Distinguishing between being productive and being busy is straightforward. If you’re actually busy, you’ll feel like you’re getting a lot done. Yet, being productive is very different from being busy. This distinction will have far-reaching consequences for your life.

 

You can determine if you are productive or busy by looking at this.

 

1. Is what you’re doing right now the purpose of your existence?

Or, to put it in simpler terms: Is it your goal?

 

Being productive is not the same as being busy. There are a dozen things on your to-do list that you can cross off without getting anything done. One difficulty you might encounter is that many tasks are likely to occupy your time. Most of those tasks won’t align with your true calling.

 

Being busy often prevents you from accomplishing anything.

 

2. Do you and those around you find value in the work you’re doing right now?

To put it another way, how would you feel if you never finished this task?

 

Hectic work fails to produce results. Your ability to clean all your inboxes every day makes a difference. Even if your inbox is overflowing with messages, it still matters. Neither will it have any effect on other people, nor will it give your life any purpose.

 

Excuse me. I am not advocating a complete shutdown of all non-productive activities. You need to do some things on a regular basis as maintenance. We must attend to these matters. Working on something in vain is no use. Even if no one, including yourself, ever discovers its unfinished state, it remains useless to you.

 

3. How do you feel about the work you’re doing right now?

Or, to put it more simply: are you fulfilled in your job?

 

You will find fulfilment in any activity that you do with enthusiasm or a sense of purpose. When you get up in the morning, you tackle the work thrown at you. When your work isn’t making a genuine difference, you despise it.

 

What you are doing may be essential for your existence at the moment. Yet if it feels more like a punishment than a gift, it is likely because you are too busy. And you’re not doing anything useful.

 

4. Can you see a longer-term benefit from what you’re doing?

Rephrasing the question: Are you making progress towards your goals?

 

When you are productive, you get closer to your objectives. It is laborious, but it prepares you to design and follow a path of your own choosing. Doing productive work (which is never easy) will give you a sense of accomplishment when you look back.

 

Being busy makes you feel accomplished when you aren’t. Being able to “strike out” chores and cross them off a list results in feeling accomplished and on schedule. It’s excellent to say, “Inbox Zero,” but clearing inboxes isn’t everyone’s job description.

 

Just because something is capturing your attention doesn’t mean it deserves it.

 

5. Is there an outside stimulus acting upon your job?

To put it another way, have you allowed this task to eat up your precious time?

 

Whether you scheduled time to do something is a simple indicator of its productivity. In other words, determine whether the work you’re currently engaged in will contribute to your achievement. Achieve one of your three most important goals. Be it a personal aim, a quarterly or weekly milestone, or an item on your bucket list. Then, you can consider it a productive endeavour.

 

Please regard the task as busywork if it necessitates reacting to an external stimulus. Unlike being reactive, productive work is proactive and preplanned.

 

In summary:

Being productive cannot occupy every moment of your day. It’s not required at all. Your sole non-renewable resource is finite; thus, you must use it wiser. In the midst of your hectic schedule, make sure to carve out time for work that matters.

 

It’s normal to be busy sometimes; in fact, it’s necessary for you to make a living. Maintaining focus on the larger picture is crucial. Make steady progress towards your productive goal.

 

🚀 Your Turn!

“Pick your productivity enemy below—I’ll reply with a tailored hack!”   ▷ Time-sucking meetings   ▷ Endless distractions   ▷ Motivation rollercoaster   ▷ Prioritization paralysis   ▷ Other (drop your villain in the comments!)