You might remember when you were younger people use to say things like, “If you keep pulling that face, it’ll get stuck that way,” or, “If you watch too much TV, your eyes will become square-shaped.” But as you get older you realize that those were just fibs or myths your parents told you. Although your parents might no longer deter you with these old wives’ tales, you’ll find that there are plenty of myths out there that are still holding you back in certain areas of your life. Myths about how to live your best life and even a few myths about things you should do to achieve your goals.
This is especially true when it comes to optimizing your productivity, and often times these myths become our excuses for why we aren’t able to achieve our goals. You may have even found yourself saying things like, “I would publish more often, but I just don’t have the time” or “If only I was a morning person, I would get so much more done!” These are just things we tell ourselves to justify why we’re not out there being the best podcasters we can be! And in fact, these myths are simply just wasting your precious podcasting time and hindering you from becoming the successful podcaster you’ve dreamed of being.
So to help you identify and bust through these myths, let’s take a look at the most commons ones that podcasters face when it comes to productivity and podcasting.
Myth #1: I Don’t Have Enough Time to be Productive
“I just don’t have the time” is one of the most common myths, or excuses, that you will find. Often times these are individuals who feel like they are just so busy all the time, running from place to place, unable to even get to all the tasks on their list. However, more often than not, these people are just unable to keep everything organized and they become really overwhelmed when there are a lot of things on their to-do list. This overwhelm causes them to feel completely swamped and almost unable to focus on what they need to get done.
If this sounds familiar, then it is time for you to stop, relax, and get organized. Again, if you prioritize your list you will know exactly where to get started. When your focus is on one task at a time you won’t get distracted by the other tasks on your list and that overwhelm will start to disappear. You will find that as your tasks get prioritized you will have more time to focus on things that are important to you, such as podcasting. Of course, if there are other things that take priority, do them first. Then your mind will be free to focus on your podcasting without worrying about other important tasks lingering in the back of your mind. Organize, prioritize, and get it done!
Related read: 7 Tips to Make More Time for Your Podcast
Myth #2: I Am an Expert at Multitasking
The first one is something that almost everyone is guilty of. It doesn’t matter what kind of job you’re busy with, you’ve tried to multitask at least once during your career. While multitasking might be a great thing when it comes to streaming your favorite podcast and cooking dinner for your family, it’s not the best strategy for increasing your productivity. In fact, multitasking has been shown to actually waste more time than it saves. Multitasking requires you to focus on two different tasks, which means you are constantly switching from one to the other. Every time you shift your attention this results in time wasted.
If you are trying to get your podcast episode recorded while at the same time trying to get your emails answered you are constantly going to be switching your attention between the two tasks. Unless you become super proficient at not only both tasks but also being able to quickly shift between the two, this will just result in wasted time that you could have spent more productively. So, instead of trying to do it all at once, block off specific time to record your podcast and do your work separately. This way your attention is solely focused on the task at hand, you can get it done efficiently, and you will most likely be left with extra time to spare.
Myth #3: I Would Get More Done If I Woke Up Earlier
This myth is true for some people and others it couldn’t be further from the truth. In some cases, the early bird doesn’t catch the worm. There are a lot of people out there that prefer working later in the day because they simply take too long to get their brains activated in the mornings. This lag time means that your productivity will be at an all-time low until your brain is fully switched on for the day. So instead of trying to force yourself to get up at the crack of dawn, listen to your body and find the time of day when you work best.
Of course, not everyone has this luxury since many podcasters still have full-time jobs. However, once you know the best time of day for you to work you can easily schedule your recording schedule around it. Now for those early risers, you will definitely be more productive in the mornings. So again, know yourself and don’t leave your podcasting for later in the day when your productivity is down. In the end, it is all up to you and figuring out what type of podcaster you are. Once you know what works for you and what doesn’t, then you can adjust accordingly to find your most productive recording time.
Related read: How to Be More Productive When Podcasting From Home
Myth #4: Leave the Biggest Task For Last
When it comes to productivity, it is always better to do the biggest tasks first. This is a lot more to do with the mental game of things! Procrastinating on the big tasks can make it feel like you still have so much work to do, even when you’ve completed all the smaller tasks. Tackling the biggest task will feel like a big weight has been lifted off your shoulders and all the smaller tasks will seem to fly by in comparison. So whether the big task for you is planning your content, or writing that blog post, get it done as soon as possible so you can go on to doing the things you enjoy.
Of course, in podcasting, it is always important to be aware of the different deadlines you’ve set for yourself and the order in which things need to be done. Editing your episodes might be that “big task” for you. However, if you haven’t recorded the episode yet then there will be nothing for you to edit. So to ensure that you stay on track with your productivity, make a list of all the tasks you need to complete that day, then list them in the order of importance and difficulty, and then complete each task on the list to your best ability before moving on to the next one. This will prevent you from switching back and forth and losing focus on what is most important to get done.
Myth #5: Power Through Without Any Breaks
When concentrating for long periods of time, it is inevitable that your body and mind will need a break. Now, this doesn’t mean working for an hour and taking an hour break or having breaks every 5 minutes. Taking a break refers to just getting up and leaving your workspace for a few minutes at a time. It can be when you’re making yourself a cup of coffee or having a quick chat with your co-host. As long as you step away from your work area, you will feel more relaxed and inspired when you return.
Although you might feel like you’ll get more done if you just power through, working nonstop is guaranteed to make your brain tired and in turn, cause your productivity levels to drop. Everyone needs a break, no one is a super-podcaster. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t make your breaks too extensive, especially if you still have a lot to get done. When your breaks become too long, you will start to feel less and less encouraged to get back to podcasting. Remember, the same “switching” concept applies here; every time you step away your brain shifts to relaxation and when you return you have to get back in the zone again.
Related read: How to Stay Motivated to Keep Podcasting
Myth #6: No Need to Write Things Down, I’ll Remember
If you don’t have an eidetic memory then write important stuff down. It’s as simple as that! It’s not something to feel bad about, most people forget things, that’s just how it goes, especially when you have a busy schedule and you’re trying to keep everything organized. This applies to everything from podcast episode ideas to potential featured guests. Write down your ideas as soon as you have them and keep a good record for yourself. This will increase your productivity as you are planning your content and make your workflow run a lot more efficiently.
Another key place to remember to write things down is during a guest interview. Your guest might mention some incredible insights that you want them to talk about further, so make a note of it as you go so that you don’t forget to ask them. You can also note down any important links or resources they’ve mentioned that you can share with your listeners afterward. This will make your podcasting process a lot smoother since you will have everything ready to go to create your show notes and you won’t miss any important details.
Related read: 7 Reasons to Implement a Podcast Workflow
Final Thoughts
Now that you have a better understanding of what types of myths are out there trying to hold you back from productive podcasting, you can face them head-on and get out unscathed on the other side. The key is to notice which excuses are holding you back and to find ways to adjust your thinking. Just because it’s the latest “productivity trend” doesn’t mean that it will work for you. Everyone is different, and that is okay! Find what works for you, make the changes, and see which methods make you the most productive podcaster that you can be.
