USA
- 1Be productive (63% of respondents)
- 2Have more money
- 3Have a healthy body
- 4Be happy
- 5Love and be loved
A SURVEY BY HEADWAY FINDS
Over 60% of people want to be more productive
Productivity is the top priority among people across the UK, the US, and Australia. Over 60% of people from these three countries crave to be more productive.
![[object Object]](https://a.storyblok.com/f/181188/592x364/571a5c4945/survey-hero-image.svg)
The most popular self-growth goals
UK
- 1Be productive (65% of respondents)
- 2Be happy
- 3Have a healthy body
- 4Have more money
- 5Love and be loved
Australia
- 1Be productive (58% of respondents)
- 2Have a healthy body
- 3Be happy
- 4Have more money
- 5Love and be loved
- Audience:
- 1M+ users
- Core age group:
- 30-39
- Gender:
- 53% female, 46% male, 1% other
- Data:
- Jan-Jul 2022
A recent in-app survey covering over 1M users of different ages with millennials as the core group showed that 65% of people from the UK, 63% of Americans, and 58% of Australians share a strive to master productivity. While the second and third priority aims were divided between having more money, a healthy body, and an overall feeling of happiness, the main response was being productive.
When launching a startup as a CEO in 2019, I rushed between dozens of daily tasks and worked non-stop for more than six months. I felt out of focus and was dissatisfied with my productivity. So I spent another six months learning to let go of control.
I wanted to ensure people don’t feel like “cogs” in the proverbial wheel waiting for instructions from above. So I suggested starting each Monday by discussing an action plan that people responsible for different areas of our startup did on their own. They had to come up with a to-do list of tasks for the week, and then we discussed it together, making some corrections. Neither I nor anyone else handed out assignments; everyone took their share of responsibility.
As a result, in 3.5 years, our startup grew from a dozen to 200 people, and our revenue doubled every year. Finally, I can focus on strategic business development and have more time for reading and self-development. What’s more, my sanity is intact.
I believe that productivity is not about doing more. It’s about doing less but focusing on the most important.
How to improve your productivity: 5 tips from Headway’s founder and CEO
- 1
Answer yourself what’s the meaning of your life
And it’s not a joke. Everybody has its meaning, influencing choices we make and things we refuse. This approach helps to make the right decision on what to spend your time on. You can learn more about it in “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl.
- 2
Ask yourself one focusing question every day
And it’s not a joke. Everybody has its meaning, influencing choices we make and things we refuse. This approach helps to make the right decision on what to spend your time on. You can learn more about it in “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl.
- 3
Say “no” more often
We repeatedly answer “yes” without a desire to accept these requests. A writer and programmer Derek Sivers recommends instead: “No yes. Either HELL YEAH! or no.” In other words, don’t waste your time on things you don’t want and need.
- 4
Delegate and get rid of micromanagement
You never carry out complex projects alone, so make sure you have a team of leaders. If not, help your people to become such with the “ladder of control” approach by an author and speaker David Marquet.
- 5
Practise bite-sized learning
When you learn something new, the neurons in your brain create new connections increasing productivity. But in the era of distraction, staying focused on long-running courses or books might be too hard. Try on bite-sized learning like micro-courses, book summaries, or short educational videos to keep gaining new knowledge without spending too much time.
Audience & Methodology
To determine the most popular self-growth goals, Headway polled over 1 million users from the US (800K), the UK (150K), and Australia (85K). The survey covered people of all ages, with the largest group representing respondents aged 30 to 39. The sample included 53% of people identifying their gender as female, 46% as male, and 1% as other. The users were polled during January-July 2022.
Headway is a global EdTech startup with Ukrainian roots that brings learning to the smartphone. Our flagship product, the Headway app, provides fun and easy learning. It helps over 27M users in 140+ countries to make self-growth a sustainable habit, feel motivated, learn, and overcome FOMO.
