthens your self-belief.
Still not convinced of this idea? Passion enables you to innovate, motivates and encourages you to excel, and, most importantly, it helps you manage your workload since you spend most of your time doing what you enjoy.
8. Do Not Rush to Complete Your Tasks
“Haste in every business brings failures.” - Herodotus
I am not suggesting that you become a perfectionist who only aspires to achieve a goal, but rather, I think that Herodotus was stressing the importance of getting things done right the first time, and he emphasized the value of doing things correctly the first time. As you know, you should double-check what you want to accomplish.
I am aware that working under pressure to finish a task as quickly as possible can occasionally be necessary, but some tasks require you to take your time and slow down; otherwise, you risk falling short or making costly mistakes.
Give yourself more time than necessary to avoid rushing through your tasks. For instance, even though you only need two hours to complete the most crucial task of the day, you can block off three hours on your calendar to get it done.
9. Rely on Systems, Not Goals
“Great deeds are made up of small acts.” - Lao Tzu
"We do not frown on the idea of achieving goals here, but that can be a problem," writes blogger John Hall. Research has found that reducing the number of goals you have to accomplish can cause:
- Lack of internal motivation.
- Reduce the desire to learn.
- Concentrate on achieving short-term goals.
Setting goals is also ineffective, according to blogger James Clear, because “both winners and losers have the same goals” when it comes to saying and doing everything. Achieving a goal is also a temporary change that restricts happiness and interferes with your long-term progress.
"None of this is to say that setting goals is not helpful, but I have discovered that setting goals is good for planning your progress, and defining systems is good for actually making progress," Clear explains.
“Goals can guide you and even help you advance in the short term, but a well-organized system will always function in the long run. The important thing is to have a system, and following it is what makes the difference,” according to Clear.
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