You wake up at 7 a.m. You have developed an impeccable morning routine, and your phone and laptop are set with all the productivity apps that will help you get through the day. However, you still struggle with your to-do lists and your errands, and you wonder why this is happening.

Well, that's probably because you keep doing things you are not supposed to do, which keeps you from being productive.

Keeping higher levels of productivity is important for our professional and personal lives. Productivity keeps us up and running, allowing us to accomplish our tasks more quickly and efficiently and helping us feel less stressed and overwhelmed. Data show that productive people tend to be more successful and achieve more fulfilling careers. Ultimately, being productive requires time, effort, and concrete boundaries to protect our time in a professional and personal context.

So, if you find yourself doing some of the following things, then maybe this is why you are not as productive as you think you are and, hence, not reaching your goals.

1. Pretty, little errands

Being helpful is always nice and can bring great fulfillment and enjoyment. However, if you are everyone's favorite “go-to” person for asking for a favor, you should probably reconsider. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you will keep saying “no” to everyone asking for a favor, but it does mean setting boundaries on what you can do and what you cannot. For instance, if a specific colleague keeps delegating tasks that are far beyond your workload, you can always refuse to accept that if this means that you have to work longer hours or leave your tasks behind. The same applies to your personal life. While it’s amazing to be able to make other people happy and support them by making their lives easier, it’s equally important to take care of yourself and your priorities. If you keep making others' lives easier, then you probably put yourself in the corner and deprive yourself of your success.

2. Five more minutes

There is a myth that those “5 minutes more” are indeed five minutes. Well, there are not. Five minutes are rarely actually five; they are more like half an hour or maybe an hour! That means that it's much more each time you tell yourself “5 more minutes” to get out of bed. Get out of bed immediately without any delay, there is no such thing as five minutes. The same applies to work: if your colleague wants to talk to you to explain something for “5 more minutes,” then it will probably cost more of your time. Deny politely or explain that the time has passed already and move forward with your tasks. Also, things that can be told in 5 minutes can be equally written in an email. Keep that in mind.

3. What’s the harm in one more beer?

Oh, there is harm, and you know it, not in the beer per se, but in the lack of self-discipline, which keeps you behind and prevents you from accomplishing your goals. If you are not able to set boundaries to one more beer, cocktail, or glass of wine, then the one glass can become two, three, or… ten. Imagine how much time and money you would save if you had concrete boundaries and knew when to stop. Of course, it’s always a good idea to go out for drinks and socialize with your friends and colleagues, but it is also essential to know that you don’t have to do it every day, especially if you are working on your goals, for a promotion or for whatever reason you are working on.

4. Tattletale & not chill

Could a minute of gossip make your life better? No, it definitely cannot. Engaging in gossip can divert your attention from more productive activities. It can get you into a negative mindset since gossiping is not only sharing things about others; it’s often accompanied by criticism and sharing private information without the person's consent, which can be considered a breach of trust. Gossiping is a complete waste of time and offers nothing positive to your life. Why should you start focusing on yours rather than talking and worrying about other people’s lives? The results will surprise you!

5. Party animal

Parties and events are the salt of pepper of our social lives, and attending events that are important and interesting to you is important. Life is not only about work, and it’s essential to relax and reboot, especially when working at a fast pace. However, saying yes to every single invitation you get will eventually have the opposite effect. Being out and about constantly, you lose time not only from your goals and aspirations but also from your relaxation. Resist the urge to accept the gallery opening that you are not interested in or drink with a colleague that is a bit annoying, and attend only events that are good for you. Don’t succumb to the FOMO, and ensure that your social life is quality and brings you joy without wasting your time.