Can Obstacles Get in the Way of Productivity?

Michael Jordan says “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

👩 Can obstacles get in the way of productivity?

You Betcha!

Even though we have an awareness around this, sometimes obstacles get in our way!

Obstacles are stumbling blocks that prevent us from reaching aspirations and goals.

An obstacle is something that impedes progress or achievement.

Henry Ford says that “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”

They’re the limiting factors that hold us back from achieving desired dreams.

How do we overcome obstacles that keep us from being productive?

Here are a Few Examples!

✅ Paralysis

Issue: You aren’t sure what to do or how to start a task, and feel paralyzed.

Solution: Start a Tiny Habit. A “Tiny Habit” is a behavior you do at least once a day that takes less than 30 seconds and requires little effort. Use an existing every day behavior that you do without fail, like sitting at your desk, and attach another behavior to it. Example: After I sit down at my desk in the morning, I will answer one email.

✅ Distractions

Issue: Engaging in social media, watching TV, or being surrounded by clutter are distractions that keep us from being productive and completing tasks.

Solution: Create a time log, and write everything you do in a day. This is helpful because it reveals how you’re spending and / or wasting time.

✅ Calendar

Issue: Scheduling tasks and events on the calendar is a helpful way to keep track of everything we need to do. It can be stressful though, if we fill it up with unnecessary tasks. This can lead to calendar overwhelm!

Solution: Next time you put something on the calendar, ask yourself if it’s necessary. If not, keep it off the calendar.

✅ Procrastination

Issue: Some procrastinate because they’re afraid of failing at tasks or “fear of failure”.

Solution: A good way to avoid procrastination, is to create a plan to get the task done! Break it down into achievable baby steps! Set aside a time to start the work and schedule it. See Tiny Habits idea above!

✅ People Pleasing and No Boundaries

Issue: When someone requests you do something for them, you agree, at the expense of sacrificing your own self-care.

Solution: Setting boundaries and saying “no” to others and “yes” to yourself is how to start to living intentionally. It’s a perfect way to practice self-care.

✅ Controlling Others

Issue: You are too busy controlling what other people should or shouldn’t be doing! When we attempt to control others, we feel angry or frustrated when they don’t behave the way we want. As a result, we suffer.

Solution: Stop controlling others! Concentrate on you! Brainstorm new ideas that create satisfaction and fulfillment!

✅ No To Do List

Issue: It’s easy to forget things if there are too many things happening at once. We think we can remember everything in our heads, but many times that’s not the case!

Solution: Write a to do list! It helps reduce stress and so easy to do! Find a pad of lined paper (I use a yellow legal pad) and write down everything that needs to get done! Check off completed items as you go and start over the next day. This gives us a sense of accomplishment and we feel more productive!

⏳ Setting up habits and productivity systems allow us to be more productive, which makes life easier!

Zig Ziglar says “When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.”

Going around obstacles takes persistence, patience, determination, and a belief that we’ll be able to achieve it!

☀️Getting things accomplished, makes time with family and friends or focusing on creative projects, more enjoyable!

How do you want to focus your time? Please leave a comment!