Productivity is a word much used in the world of blogging. There are many self-appointed experts expounding upon the best way to get the most work out of people and claiming that there is one true way to achieving optimum productivity. But following these ideas may be a mistake, and in fact lead to lower productivity – the very opposite of what people want to achieve. So what are the myths about productivity that you should not believe?
8 Productivity Myths You Should Not Believe
1. You Can Multitask When Blogging
Multitasking isn’t actually a more productive use of your time. The problem is that you’re not paying proper attention to each of the tasks, because you’re always thinking of the other thing that you’re working on. It’s far more efficient to focus on one thing at a time, and complete that before moving on to something else.
2. You Need to Work Longer Hours to Get Things Done on Your Blog
Anyone who has a lot of work to get through thinks that they need to work longer hours to get it all done. But more hours in the office don’t necessarily mean that more work will be achieved. In fact, it’s likely to be counterproductive, as you’ll run out of energy and your brain will be tired. It’s far more useful to make better use of the time you have, than to extend it beyond the point at which you really should cease working for the day.
3. Working Under Pressure Means You Get More
Remember trying to cram information in your head when preparing for exams? While there are a minority of people who thrive under pressure, chances are that you’re not one of them. For most of us, working under pressure merely makes it harder to concentrate and work efficiently. Unfortunately many bloggers believe the myth that if they place pressure on them or their team, more will be achieved – but all that does is to make stressed and less able to work well. Put pressure on for your blogging, and you may find yourself working backwards.
Note: Do the occasional directory post that points to your older posts and it earns you extra publicity for your old work, and it counts as a blog post.
4. You Don’t Need Breaks When Writing Your Blog Posts
Do you ever get pressured to work through your break, or feel that you simply don’t have time for lunch? In today’s fast-paced and pressured workplaces, employees often feel that they simply don’t have time to take a break, and this seems to have carried over into the blogging world. Taking proper breaks is so important, and should never be neglected. It’s an opportunity to recharge and de-stress, and will leave you able to return to your work feeling refreshed and ready to tackle all those tasks ahead of you.
5. Delegating is a Waste of Time as a Blogger
You can’t possibly do everything by yourself, and monitoring your blogging team too closely means that you spend too much time keeping watch. The important thing is to gather a team that you trust, and ensure that you all communicate correctly. For example, you can use an app like Priority Matrix, which keeps the team focused and allows you to manage projects. It also makes sense to delegate certain tasks even when you work alone, so that you can focus on what earns you money. For instance, when you write a long blog post, rather than checking it yourself (and it isn’t easy to spot your own mistakes) you could use a third-party companies, who will find an editor or proof-reader to ensure that the text is immaculate.
Note: If you have been blogging for more than two years, then you are a blogger indeed because few blogs last over a year.
6. Being Busy Equals Being Productive When Writing Your Blog
Another common mistake is to think that if you’re busy, it must mean you’re being productive. Not so. Many of the things that are occupying your time may not be that important, and could be taking you away from key tasks that you would do best to focus on. Cut out all the unnecessary or unimportant tasks, such as checking your email frequently, spending too much time on SEO and focus on the content that should be your priority.
7. Working From Home isn’t Efficient
Working from home is often seen as the lazy person’s alternative to being in the office, and that simply isn’t the case. While there can be distractions at home, such as friends calling in, working from home is every bit as much working as being in a formal workplace. If anything, if you’re prone to being distracted it’s just as likely to happen in the office where there are more people around and more noise. The key to efficient working at home is to have a dedicated office space, and make it clear that you are not available to anyone when you’re preparing content. Most full time bloggers create a office at home and spend a dedicated time to build a decent blog.
Note: Do not write a post for the sake of keeping to your blogging schedule.
8. One Size Fits All
People often assume that there’s only one way of being productive. But everyone works differently, and one person’s way of preparing content for the blog may not suit someone else. You have to experiment in order to discover the way of working that suits you best and which allows you to get more done in a shorter space of time. And what works for you could be useless for someone else; it depends on factors like your personality, motivation, and the topic of your blog.
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