Everyone has their own set of goals. We all attempt to achieve more and grow more. Many methods can lead to success, but the most important one is also the simplest – you have to finish tasks.
In other words, you have to be productive.
Recommended IPTV Service Providers
- IPTVGREAT – Rating 4.8/5 ( 600+ Reviews )
- IPTVRESALE – Rating 5/5 ( 200+ Reviews )
- IPTVGANG – Rating 4.7/5 ( 1200+ Reviews )
- IPTVUNLOCK – Rating 5/5 ( 65 Reviews )
- IPTVFOLLOW -Rating 5/5 ( 48 Reviews )
- IPTVTOPS – Rating 5/5 ( 43 Reviews )
Just having thoughts and desires won’t bring results. I wish they could, but sadly they can’t.
So, how can we deal with those occasional droops in enthusiasm and save our ideas from dying out before they even sprout?
For Testers, or for anyone working, there are two key areas where productivity is crucial:
- Tasks related to work
- Personal or professional objectives outside of work
Being productive in the workplace is fairly straightforward. Here are the reasons why:
- We are motivated by rewards – the paycheck appearing in your account.
- There is a structured approach, with designated tasks, objectives, and deadlines.
- Further encouragement comes from recognitions like thank-you emails, promotions, and awards.
- The fear of disapproval, negative consequences, or performance assessments can stir even the most reluctant individuals.
However, goals intended to facilitate personal growth often bear the brunt.
You might have plans to earn a certification, take part in crowd-source testing whilst holding a full-time job, learn a new tool or method, work on your own startup, or transition into a different facet of your career. But, how many times have you started with fervor only to abandon your passion due to:
- Becoming excessively occupied.
- Not being able to make the time.
- Losing interest.
- None of the above, but you simply didn’t have the motivation to continue.
I, too, have found myself in such situations countless times. The resulting disappointment can be so intense that it can take a toll on both workplace productivity and overall mental health.
For more valuable information, consult the following article: How to Keep the Flame of Motivation Burning in Software Testers
Takeaways from this Article:
What It Takes to Become Highly Productive?
Here are a few tips and techniques that can support all of us facing similar circumstances:
#1) Set Attainable Goals:
Begin with straightforward targets. To sustain productivity, we need to tweak our line of thought slightly.
Finding it challenging to find the time? Suppose I tell myself, “I will try to learn Automation using Selenium in a week” rather than “I will spend at least half an hour every day for a week practicing Selenium.”
The latter is more likely to succeed. You’re not aiming to do it all at once. You can certainly squeeze out 30 minutes from your schedule. Moreover, when you’re not swamped and anxious, the practice will be more enjoyable.
#2) Understanding the Essence of Productivity:
Imagine I spend an hour drafting an article and, after editing, most of it has to be discarded. It may make me feel unproductive.
The reason is I’m conflating the idea of perfection with productivity.
Likewise, if you devote a day to software testing and don’t discover any faults, does it imply you didn’t make progress?
Productivity is never about being perfect.
What matters is that you make progress. Over time, that one hour of work could transform into a huge revenue. But for now, it’s just an hour’s worth of effort, and that’s commendable.
#3) The Inverse Relationship between Productivity and Procrastination:
While it might not be entirely accurate, we all know it’s generally true. We stall, justify, and put off tasks – whichever way you put it, we’re all guilty of it at some point.
Here are a few techniques to combat it:
- Start with an easy task that you know you can finish quickly. It could be as straightforward as responding to an email, making your bed, replying to a blog comment, or merely posting a comment on a blog post. By completing these simple tasks, you’ll experience a sense of accomplishment. That feeling typically ignites further productivity.
- Spend at least 2 minutes on every task. If you have absolutely no interest in a task, give it a 2-minute shot. Following those two minutes, you might feel inspired and choose to continue working on it. It’s akin to warming up prior to an intense workout.
- Adopt a tough love philosophy: One of the most significant quotes I’ve ever come across, which made an enormous impact on my life, says: “No matter how you feel, get up, get ready, and show up.” Often, we convince ourselves that a task is too difficult, too elusive, or too time-consuming. But every journey begins with a step. So, if it’s important to you, just go ahead with it.
- Stay committed: Similar to the 2-minute rule, there’s another concept known as the two-month compost pile rule. If you disconnect from a task for too long, it loses its essence. Therefore, take occasional breaks but not excessively long ones. Stick to whatever you’re trying to learn or accomplish, even if it requires a small effort every day. For instance, if you enjoy writing, compose a sentence daily. If you’re trying to learn a new language, understand a concept each day. If you’re preparing for a certification, read at least one page of the extensive and monotonous certification syllabus. Don’t let it slip out of your mind, because what is out of sight often becomes out of mind.
So, whatever you do, just go ahead with it.
Ease into it and let it consume your attention. Otherwise, your mind will persuade you to give up. The only way out is to outsmart yourself and your mind. 🙂
#4) How Creativity and Variety Boost Productivity:
Perhaps not in precise mathematical terms, but ensuring variety is an effective approach to stay focused and get tasks done. Repeating the same tasks daily can get tedious.
Suppose you’ve been working on a test plan. While creating it for different applications, you might follow a similar process, template, and format. This repetitive approach can eventually dampen your interest. Hence, experiment with different formats or be creative and design a unique one.
On days when you don’t feel like working on a test plan, relax. Try exploring the application instead. But, avoid relinquishing your efforts entirely.
Additional pointers to consider:
- Reward yourself for reaching targets: Indulge in a treat, like a leisurely stroll, reading your favorite book, or getting yourself a candy bar. Celebrate your achievements and take pride in your accomplishments.
- Forgive yourself and resume from where you left off: It’s perfectly alright to lag behind sometimes. Just make sure it’s a momentary lapse and reestablish momentum at the earliest possible opportunity. Always remember, don’t be overly critical of yourself.
- Avoid distractions. Keep your phone away, disable chat notifications, and store the TV remote out of your reach. Produce an environment conducive to productivity.
- Recognize the time of day when you’re most productive. Some people are early birds, while others are night owls. Understand your own patterns and ensure regular work during your peak productivity hours.
- Keep checklists updated. Include enjoyable tasks on your checklist, like calling a friend to wish them on their birthday. It will make the checklist itself appear more appealing.
For further details, refer to the following article: Streamlining Manual Testing using HP Sprinter
Wrapping Up:
Being productive is the critical path to evolving into a better version than your previous self.
To wrap things up, here is a quote from Paul J. Meyer:
“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
About the author: Swati, a member of the STH team, wrote this article.
I hopeful that you’ll share your tips and strategies for productivity in the comments section below. What big challenges do you face, and how do you overcome them?