The differences between busy and productive people

How many times have you heard someone say they’re too busy? To be fair, it can seem like we’re all “too busy” these days. Work and family obligations leave little time for anything else. And as a result, small tasks tend to pile up, making us feel even busier — until there’s no time left in the day to schedule an appointment or return a phone call. So how do we take back our lives from this endless chain of urgent but unimportant tasks? How do we get more done without adding more hours to the day?

Busy people do more, but productive people do better.

Busy people are the ones who have their calendars full of activities. They have a lot going on in their lives, but they know that time is limited.

Productivity is how much you get done in any given period of time. A productive person may be more efficient than a busy one, but they’re not necessarily more efficient.

Busy people can accomplish the same tasks as productive people and sometimes even more tasks in less time—but this doesn’t mean that they are being productive or staying focused on what matters most to them (or maybe even nothing at all).

Busy people rush things, but productive people focus on quality.

If you’re a busy person, then chances are that you’re always in a rush to do more. You might’ve noticed that this habit can actually lead to less productivity in the long run. Busy people tend to rush things (like making sure all emails are answered within 24 hours) and neglect quality for speed. This means that they don’t put as much effort into their work projects as they could have if they were trying to create excellent results instead of just getting things done quickly.

By contrast, productive people focus on producing quality work instead of just doing something fast — even if it means taking longer than others might expect. They understand that high-quality products take time and effort — but these products also have a higher chance of success because they’ll retain customers’ attention longer than a product created quickly without much thought or care given toward its design or function

Busy people fill their days with tasks, but productive people focus on goals.

Busy people are focused on getting things done. Productive people are focused on achieving goals. Busy people do more, but productive people do better. They’re able to achieve more because they realize that quality is more important than quantity, and they focus their efforts on the outcome rather than the process.

Busy people get distracted easily, but productive people can concentrate for longer periods of time.

Busy people are easily distracted. Distractions come in the form of the internet, social media, and other people. These distractions mean that busy people can’t focus on a task for more than a few minutes before being interrupted. Productive people have learned to manage their time better so they’re able to concentrate on a task for longer periods of time. They don’t get distracted as easily because they know how to say no when asked for help or placed in an awkward situation at work or home life.

Busy people try to do everything themselves, but productive people know when they need help and ask for it.

Busy people don’t want to share the spotlight and will do anything they can to prove that they are capable of handling things on their own. In fact, some people are so busy that they never get around to delegating tasks or asking for help because they’re afraid that others might take over their job.

On the other hand, productive people know that there’s no shame in admitting when you need help and having a team of people you can rely on. They also have a better understanding of when it’s appropriate or necessary to delegate tasks or ask for help—and this is an important lesson for any type of leader.

Busy people care more about being right than getting the job done, but productive people seek solutions even if it means compromising.

Busy people care more about being right than getting the job done, but productive people seek solutions even if it means compromising.

Busy people focus on the process, not the outcome. They worry about showing their colleagues how smart they are and spend time arguing over things that don’t really matter in the long run. Productive people don’t concern themselves with who is right; instead, they seek a solution that works for everyone involved in order to get things done faster and better. Compromising isn’t always easy—it takes time and effort—but when you’re working toward something as important as building your dream business, it’s worth it every time!

Busy people only have time for results, but productive people take time to plan and prepare.

Busy people only have time for results, but productive people take time to plan and prepare.

Busy people cram as much work into their schedules as they can, but productive people set aside time to plan and prepare.

Busy people do not want to repeat the same tasks over again, so they take shortcuts that may affect quality at best or cause errors at worst. Productive people use the tools and resources available to them before starting a task so that when the time comes for completing it, it’s already been done at least once before!

Productive people know what they need from their environment in order to be successful (tools like Google Drive or Trello), which helps them get organized before even starting on anything new!

Productive people are busy, too, but they prioritize important things over urgent ones.

You may be busy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re productive. Busyness is about doing everything; productivity is about getting the right things done. You can be very busy and not be productive at all—the key to being a successful person is to find ways to prioritize your tasks so that you are able to focus on what’s important without feeling overwhelmed by urgency or other distractions.

Busyness means being in a constant state of doing something—anything at all, regardless of how important it is or how much work really needs to get done. It’s always the easiest thing on your plate when compared with the other options available: pick one! Productivity, on the other hand, means focusing on what’s important and then actually doing it well enough that either there isn’t a need for future repetitions (as with writing) or else there are benefits gained from doing this task more than once (as with sweeping).

All of these tips apply to life in general, not just work. So go ahead and try applying them to your personal life as well. It’s also important that you choose the lessons that are most relevant to you, rather than trying them all at once. The most important thing is that you make changes for the better—not just for yourself, but for everyone around you.