How to be Productive (for the average Nigerian)
The specifics of this title were needed for a better understanding and relativity, but if you are not Nigerian and find this useful, then hurray…
Going through the productivity videos on youtube made me realize that one can’t put into practice their type of productivity because many people, especially Nigerians, can’t relate to it. The differences between a regular Nigerian adult(or teenage adult)and a YouTuber (wherever they come from) are very vast.
Firstly, a lot of young Nigerians (between the ages of 18-23) are still living with family, unless they are married👀 or had opportunities, or left home or school(but people, are not so lucky and I know I am not the only one). And if you are fortunate enough to have like six siblings and unfortunate enough to share rooms or have little space in general, then productivity is a piece of cake😋. This means watching youtube videos about productivity hardly helps, at all, even if they are not living alone, they have their rooms, which equals privacy and space.
Secondly, if you and your parents are not on the same page on your choice of career part or whatever you want to be productive on, then there is added stress of explaining why you are choosing to do this under their roof, which YouTubers fail to mention (because they live alone ). This can dull your productivity and discourage you from pursuing your goals.
Thirdly, every household member is an individual and has flaws, like the saying goes, a person's food could be another’s poison. The personality differences will always clash every once in a while. Like telling your sister to give you space, when she is just the cuddly or touchy type.
Fourthly, resources matters when trying to be productive in a typical Nigerian home, distractions are immense and the time is short. The unsteady electricity could bind your well-planned productive-filled day or the traffic, kinda like stepping out and knowing you have or will waste hours on the road, jammed (especially in places like Lagos). Those are not just stressful factors but also discouraging ones.
Fifthly, I could go on and on about how it is difficult, not impossible to be productive in Nigeria, but these factors are what makes us choose to be productive no matter what. It's a matter of perception and mindset, if you think all of these are a reason for not having a productive life, at the end of the day, it will be considered an excuse, not a reason.
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Below are tips to help your journey towards becoming the better you through productivity in a big household;
- Talk to your family: Tell them what you need, why you need space, and when you need it. Also, consider the fact, that you are not the only one who is trying to be productive, learn to work with what you are given.
- Have rules: If you set rules, they know you are serious. My older brother did it, we, the younger kids never play with any of his devices, wherever it is seen.
- Focus: learn to focus, learn to avoid distractions. This is very important if you are going to achieve your goals, then focus and do just that. Practice mindfulness to help with your focus and other techniques, so you don't waste the time and space given to you.
- Understand time: Understand that time is not a luxury for you, every minute counts when you are trying to do something you consider productive, remember you live with other individuals, they won't always give you that space, manage the one you are given. Also, understand what productivity means to you, so you can carry it out effectively.
- Work when they sleep: I remember when I was in secondary school, I read at night when everywhere was so quiet and everyone asleep, it was worth the sleepless nights, trust me.
- Take advice from books or videos(youtube), I know I said they hardly helped, but some of the tips or advice can be applied to daily living whether or not you leave alone.
I didn't mean for this to be a long read, but I guess it's unavoidable. I hope I was able to impact you through this as I have impacted myself.
Thank You😘
