Three Tactics to Increase
Productivity and Reduce Aimless Social Media Use
Spend
your time on your own terms, not just when you get a notification
As the owner of a digital marketing agency, using the world’s most
popular apps and technology is in my job description. From Facebook and
Instagram to WhatsApp and Snapchat, connecting with friends, family and
colleagues around the clock is my job. But recently, it became increasingly
hard to separate what was work from personal use.
Want to waste time? There’s an app for that
Creating transformative online marketing programs is one of my favorite
things to do, yet I was wasting time on social media apps because of their
addictive qualities: pictures, sounds, messages in one neat package in the palm
of your hand. It was easy to divert from the smallest problem, even just to
take a peek. As a result, my business was not growing. It was clear my focus
needed sharpening.
Social media has the unmistakable feel of being busy. You can click
around for hours messaging people funny jokes, pictures and internet fodder,
without a lot of actual work being done. It took me way too long to figure out
how much time I was wasting. The time had come to make a change.
Passionate about online marketing but realizing I needed to do a serious
digital detox, here are some ways I was able to make positive changes to
maximize time and increase productivity:
Recognize the problem
Working in marketing means having to know the latest apps and use them
to authentically, understanding their role and purpose. My use of technology
began for work, but quickly devolved into time-consuming personal use. If
you find yourself checking your phone relentlessly, and not getting objectives
completed, recognize your phone may be a problem. I know a very well known CEO
who uses a flip phone! You may keep your current phone, but know some
adjustments may need to be made.
Delete problem apps
WhatsApp is a great tool for anyone who works globally, and with family
and business around the world sending me communications around the clock, it
was particularly hard to avoid. Free calls and texts make it even more
addictive. Same goes for social media like Facebook and Instagram, whose
splashy platforms dish up pictures and content they think you’ll be interested
in (and you almost always are). Deleting the apps removes the temptation to
surf aimlessly. You can try to log in once a day from your desktop
computer, but be sure to log out after a pre-set time limit (no more than ten
minutes). When you need a break from work, and the urge to look at social
media arises, try making a list or journaling in your phone’s notepad.
Identify your highest and best skills
Focus on what you do want, rather than what you don’t want. Designing
creative advertising programs and solutions using automation is my specialty.
While I had a diverse client roster, I realized I was doing work I didn’t
enjoy—such as Google ads—for years. I needed to get to my higher and better
use, and started declining anything that wasn’t one hundred percent my
specialty. The surprising result? More business that I love doing—strategy
and digital marketing—came almost immediately!
I came back to my true passion: creating unique, customized online
marketing programs with the most cutting edge tools available. If I have to
view social media during the workday for a project, I know how to use it. It’s
fun and productive in the sense that I’m helping someone reach new audiences
and capture new customers. Sometimes it’s a challenge to keep it strictly
business, but when I think of my goals, it becomes easy to avoid altogether.
Outside work, I wanted to spend more time with my wife, four children,
and extended family. Through reduced technology consumption, I was able to
successfully develop new business, spend more time with family and feel less
stressed and frenetic overall.
Using these tactics, I was able to reduce my time spent on apps and
increase my client base.
Regardless of your
industry, business or geographical location, increase productivity and improve
focus by removing the extra noise in your life. Spend your time on your own
terms, not just when you get a notification
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