5 Unhealthy Productivity Hacks That Actually Work
Yes, you read it right- They are “unhealthy”. And yes, they actually work.
Most of the hacks discussed in this article are not mentioned by business, wellness, personal development, self-care or productivity gurus. To put it bluntly, they are in the grey area of the productivity show. But the important thing is- they get the job done.
FAIR WARNING: You might think I am crazy after reading this. I will not disagree entirely.
I have personally used these hacks to help build several businesses, both as a teen and an adult. While I don’t recommend making them a part of your daily workflow, try them out and see how your professional productivity improves with each given hack.
Before we dive into the details, here is a concise list of the hacks for you busy souls who just can’t wait:
1. Work 120+ hours a week
2. Work for free
3. Say yes more (even if you are not qualified)
4. Fall in love
5. Zone out the negative buzz
With that aside, let’s dive straight in:
Unhealthy Hack No.1 — Work 120+ hours a week
The average workweek is 40 hours long, but I recommend you work 3 times that length, for at least a few weeks. I know what you are thinking:
“Why would I give such bad and unhealthy advice?”
Well, here is the truth- it isn’t.
If you are just beginning, this hack is pure gold. It will help to teach you that building something looks easier once it is ready, but the process is terribly tricky. Many of you might feel that this will lead to burnout — it won’t. On the contrary, this mindset will make you understand the price and process of success.
Working a 120+ hour week will immerse you in the process of reaching your goals and prepare you for the challenges in your journey. You will realize the depth of all the major obstacles that now look like fluff. Don’t lose consistency, and you will also get the strategy to smash them — eventually.
Got a three week plan with goals to get something done? Great, finish it in a week!
Unhealthy Hack No.2 — Work for free
Don’t work for free. I wouldn’t. But understand that compensation isn’t always financial, and it is not always instant. So if you want to establish yourself in any industry, groom your work to work for you in the long term.
That was a decent rhyme, but here is the main point. Sometimes, you are going to have to pitch your services for free. For example, you might have to offer an initial service to a client for free to get your foot in the door for future assignments. It could be to build your portfolio or strengthen your brand reach.
Ultimately, it is all about the strategy. Every action in your marketing strategy should lead to some goal, and offering free work can be a great hack to scale your business.
Time to take your eyes off the cents and focus on them big bucks!
Unhealthy Hack No.3 — Say yes more (even if you are not qualified)
Is it unethical to take up an opportunity you are basically qualified for but not entirely?
No.
Obviously, this doesn’t mean you decide to go out and try flying a plane. Don’t do that unless you are adequately qualified.
Instead, this hack is meant to guide you to step over fear and try things you don’t have the certifications for, but you know you can learn. Don’t let a missing tag jeopardize your career. If someone is asking something of you and willing to take a chance, be willing to take a chance on yourself.
To be clear, it is not just me who is dishing out this unhealthy advice. In the words of Sir Richard Branson — ‘If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes — then learn how to do it later!’
Don’t twist this advice to fly an airplane, though. I am still dead serious about that.
Unhealthy Hack No.4 — Fall in love
Here comes the waterworks hack. And yes, I do mean it. First, you have to truly love something if you want to achieve anything. This love can be for a person or your ultimate goals, but it must exist. Suppose you don’t understand the meaning of love, passion and goal-setting. In that case, you will remain indecisive, uncertain, and, bluntly, super lazy.
When you genuinely want to get to something or create something, you push yourself to a new extreme, whether for yourself or another loved one. I am a little old-fashioned, and I don’t really agree with the concept of — “Ouch, I hurt my nail. I am too tired. My heart is breaking. My hands are tired. My brain is numb.”
If you genuinely want it, then go and get it. Otherwise, just sit at home. So many people tell us to love the journey, and while I agree that it is essential, it is more important to have something that pushes you to start a trip in the first place.
Bottom line: You want to be successful? Learn to fall in love first.
Unhealthy Hack No.5 — Zone out the negative buzz
Hear everybody out. To be more precise, hear everybody, then throw the idiocy out.
People say stupid stuff. People say nasty stuff. People use your attention to pull you down. Why do people do this? As a person, I have no idea.
But my advice is — don’t give them that power.
To be honest, you don’t need all that criticism when you are building. It is actually going to kill your productivity. But, feel like you still need it? Then, I will break it down for you:
You are at the start of your journey. You obviously suck. What can you do about it? Take a step forward and stop sucking.
You need to surround yourself with language, people, and systems that support your mental health, sense of humour, vision, and goals. And they can be your friends, your network, your family, your partner or your building’s security guard.
If they don’t, my advice is. Pick up a pair of scissors and slice away the uneven ends — just not the security guard.
Conclusion
Getting productive can be daunting at times. I sympathize with you when it comes to that. But sitting around and waiting for productivity to slap you in the face is quite dumb.
The hacks that I have provided are not meant to put you on a bed of roses, with rainbows flying around. They are supposed to get you out of your head and get some work done.
Success doesn’t come easy. It claws its way out from inside your mind, body and soul.
That, in itself, is unhealthy. So, buckle up for the ride, use the hacks and try to have some fun while you are at it.
