Every New Year’s Eve, I set goals instead of resolutions. Why?
I’ve discovered that setting realistic goals always boost my productivity throughout the year in view. This is a practical experiment that I’ve been doing consciously for four years running now.
Has it been easy? The answer is unbelievably NO.
As easy as it might sound, it’s not been easy setting realistic goals for myself every year consistently. But I do it because I’m committed to it.
The truth is that by doing this, I’ve experienced massive changes in my career, finances, relationship and every other areas of my life. I’m more fulfilled as I focus more on the important tasks.
And this is because I consciously take out time to set realistic goals and also write them down.
Writing down your goals equals to clarity … Adeyemi Adetilewa
This year is not different as I have some scary but realistic goals set for myself. I aim for the sun so that when I fail to reach the sun, I can land in between the stars. This is my secret to success.
So this year, I’ve a goal of self-publishing at least 12 books this year. This invariably means that I’ve to publish at least one book per month.
One of the ways by which I can make this happen is by writing a minimum of 1000 words per day every day somewhere and somehow. So that at the end of the month, I should have at least 31,000 words of my thoughts organized in texts somewhere.
Whew…that’s something.
So far, it’s not been an easy task. I’ve been distracted by life. However, I’m determined to see this through. This is a very realistic but scary goal for me. And to achieve this, I’ve to look for ways to boost my productivity.
Lately, I have been running behind schedule on most of my tasks and I’ve been researching for ways to get on track and increase my productivity.
Though, I’m not afraid to fail. This is because I learn more by failing and I’m not pressured in any way. However, I can’t just afford to fail myself. I’ve no excuse to fail.
I’m on a mission of eliminating all form of excuses. No backing out at this point in time as I’m all in.
One of the problems I’m able to identify is in my use of a single monitor screen for my work. A 14 inches non-removable laptop LCD screen!
- What if I’m able to increase the number of views of my desktop?
- Will this subtle change increase my workflow and productivity?
- Will it help me utilize my time effectively?
So, I started asking around for suggestions and opinions. And I discovered that I’m not alone and many people who have gone ahead to implement the use of multiple monitors in their work space are better for it.
In case you are wondering if making that switch to multiple monitors will increase your productivity, my answer to you is in the affirmative.
You can boost your productivity by using multiple monitors. This is generally called screen real estate.
I remember the days I used to work as a video editor for an organization, multiple screens were a thing in the office. I’ve used as many as four monitors while working on a new video and the feeling was awesome. I also discovered that I worked at a faster rate.
FYI, I’m investing in screen real estate to help me in my writing goals for this year.
According to a study by John Peddie Research, there is a 42% increase in productivity when you use multiple monitors. Electronics designers of hardware and PCB software companies (such as Altium) are investing their time and resources in the technology to increase your productivity.
So, what is the ideal number of monitors you can use?
This is simple. You can use as many as you are comfortable with. Other people use three. Personally, I’ll be starting with two and then gradually increase the number when needed.
The number of screens you decide on can depend on several factors such as space, comfort, and budget or even the ease of transitioning from single to multiple screens. Some people limit theirs to two because of its convenience and due to their budget.
Talking about budget, the Pfeiffer report in 2005 found that improved productivity could result in high monetary returns per year. Would you rather choose to be penny wise and pound foolish or otherwise? Your answer is as good as mine.
Other people use as much as three or more monitors depending on the type of work they do on regular basis. It is always advisable that you go with the setup that work best for you.
2 Reasons to Use Multiple Monitors to Boost Your Productivity
Here are some reasons that will help you consider increasing your screen real estate so as to boost your productivity.
#1. It allows more room for flexibility and freedom
You can set up additional monitors at different places which increases your screen options and flexibility with your laptop. You can easily connect your laptop to different monitors and at the same time disconnect it from these monitors when you need to change your location. With this freedom of choice, your productivity and creativity will yield massive returns.
#2. Multi-tasking becomes less stressful
Imagine being able to access your emails on one screen while on Skype with a business partner and also being able to see your Twitter feeds on another screen. It also makes it easy for you to make comparisons when your task demands that you keep attention to details. This is applicable to designers, programmers, writers, researchers etc..
How to Setup and Configure Multiple Screens
Setting up multiple monitors for your workplace can seem daunting but it shouldn’t be. It is very easy to setup.
To add an external monitor to your laptop (either Windows or Mac), you need a VGA port which comes with most laptops where you connect your other monitor. For a desktop computer, you need to buy a video card that provides ports for two monitors or better still buy them separately.
To configure your settings on Windows, you right click on your desktop, click on personalize and then click on display settings. After which you line up your monitors by choosing your preferred arrangement. Check “extend the desktop onto this monitor” and set your resolutions.
To configure a Mac after connecting your second monitor, you go to the “Apple Menu”, select “System Preferences”, “Displays” and then “Arrangement”. Make sure that “Mirror Display” is unchecked, then align your monitors according to your preference.
The possibilities with multiple screens are endless. Having multiple screens make multitasking very easy which increases your productivity.
Image: Shutterstock
