My Quest towards being Productive

Working in a corporate environment taught me many valuable lessons, particularly about the value of time. As a lawyer, I often billed clients on an hourly basis, and in a corporate law firm, the rates were notably high. Sometimes, we agreed on fixed budgets to hold ourselves accountable for efficient time management.

In large companies, it’s not uncommon for employees to track their time meticulously. I was no exception. Weekly timesheets showed how I spent my hours both in and out of the office (since I often, if not always, worked overtime). However, working as a lawyer in a big corporate firm didn’t mean focusing solely on client cases. Administrative and business development tasks took up a significant portion of my time. These tasks were non-billable, which meant they were a cost to the firm and, by extension, a hit to our productivity. It often felt like I was not productive at all.

When I left the corporate world due to a severe burnout, I suddenly had all the time in the world for myself. Initially, I was focused on recovering. However, as time passed, I began to realise that I was maybe... wasting my time. And it didn’t feel good to realise that. 

I started to “work” again, slowly. I took courses, helped my cousin with aesthetic tasks for his startup, created Instagram posts for a friend struggling with the platform. And even if my Google Drive was filled with new "work" files, and my Canva account was overflowing with designs, I felt unproductive.

So, I began learning about productivity from scratch. I followed the advice of various “productivity gurus,” established some basic habits, and learned how to plan and hold myself accountable for my time. Using Notion played a significant role in this process, helping me organise my schedule and boost my productivity.

In short, transitioning from the anxiety of meeting timesheet expectations to experiencing a dopamine hit from planning and completing simple tasks was a revelation. It made me realise the importance of managing time mindfully, understanding its true value, and making the most of every moment.

Through my journey from the corporate world to finding my own path, I’ve gleaned several key insights about productivity and time management. Here are some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned:

• Value Your Time: Recognise the true worth of your time and manage it wisely.

• Establish Habits: Build and maintain basic productivity habits for consistent progress.

• Plan Effectively: Use tools (like Notion for example) to organise your tasks and schedule.

• Accountability Matters: Hold yourself accountable to stay on track with your goals.

• Embrace Small Changes: Understand that even minor adjustments can significantly enhance productivity.