Is Your Pride Getting In The Way Of Your Productivity?

 

Most of us understand that real satisfaction can come from hard work and productivity.  No matter what that specific work is, we know that dedicated effort can bring us a sense of satisfaction and joy. Some might love working in the garden during the summer months. Others take pride in their careers. And of course, some revel  in the process of writing books that help others.

Many entrepreneurial blogs depict people as naturally lazy and needing a kick in the butt to work hard. This is simply not true. As suggested above, most people understand the value of hard work and its ability to help us achieve a desired goal.  But, it also helps build our self-esteem.

Most people are hard working, respectable people. In fact, it is more often the case that we tend to overwork at the expense of our health, well-being, and ultimately our productivity. It is necessary to find a healthy balance of work and rest to avoid negative outcomes. This is especially important as we age and our energy level lags.  However, our pride too often gets in the way of achieving this balance.

Working When In Need 

To many of us shrug off our fatigue and ignore our exhaustion. We push aside minor health issues that might be trying to signal us to slow down, or take a break. We’re so afraid of being less productive than we were that we push through. This can be especially true when working as a subcontractor or freelancer. The amount of work completed has a direct impact on how much money is earned each month. Small business owners of all kinds tend to overwork, especially if they work from home.

Taking care of our health is essential to staying active and involved in a productive career well into our senior years. To stay healthy we must respect our body’s needs and give it the rest it requires. We can maintain our productivity better when by taking a couple days off on a regular basis and by visiting a healthcare professional for regular check ups and to  follow up on health concerns. Staying on top of any required home medical equipment rental is essential. Ironically, attending to these things  can help us become more productive.

Overestimating 

“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” ― Bill Gates

Overestimating how much work we can complete in a given amount of time can do more harm than good. When we do not properly asses the amount of time a project will take, we may over promise our clients and/or expect our staff members to pick up the slack.  This not only lessens the quality of work we do, it potentially damages both customer relations and employee morale.  Take the necessary time to carefully calculate and plan for sufficient time to complete a project. Stick to what you know you can do, and do it well. A client would rather have a job done well, than receiving calls regarding constant delays or receive shoddy results.

No Days Off 

Repeating the ‘no days off’ mantra may feel like a badge of honor. But when burnout sets in, or angry customers keep you up at night with worry, this badge quickly fades.  Taking breaks, is not only good for you, it’s good for business and good for productivity. No matter how humble your firm or how much you want to prove yourself, not taking time off can be a recipe that will damage your health and your self-esteem.

Don’t let unchecked short-term pride lead you down a destructive path that will ultimately lower your productivity. Put yourself first!