Overcome extreme laziness and increase productivity

Question

How do I tackle extreme laziness to increase productivity? For example, here are some problems associated with it:

• Writing down tasks to do, but executing none
• Getting bored at all times
• Feeling sleepy at all times
• Reading blogs and self help books, but not implementing them
• Not looking at big picture
• Not able to concentrate on one small thing.

Answer 1

Ironically the self-help books can make things worse by making it seem like you have to do something big to "fix" yourself.

There are lots of factors here, but here a few things to try:

• Drink more water. Hydration is vital to the proper production of energy; I aim for 2 litres a day and keep a jug next to me at my desk to keep it easy.
• Consider what and when you eat. Not a big deal, but eat sensible portions, eat at regular times, don't eat fast food, avoid junk food and so on.
• If you're making lists and failing to complete them focus on why you need to complete them rather than that you have to complete them. I have lots on my list every day, all to do with different focuses (game dev, writing, etc..) and this leads to stressing out about how much you have to do and doing nothing as a result. Now I focus on one area a week, so that I have a whole week in which to achieve something.
• Life can be boring, so find things that you enjoy and make time to do them. I listen to music all day; even in work with a set of in-ear headphones (consider politeness in the office though, obviously)
• Don't hate yourself for failing, and on that note, don't call it failing! If you create a negative status around it you'll perpetuate it.
• Sounds stupid but look at how you sleep. If you go to bed at 3 in the morning you're going to be tired all day, I know that’s obvious but if you've been sleeping little for years you may not even realise it.
• And finally, forget the big picture. It helps to be aware of it, and to work towards it, but it's the small things that make the big picture so they matter most.

Good luck :-)

Answer 2

I bet you make your todo list too big, just pick one and do it. Right now I am thinking about 10 things that I would like to do today, but If I won't pick one then I will do nothing.

Don't think that you have to do all items from list, just go with one, and do it until you finish. Stop thinking about all your tasks, go for one and complete it, don't jump onto easier tasks if one you picked up is not working out. Stick to one and drill it!

Answer 3

Also are you depressed or feel sad a lot? That can wreak havoc with your productivity, motivation and quality of life.

If that is the case, then you gotta decide whether you want to be happy. Once you decide that and fix your goal on being a happy, cheerful person, there are several ways to get there.

I will mention what worked for me and was imparted to me by a student of Tony Robbins. Smile regularly especially when you feel negative or under the weather. Say to yourself aloud that you choose to be happy. Use different techniques to snap yourself out of bad moods such as snapping your finger, jumping up and down or clapping your hands.

Another possibility and very likely is that you have ADHD. If so there are different techniques to help you mitigate your symptoms like adhd medication(ritalin, adderall, Marijuana in some cases), meditation, neurofeedback(though it is very expensive it could help)

Answer 4

Try the Pomodoro Technique. It's very good for building focus. 25 minutes of straight directed focus entirely on one task, then a 5 minute break. (I do exercises, quick walks, meditation break - anything that is very different from the task). Once you've done 4 of these in a row, take a longer break. Doing this gets easier and you see progress in ability to focus on tasks each day.

http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/ - there's a free quick read book available. Since you get hung up on reading the books but not taking action, you may want to start with the cheat sheet on this page. http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/goodies/