Sachin Sharma

Tag: self-regulation

  • The Productivity Dilemma: Why Productive Tasks are So Damn Hard

    The Productivity Dilemma: Why Productive Tasks are So Damn Hard

    Have you ever found yourself binge-watching Netflix for hours, yet struggling to write even one sentence of an assignment? Have you ever caught yourself aimlessly scrolling through social media instead of tackling that to-do list? Why is it so much easier to get lost in the world of distraction rather than doing what we know will help us be more productive?

    The answer lies in dopamine.

    Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter that helps control our level of excitement and interest in things. It helps us focus and work hard by making things seem more intriguing. So, the activities that we know are good for us often don’t seem interesting because they don’t give us a dopamine boost.

    But there’s hope! Here are some ways to improve your dopamine production and get more done:

    Mind Your Meals

    What we eat has a huge impact on our productivity levels. Make sure you include foods high in proteins, magnesium, and tyrosine such as dairy, fish, cheese, nuts, beans, and lentils in your diet. Avoid processed foods and limit your intake of coffee and alcohol.

    Pair a healthy diet with regular exercise and a good night’s sleep, and you’ll be unstoppable.

    Stay Away from Distractions

    Indulging in addictive activities such as gaming, social media, or watching short videos (reels) during breaks can cause a dopamine surge. This makes it even harder to get motivated for less engaging activities like reading.

    To avoid this, turn off notifications for your apps and limit your social media time to once a day for a set duration. Digital detox and meditation can also help keep your dopamine levels in check.

    Take an hour each day to just sit and be with yourself. In this quiet time, let your mind reset and recharge.

    Mix Productive Tasks with Enjoyable Ones

    If possible, listen to your favorite music while working on an assignment, or enjoy a snack you love while tackling a difficult project. This tricks your brain into thinking “this is okay” and helps you stay focused and calm.

    Avoid multitasking when you have too much on your plate. Instead, make a to-do list and work through it one task at a time. The sense of accomplishment you get from crossing each task off will keep your motivation levels high.

    Minimize distractions by putting on noise-cancelling earphones and disconnecting from the world until you’re done. This will help you work faster and more efficiently.

    Say No to Drugs

    Drugs and alcohol give us a false sense of pleasure by artificially boosting our dopamine levels. This high is temporary, and when it wears off, our dopamine levels crash, leaving us feeling down.

    Sticking to a healthy lifestyle will pay off in the long run by boosting your productivity levels. Sure, it’s okay to have fun during breaks, but keeping your mind focused and calm will help you achieve more in the end.

    A 7-Day Dopamine Detox: How It Changed My Life

    I started the year with a 7-day dopamine detox, and you can check out my experience in this video:

    In conclusion, while distractions may seem more interesting in the moment, choosing a healthy lifestyle is what will make you more productive in the long run. By keeping your mind calm and focused, you’ll achieve more and feel better too.

  • The Irony of Success: Why People With Better Ideas Don’t Always Succeed

    The Irony of Success: Why People With Better Ideas Don’t Always Succeed

    Have you ever met someone who seemed to lack intelligence yet was incredibly successful? On the flip side, have you also known people with amazing ideas who seem to struggle in life? It’s easy to blame success or failure on luck, but what if we could uncover the real reasons behind these disparities?

    The key to changing the status quo is to start by admitting that you may be doing something wrong and then carefully analyzing the difference between your habits and those of the successful individuals. In this article, we’ll dive into some of the common reasons why people with great ideas don’t always succeed, and what you can do to overcome these obstacles.

    Letting Perfectionism Take Over

    At first glance, perfectionism might seem like a positive trait, but it can actually hold you back. Perfectionists tend to spend too much time fixing minor details that don’t have a significant impact on the final outcome. It’s important to understand that these habits stem from an obsession to do things perfectly, rather than doing what’s required and then some. Remember, the goal is to deliver results, not perfection.

    Being a Cynical Self-Critique

    While self-reflection and self-critique are important for improving your work, it’s possible to take this too far. For example, if a client asks for a 500-word article, spending an entire day writing the best piece may not be worth it if it results in poor time management skills. Sometimes, it’s best to trust an editor or reviewer to help improve your work.

    Letting Self-Doubt Hinder Action

    A mind full of ideas can also be a mind full of self-doubt. Constantly questioning the feasibility of your ideas can render them useless. Instead of waiting until you’ve learned everything to start working, embrace the learning process and start taking action. You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish by starting small and building from there.

    Fear of the Unknown

    Our minds naturally try to protect us from facing our fears, but this protection can hold us back. Doing something new can be scary and leave us vulnerable to failure and embarrassment. However, the best way to overcome this fear is to face it head on. Remember, it’s okay to fail and it’s okay to make mistakes. What’s important is to learn from these experiences and keep moving forward.

    Bad Implementation

    Idea generation is just the first step, the real challenge is in implementing them effectively. This requires good communication skills, practical knowledge, and the ability to turn your ideas into reality. The way you communicate your ideas can make or break their success. A good example of this is a great novel that was turned into a bad movie due to poor communication.

    Lack of Practicality

    Some ideas may sound great on paper, but they may not be feasible in the real world. For example, having a romantic dinner at the top of the Burj Khalifa sounds amazing, but it may not be possible to get the necessary permissions. The hardest part is getting started, but once you do, it becomes easier to build and grow from there. Don’t be afraid to experiment, observe, and revise your ideas to make them more practical.

    In conclusion, there is only so much you can learn without taking action. So, the next time you have a great idea, take the time to plan out how you will bring it to life. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve when you turn your ideas into reality.

  • The Psychology of Procrastination: Understanding Why You Put Things Off

    The Psychology of Procrastination: Understanding Why You Put Things Off

    Have you ever found yourself putting things off, even though you know they need to get done? You’re not alone! Procrastination is a common struggle for many people, and it can be a tough habit to break. But the good news is, by understanding the psychology behind why we procrastinate, we can learn how to overcome it and get things done.

    The Roots of Procrastination

    For me, procrastination started as a lack of motivation. I would get an idea and then lose steam as I went from planning to execution. But even when I did get started on a project, I always found the execution part to be more enjoyable than the planning and preparation stages.

    This led me to start a YouTube channel, where I could share my ideas through video. I thought it would be a more engaging and efficient way to publish content. But the process of learning to shoot and edit professionally was much more time-consuming than I anticipated. This led me to start a separate YouTube channel where I could focus solely on learning to shoot and edit. Although my first attempts weren’t great, I learned a lot and was able to see how much I was already ahead of many other YouTube channels in terms of video and editing quality.

    Making Matters Worse

    The second wave of COVID-19 hit India and brought my progress to a halt. I got infected and wasn’t able to edit the video I shot in April 2021. Our upcoming guests also started to have second thoughts about shooting in the middle of the pandemic, so I took a much-needed break.

    But that break only made things worse. I think it was either a side effect of COVID or my habit of procrastination evolving, but I wasn’t re-energized. Instead, my habit of delaying and postponing things became more consistent.

    Realizing the Problem

    I then realized that my procrastination had taken over other areas of my life as well. For example, I started a blog with the intention of using it as a journal, but over time it turned into a lifestyle and news website, and eventually, an abandoned page. I felt guilty and ashamed that I had let my busy life get in the way of something I loved doing, like writing.

    Finding a Solution

    After much contemplation and self-reflection, I finally understood the root of my procrastination problem. I realized that my procrastination was like a “friend with benefits.” It was okay to have it around when I needed a break, but I was relying on it even when I should be focusing on more important things. This was turning into a guilty pleasure, and I knew it was time to end it before our relationship became toxic.

    The lesson is: it’s time to say goodbye to this “fun friend.” The guilt of being complacent was making me miserable, and it was time to focus on the things that matter. So, my dear procrastination, it’s time for us to take a break from each other. Let’s make sure our beautiful relationship doesn’t turn toxic and ruin one of us. And we both know it would be me!