How to manage the Four Pillars of Productivity

By Lando Loic

Productivity is vital to success in any area. Considering that we spend most of our time at work, it would seem logical that we do everything to make it as efficient as possible.

However, productivity does not come naturally to everyone. it’s a skill that you can sharpen through practice.

The Four Pillars of Productivity

The four pillars of productivity are time, energy, concentration, and knowledge: let’s call it the TECK framework. It is vital that you manage and optimize all four elements simultaneously to maximize your productivity. That’s because they all work in a symbiotic relationship with each other.

  1. Time Management

Time management is undoubtedly one of the essential areas of productivity. This is because you only have so much time in the day, and it’s important that you spend it well.

You can manage your time better by leveraging your prime biological time or chronotype or using time management methods like time-boxing and the Pomodoro technique.

  • Time-boxing is when you set aside a certain amount of time to work on something. You then stop working when the time has run out, even if you haven’t completed the task or achieved your milestones.
  • Pomodoro Technique primarily consists of working in 25-minute chunks, followed by quick 5-minute breaks. After every four cycles, you take a more extended break of 15-20 minutes.
  1. Energy

You may often find that you’re not working at peak capacity, which could affect your productivity. That’s so because, even if you can effectively manage your time, you won’t be able to do much when you are exhausted.

You can manage your energy levels better by understanding what drains or boosts them. So, let’s explore some ways to boost your energy:

–               Use sleep management apps

–               Proper Nutrition

–               Exercise

–               Motivation

  1. Concentration

Concentration is the third pillar of productivity, and it refers to your ability to focus on whatever you are doing at that given time without falling prey to distractions.

According to a study from the University of California, Irvine, it takes an average of 23 minutes for someone to recover from a distraction and get back to work productively. Improve your focus through:

–               Avoid Multitasking

–               Practice Mindfulness

–               Improve Working Environment

  1. Knowledge

Our ability to perform tasks is fueled by energy, but knowledge tells us how to use that energy. You will have difficulties getting the job done without knowing how to do it or the right tools to use.

(Courtesy: MakeUseOf.com)

Image courtesy of (Image Courtesy: The Digital Workplaces)

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