How To Know If You’re Wasting Time With Inefficient Tools
Stop wasting time with inefficient tools and boost your productivity. Find out why you aren’t getting the most out of systems and learn how to fix it.
On a beautiful day, you woke up in the morning and made the decision you were going to stop wasting time with inefficient tools.
This is exactly how it happened, right?
I doubt it!
The real version is mostly like we:
- Buy a planner here.
- Sign up for a service there.
- Get another planner.
- Download a new app on your phone.
- Buy a 3rd planner because it looks cute.
- Install that software everyone’s talking about.
The best part is that it doesn’t matter how good (or bad) each tool is.
It’s just we purchase them without deciding how we’ll use them.
Most of the time, we don’t even allow ourselves enough time to get accustomed to one system and we’re already implementing the next.
At the end, in spite of our best intentions, all we have in our hands is clutter and lots of bills.
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Why do we collect inefficient tools?
None of us gets caught in this mess just for the fun.
Yep, I mean WE because, if I’m not careful, I can go back to this bad habit myself.
We act on impulse
The first reason is that we act on an impulse.
It doesn’t exactly happen in the morning, but once we realize how bad our productivity is, we feel the need to change it asap.
Why you need to stop wasting time using tools inefficiently. #coaching #MindfulPlanning Click To TweetWe just want the pain to go away!
We don’t have a clear vision of the problem
Another trigger for collecting too many tools is not understanding exactly why we need them.
We know we want to improve the way we manage time.
However, what’s exactly causing us to waste time?
How can a tool help us solve something we don’t know what it is?
We don’t define our end goal
One of the reasons why I do coaching in addition to my free content and courses is because we have different struggles.
My definition of productivity isn’t necessarily the same as yours.
While one person wants to stop procrastinating, another wants to get more organized.
If you don’t why you need a tool, how can you know it’s the best one for you?
How to stop wasting time with inefficient tools
Before we start digging into how you can get rid of the tools that are causing more damage than good, let’s clarify one thing:
The tool may be extremely efficient, but your approach to it isn’t.
It’s from this point of view that you need to evaluate what you got at the moment.
Set your goal
A few the reasons why people acquire productivity tools are:
- They need to keep track of projects.
- They want to centralize information.
- Post-its aren’t helping.
- They have too much clutter.
- They want to overcome procrastination.
What’s yours? Is it one of the above or something else?
Before discarding or replacing any tool, get visibility on the desired results.
Discover how to use your favorite efficiency tools the right way. #coaching #MindfulPlanning Click To TweetDefine the areas you need help
What’s your major productivity block? Is it:
- Not having processes in place?
- Spreading information everywhere?
- Having no idea what you’re doing?
This can be a tricky one.
Sometimes, our perception of the problem isn’t accurate.
In fact, a common mistake is “blaming” the tool for our lack of efficiency, when it’s us who: procrastinate, are inconsistent, or lack discipline.
If you need help, let’s have a chat.
Choose a tool carefully
Once you know what you want to achieve and what’s holding you back, it’s time to make a decision.
It’s possible that during your brainstorming, the answer comes naturally to you.
Just by reflecting on your needs, it becomes crystal clear which tool is the best.
If that’s not your case, I recommend a flexible tool like Evernote.
Even if you later decide to add extra features to your toolbox, you can use Evernote to:
- create lists
- set reminders
- collect data
- share information
- create presentations
- chat with collaborators
- save video and voice messages
- create tables
Just to name a few…
Using tools to be more efficient
Note that a lot of times, we are the ones who aren’t using our favorite tools inefficiently.
Just by taking a step back and reviewing your approach, you can find out better ways to apply them.
If you feel stuck and need some help to get started, let’s brainstorm together better ways you can get more done without wasting time.
Join the challenge today!
52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You
I’m hosting a 52-week productivity challenge on my closed Facebook Group.
You can read everything about the challenge here.
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How the 52-week productivity challenge works
First of all, grab a copy of the list 52 Things That Are Killing Your Productivity .
After signing up, you’ll be invited to join my closed Facebook group.
On the group, I’ll share daily prompts during the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You.
I’ll guide you through a brand-new topic each week.
From Monday through Friday, you’ll learn how you can use Mindful Planning™ to:
- Become more efficient
- Save time
- Manage stress
- Achieve your goals
You can start the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You at any moment of the year.
And you choose whether to follow every single week or to focus on your personal pain points.
If you miss anything, you can always refer to older posts for catch-up or review.
All that FOR FREE!
See you at the challenge
The method I apply to the challenge is exactly the same one I use with my clients: Mindful Planning™.
It’s a 5-step method you can use to all aspects of your life become more productive one day at a time without added stress.
Come and join the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You today.
I’m looking forward guiding you towards a successful year and beyond!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. However, when you order through my link, it helps me to continue to offer you lots of free stuff. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you, in advance for your support!
