Slothness and productivity

Slothness and productivity

In all of us are personal landmines that can hurt our productivity. The sooner we can face them, the quicker we can grow in life.  

One such area of challenges for some is Sloth. The idea comes from the enneagram understanding of personality.  

This idea is not so much a physical thing, as sleepiness to one’s owns priorities or needs. There is an avoidance of pain often connected to it, which lowers one’s risk-taking in one’s life. There can be a struggle to make decisions, and usually, one sits on the fence about things instead of commitment. In one’s experience, they can be either fully on or fully off in life. 

How this could work out in your productivity is 

  • Ignoring your energy levels
  • Fumbling to find the next task to accomplish 
  • Focusing on the wrong things. 
  • Procrastinate.  
  • I am only focusing on the areas I like at the expense of things I do not. 

How to overcome this inner struggle in the area of productivity

  1. Identify it – naming it can start to give us power over it. We need to recognize it and understand why? A Few Questions to ask

Am I trying to be perfect?

What am I afraid of, and is it true?

What is the mental script you are replaying in your mind? Does it lead to life or death?  

Who can help me?

2. Remove distractions in your life

3. Break your tasks or goals down into smaller steps. Quick wins can help gain momentum. Find quick wins for yourself in life. Start small things and build them up. 

4. Can you delegate tasks to someone or else?  

5.  Consider creating an ideal workweek timesheet. In my life, it has helped me to stay focused. Yes, it may never work out full each week. But as I plan tasks and meetings, I work to develop rhythms and consistencies.  

Having daily and weekly rhythms can, in time, help create wins to help keep you focused. What does your daily and weekly rhythms look like?