fbpx

Lyn Bailey – Life by Design

Month: May 2023

  • Why Being Productive Matters

    Why Being Productive Matters

    Why Being Productive Matters

    It is challenging to stay focused and be productive in this maximum information world where you are constantly inundated with distractions. Whether checking your phones, browsing social media, or watching television, there are always things vying for your attention. However, since you only have so much time (time is the most limited resource), it’s essential to use time wisely if your goal is productivity.

    Being productive does not require continuous motion or busy work. It simply means you use your time in a way that benefits you. It may seem strange, but doing what you love is productive regardless of what the world has taught you.

    It may mean working on a project, hobby, or task you’re passionate about. It may also mean taking care of necessary errands like grocery shopping or cleaning the house. It may also mean hacking away at your to-do list created based on your goals that match your principles, morals, and values. That’s the key—it’s up to you.

    There are many benefits to being productive.

    • You’re more likely to see progress in your life
    • You’ll achieve your goals
    • You’ll have high self-esteem
    • You’ll feel a sense of satisfaction
    • You’ll feel pride in your life
    • You’ll experience way less stress, overwhelm, and anxiety
    • You’ll feel a greater sense of purpose
    • You’ll feel as if life is worth living
    • You’ll have more free time

    When you take the time to focus on one task at a time, based on your well-researched plan, you’ll promptly get everything you need. Then, when you finish something, you can move on to the next thing feeling more successful.

    Plus, when you have things to do that you care about, you’ll realize what a difference you make in the world. When you feel important to the world, you’re more likely to live a satisfying life and live up to your true capabilities.

    There are many advantages to being productive. Productivity ensures you achieve your goals, feel good about yourself, reduce stress, and give you a sense of purpose. When you use your time wisely and focus on being productive, you’ll be able to create the life you want and live a more fulfilling existence.

    When you are genuinely productive in life, you manage your time well, which gives you more control over your life and how you want to spend your time. And that is invaluable. Plus, the better you are at being productive, the better your children will be at it too. Children learn best from the adults they are closer to and tend to model that behavior, for good or ill.

    Ask yourself, are you being productive with your time?

    What changes can you make to make better use of your time?

    How can you focus more on what’s important to you in order to achieve your goals and create a life you love?

    When you take the time to focus on being productive, you’ll be amazed at all you can achieve. Understanding why being productive matters is definitely worth your time. After all, your time is one of the truly limited resources, and how you use it will make a real difference in your level of productivity. Furthermore, when your productivity improves, you’ll see proof that it matters in the results you create.

    Share this by clicking below:
  • Is Your Child Unproductive

    Is Your Child Unproductive

    Is Your Child Unproductive?

    Watching your child struggle is the worst feeling. Of course, you want them to succeed in everything they do, but sometimes it seems like they can’t get ahead. If you realize your child is having trouble completing tasks, is easily distracted, or doesn’t seem to know how to prioritize, it may be time to talk to them about productivity.

    These signs offer signals that your child is unproductive, and if left unchecked, your child may start to feel overwhelmed and stressed. With guidance, your child will learn to be more productive and accomplish their goals.

    Pay attention if your child has these issues:

    • Trouble Completing Tasks in a Reasonable Time Fram
    • Easily Distracted and Have Issues Focusing
    • Lack of Goalsetting skills, and They Don’t Know How to Prioritize
    • Don’t Start What They Plan and Don’t Finish What They Start
    • Have Unrealistic Expectations and Suffer from Perfectionism
    • Allow Others to Pressure Them
    • Act Out Emotionally

    Helping your child with goalsetting will give them something to work towards and provide a sense of accomplishment when they reach their goals. You can also help them create a plan to achieve those goals. This may involve breaking down tasks into smaller steps or teaching them how to prioritize their time better.

    Encourage your child to take small, reasonable steps daily to achieve their goals. With a little effort and support from you when they need it, your child will learn to be more productive and may even surprise themselves with what they can accomplish.

    Help them learn how important it is to protect their time, so they avoid overscheduling – a leading cause of overwhelm in the unproductive child. An over-scheduled child is always busy, but everything is just too much, so nothing ever gets done. When nothing gets done, the pressure will overwhelm them because kids typically care a lot about what others think and allow that to pressure them more than they may realize. Children thrive with reasonable schedules more than they do with a lot of clutter and disorganization about how they’ll spend their time.

    When you help them get stuff done and mark it off their list, they will learn how it feels to be genuinely productive. In addition, as a parent, you can instill a sense of pride in their success by making it a point to celebrate accomplishments. Too often, children are not given enough credit for their achievements and think their parents are just being nice when they praise them. Instead, children need to understand that their parents are proud of their accomplishments and that they have worked hard to achieve them.

    When you help your child learn what true productivity feels like and that it does not require continuously being busy all the time, they will be more likely to enjoy getting stuff done in record time so they can enjoy their downtime more. After all, everyone deserves to have a good life that doesn’t just involve things that are work.

    Share this by clicking below:
  • Unproductive Habits to Break

    Unproductive Habits to Break

    Common Unproductive Habits to Break

    Teenagers can fall into many unproductive habits, which can prevent them from reaching their full potential. Some of the most common unproductive habits include:

    Phone Habits

    It’s easy to get lost in your phone and waste hours scrolling through social media or playing games. To break this habit, try setting a limit on how much time can be spent on the phone each day. Once the limit is hit, put the phone away and focus on something else. They can also leave the phone in another room when they need to focus on a particular task.

    Disorganization

    If your teen’s bedroom is a mess and their backpack is overflowing with papers, staying organized and on top of schoolwork will be nearly impossible. Encourage them to take some time to declutter their space and create a system that works for them to help them feel more in control and less stressed.

    Binge Watching Shows

    It’s easy to get sucked into a good TV show and watch episode after episode. You know this. But this it’s also a huge time waster. If your teen likes to binge watch, try setting a limit of one or two episodes per day or assign certain times that binging is allowed, like during inclement weather or when sick.

    Procrastination

    Procrastination is one of the most common unproductive habits and can be very damaging to a teenager’s success. When teenagers procrastinate, they put off essential tasks, often leading to poor grades, missed deadlines, and overwhelm. It will help to find the underlying reason for procrastination.

    Social Media Addiction

    Social media connects teenagers with friends and family, but it’s a significant waste of time for the most part. Teenagers easily get sucked into scrolling through their newsfeeds or posting updates when they should focus on schoolwork or other essential tasks. On the other hand, it can help to show how you limit yourself so your kids know a successful way to deal with this issue.

    Poor Sleep Habits

    Many teenagers don’t get enough sleep which can lead to them being tired and unproductive during the day. Teenagers need at least 8 to 12 hours of sleep each night to function at their best. The problem is that often teenagers are so overscheduled it makes it hard to accomplish this. Consider helping them avoid overscheduling.

    Poor Diet

    Eating unhealthy foods will make teenagers feel sluggish and uninterested in being productive. A healthy diet is vital for both physical and mental wellbeing. Again, this is another area where you are the model for the behavior you’d like your child to emulate.

    Lack of Exercise

    Exercise releases extra energy and improves focus. However, many teenagers lead sedentary lifestyles and don’t get enough exercise which can make them feel tired and uninterested in being active. Create family routines that encourage after-dinner walks and physical activity.

    Breaking unproductive habits can be difficult, but teenagers need to focus on their goals and lead more productive lives to live the abundant life they are meant to live.

    Share this by clicking below:
  • 11 Causes of Unproductivity in Teens

    11 Causes of Unproductivity in Teens

    11 Causes of Unproductivity in Teens

    There are many potential reasons teenagers may experience problems with productivity throughout the years. For example, hormonal changes during puberty sometimes lead to mood swings and even disorganization. The teenage years also sometimes mark a period of social upheaval as teens try to find their place in the world leading to distractions and a general sense of aimlessness.

    There are many reasons teens may be unproductive. However, here are some to look out for.

    1. Lack of Sleep — Teens need around 8-10 hours of sleep every night, but many don’t get nearly that much. This can lead to fatigue and make it hard to focus or be productive during the day.
    2. Poor Nutrition — Eating a healthy diet is vital for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for growing teens. If they’re not getting enough nutrients, it can lead to problems with concentration and energy levels.
    3. Too Much Screen Time — It’s no secret that teenagers love their screens. Whether it’s phones, computers, or TVs, too much time spent looking at screens can lead to eye strain and headaches. The distraction makes it hard to focus on other tasks. Whether it’s social media, video games, or friends, anything that takes away from focus and distracts the teen can decrease productivity.
    4. Lack of Exercise — Exercise is a great way to boost energy and mood. But many teens are inactive, which can make them feel sluggish and unproductive.
    5. Stress and Anxiety — Stress is a normal part of life, but too much of it can be overwhelming, leading to problems with concentration, sleep, and mood, all of which can make it hard to be productive. Like stress, anxiety can also lead to burnout and make it difficult to focus on tasks.
    6. Depression — This is a severe medical condition that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating. If left untreated, it can make it very hard to function in everyday life.
    7. Perfectionism – Teens who strive for perfection may never feel like their work is good enough, leading to them never feeling productive.
    8. Poor time management skills – If teens don’t know how to manage their time effectively, they will likely struggle to be productive.
    9. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — ADHD can make it hard to focus and stay on task, leading to decreased productivity.
    10. Procrastination – This is often a result of poor time management skills or lack of motivation. Teens may put off tasks because they don’t want to do them or don’t know how to start.
    11. No Clear Goals or Purpose — It can be hard to be productive if teens don’t have any clear goals or a sense of purpose. Without these, it’s easy to get sidetracked or lost in day-to-day activities.

    Of course, there are other reasons for teenage unproductivity, but the issue is usually easily identifiable. If you’re concerned about your teen’s productivity, talk to their doctor or a mental health professional first. A professional can identify any underlying causes and create a plan to help them get back on track. If everything checks out, they may simply require some additional help through a life coach or extra assistance from you.

    Share this by clicking below:
  • Is Your Teen Lazy?

    Is Your Teen Lazy?

    Being Unproductive Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Your Teen is Lazy

    Lately, it seems like every time you turn around, there’s another study coming out about the dangers of teenage laziness. It will help to look into possible reasons a child might display signs of “laziness” in case that it’s something that can be mitigated.

    What if your teen isn’t lazy? What if they’re just unproductive? What if there is a reason for the unproductivity that can be addressed?

    It’s essential to understand the difference between laziness and unproductivity. Laziness is a choice – it’s an unwillingness to try. Unproductivity, on the other hand, can result from many different factors. So it doesn’t necessarily mean that your teen is lazy.

    There are several reasons why your teen might be unproductive. First, they could be going through a tough time at school or in their personal life. Maybe they’re feeling overwhelmed by all the things they must do. Or perhaps they just need a break in this overly busy topsy turvy world.

    Before you worry too much, try to determine if your teen has any of these issues adding to their lack of productivity.

    They’re dealing with anxiety or depression.

    Anxiety and depression are both pervasive among teenagers. And unfortunately, they can both lead to a lack of motivation and productivity. So if your teen is suddenly uninterested in things they used to love, it could be a sign that they’re dealing with something more than laziness.

    They’re procrastinating.

    Procrastination is a common problem for teenagers (and adults!). It can be tough to start working on a project when you don’t know where to start, or feel overwhelmed. But the longer they put things off, the harder it becomes. So if your teen is having trouble getting started on their homework or a project, it might be because they’re procrastinating.

    They have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism

    ADHD and autism make it difficult to focus and stay on task. If your teen constantly forgets things or has trouble paying attention, it could be a sign of either of these.

    They’re bored.

    Sometimes, teenagers can be unproductive because they’re plain bored. For example, if they’re not challenged at school or they don’t have any hobbies that they’re passionate about, they might not see the point in putting forth any effort.

    It’s important to talk to your teen about their unproductivity and help them find ways to overcome it. If they’re feeling overwhelmed, see if there’s anything you can do to lighten their load. It may be as simple as requiring organizational assistance.

    If your teen is unproductive, don’t automatically assume it’s because they’re lazy. There could be several reasons they’re struggling to get things done. Whatever the reason for your teen’s lack of productivity, it’s important to talk to them about it.

    If they’re dealing with anxiety or depression, they might need professional help. And if they have ADHD, some treatments can help them focus and stay on task. If your teen is bored, try to help them find an activity or hobby they’re enthusiastic about. Whatever the reason, being unproductive doesn’t necessarily mean that your teen is lazy.

    Share this by clicking below: