2017 speedread.io personal productivity survey results

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adults were asked about their attitudes, behaviors and advice regarding personal productivity. These are the results.

548


We’re struggling to keep up particularly during middle age when children and career pile on the pressure.

#1


We’re wasting our time on social media when we’d rather be learning a new language.

#2


Morning productivity rituals pay off. Handsomely.

#3


The To-Do List is still king of productivity tools (but tech is making an impact).

#4


Personal productivity skills may have a place in the school curriculum.

#5


Crowdsourced wisdom: The world is yours if you focus, prioritize and plan ahead.

#6


In Depth Results

of people are dissatisfied with their level of personal productivity rising to 18% among 35-44 year olds and 21% amongst 45-54 year olds.

16%


of those unsatisfied with their level of productivity feel totally overwhelmed at least some of the time peaking amongst 35-54 year olds.

89%


of 35-44 year olds not satisfied with their level of personal productivity quote their output at work as the main challenge.

82%



Wasting time browsing the web or using social media, commuting, and interruptions at work were the most frequently quoted reasons for diminished productivity.

Productivity Killers

37%

16%

13%

Social Media

Commuting

Interruptions


of respondents expressed a desire to limit their browsing or social media activity. 7% have deleted one or more apps in order to help achieve this.

32%


Given no work, time or financial constraints the top three things people would like to do is travel, go back to school, or learn a new language.

Time to escape? 25%

14%

11%

Travel

School

Language


of people regularly engage in some kind of morning ritual designed to support their personal productivity.

28%


Exercise, meditation, and planning the day ahead were the most frequently mentioned morning ritual activities.

Get ritualistic

45%

17%

8%

Exercise

Meditation

Planning


of respondents who always engage in a morning ritual were satisfied with their levels of personal productivity versus just 76% of all respondents.

93%


of those who always engage in a morning ritual suffer from feelings of overwhelm versus 14% or all respondents.

7%


Participation in morning rituals increases with seniority, peaking at 91% amongst business owners.

Morning rituals pay


College graduates and postgraduates are most likely to engage in a morning ritual (38% and 46% respectively).

Morning rituals pay


of respondents still rely on the humble to-do list in order to organize their day.

15%


Notable productivity apps mentioned by respondents included Trello, Evernote, Google Docs, OneNote, and Wunderlist.

Tools of the trade


of people would like to better be able to prioritize their tasks. This peaks at 30% for 35-44 year olds.

21%


of those with a college degree feel like they should prioritize better. This doubles to 36% of those with just “some college” education.

18%


of full time workers would like to be able to prioritize better. This rises to 38% amongst part-time workers and 27% for the unemployed.

17%


When asked for their #1 piece of productivity advice respondents consistently quoted focus, prioritizing, and planning ahead as their top advice.

Take some advice 33%

26%

18%

Focus

Prioritize

Plan Ahead


Focus. Eliminate distractions. Leave Facebook and Twitter. Focus only on what you are trying to achieve. Write clear goals listing the benefits of attaining these. Then make sure to work on those for 2-3 hours daily, uninterrupted, whether you feel like it or not.

- Survey Respondent

“ ”


Prioritize.

“ ”

Avoid at all costs getting bogged down in trivia. First thing in the day do the most important tasks which have the highest impact on achieving your goals.

- Survey Respondent


Plan Ahead.

“ ”

I typically start planning for my week on Sunday evening. I then plan each day as soon as I wake up. I pick 2 or 3 things that I absolutely must achieve that day and, as a rule, these are the first things I do. Plan, plan, plan.

- Survey Respondent


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2017 speedread.io personal productivity survey results

Self Improvement