Productivity systems are the behaviors we repeat consistently and methodically to get more done. People often change their systems in order to improve productivity but find themselves reverting back to old habits. It’s hard to change your productivity system without modifying your environment, since previous behaviors may have been mapped to certain spaces. And even when new behaviors make sense, it’s easy to remain convinced that old habits are more effective. However, you can change the way you think about your routine. Start by identifying parts of your daily routine (such as arriving at the office) that happen with relative consistency and use them as cues for new behaviors: “When I arrive at the office, I will let my task list dictate the morning’s priorities instead of checking email like I used to.” Just don’t overthink it — the whole point is to create new habits that become automatic.
Adapted from "Why New Personal Productivity Efforts Don't Stick," by Maura Thomas and Shawn Thomas
