The 2 Key Elements of Super Productivity

Throughout the entire Fall semester, this burning question continuously popped into mind: How do people do it all?

In high school, I listened to upperclassmen semi-ranting and semi-bragging about how busy they were. The piles of homework, how late they stayed up, how long of a shift they worked over the weekend... Nowadays, I look at the freshman in college and witness them doing the same. Always working, always engaging--and in some cases feeding a child. I've observed my friends partake in extracurriculars, brag about binge-watching Netflix, and skip over the fact that they're also working part-time while they're in school full-time. I've always been one for productivity, and yet...

It baffles me.

I yearn to know how they do it. How they get so much done per day with less sleep and more obligations. My only true responsibility was school. When I told others -- mainly college graduates -- I was taking 14 credit hours, they would always reply with, "Oh my gosh, that's so much."

And yet I didn't think it was much at all -- compared to what others seem to get done, that is.

In reality, this semester has been a struggle. So much has been required of me, and yet I strive for more. Want to get more done.

It was a major conflict for me.

But in these recent days of starting the Spring semester with a fresh mindset, something in my brain has finally clicked. I know how people can pack so much stuff into what is seen to the outside observer as a small amount of time.

Focus and sacrifice.

These are the two key elements that these productivity junkies have.

1. They know what they want.

And they know the path required to get them to where they want to be. So they make this goal their life, and they pursue it in large chunks every day. If that means balancing school and work so that they can chug along and also support themselves, then they get it done.

That's where the sacrifice comes in.

2. They don't complain about the hustle.

Or maybe they do, but they go through with it anyway. With the power of their focus, they can move along and push through any fatigue. They can stay up all night with the baby and still get up two hours later to take the commute to work. They can work all day, all week just so they can relax on Saturday.

They can.

We can.

I know we're not superhuman, and that focus and sacrifice look easy to an outsider. Afterall, one can express their experiences as much as they want, but we'll never really know the toll it takes until we're there ourselves.

What am I saying? Instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing and how they're fitting it all in to the same 24-hour period we have, why don't we focus in on what we wanna get done and, well, do it.

Just do it, friend.

What do you think?

Is there more to the hustle of life than I've described? If so, let me know what it is. I love a fresh perspective. :)