How to “Reset” Productivity with Just One Spreadsheet

Imagine that you have a visual "time machine" that takes you to any of the moments in the past. And you can see what you spent your time on — what tasks you completed and which didn’t, and why. Such a "device" can be at your disposal at any time. All you need to do is create a productivity spreadsheet. This is a document in which you will record your personal performance every day.

How to create a productivity spreadsheet

Your best bet is to use Google Sheets, Excel, or Numbers. But if it's more convenient for you, writing in a notebook or notes on your phone will also work.

In any case, the table should have 4 columns:

• date. It can be highlighted in a bright color, such as yellow.
• Task. This is a column for the list of things that you do during the day.
• Category. In this column, you need to note the type of tasks performed, say "work" or "personal". Each category can also be highlighted in color. This will help you quickly navigate the data and see where the focus is most often directed.
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• minutes. Here it remains to record how much time it took to complete a particular task.

Avoid adding activities to your chart that help you recharge, such as meditation or exercise. They allow you to maintain a work-life balance and maintain mental health, but not directly related to productivity. Therefore, in this case, it is better to skip them.

Try to complete the spreadsheet as you complete tasks throughout the day. It also helps to better distribute work and consciously switch between tasks instead of immediately grab the next thing or do several at once, which only hurts productivity.

How the productivity table works

We rarely take time to introspect and do not think about why our actions do not bring the desired results. And this is a big mistake. When we have clear information in front of our eyes, it is much easier for us to understand where we are wasting our time and what is preventing us from moving forward. The productivity chart clearly shows our mistakes and makes it possible to analyze how to avoid them in the future, in which direction to take more steps and where to redistribute attention.

Let's say you decide to calculate how many hours a day you spend on work tasks. If the total number does not suit you, based on the table, you can think about how to increase or decrease it - for example, reduce the time for lunch or delegate tasks to others.

The spreadsheet also makes it easier to analyze how the tasks you spend the most time on are aligned with your long-term goals. If you want to write a book, but only spend an hour a day working on it, then it's time to change your schedule.

It is important to study the productivity table regularly. For example, set aside half an hour or an hour every 2-3 days to review all tasks and analyze information. Look for repeating patterns and be honest with yourself. Do you actually spend enough minutes on your goals, or do you spend much more time on social media? Analysis will help you find additional resources and increase productivity in important areas of your life.