What Derails Each Zodiac Sign's Productivity The Most
Once distracted, it's hard to stay on task.
getty We all go through times when productivity seems elusive and out of our reach. You’re working, you’re focused, and then something interrupts your flow. We all have certain things that pull our focus away from what we need to work on. But once your focus has strayed, it can be very difficult to get back into productive mode.
And if we consider astrology and the personality traits set for the zodiac signs, there are things that prevent these individuals from staying on-task.
There are things you wouldn’t think would be a distraction, but are, such as the side effects of restricted blood flow to the brain, headaches, increased adrenaline when you have too much coffee, or the fact that poor air quality can have an impact on cognitive function.
Other things that are productivity-killers include gossiping, procrastination, and even being disorganized. If you can’t find what you need quickly, you may spend extra time trying to find it; when you do, your energy is spent.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
You wouldn't think it's true, but multitasking is what derails Aries' productivity. The truth is that extremely productive people focus on one task at a time, and when it's finished, they move on to the next.
While the human brain can handle two tasks at a time fairly effectively, if you add in a third, the brain can become overwhelmed and can make mistakes, causing the person to redo things. And rather than finishing a task, they spend extra time to complete it correctly.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus can be extremely driven and focused, but they also enjoy their chill time. If a Taurus feels like they need to take a moment, they will come up with a handful of silly excuses as to why they shouldn't do any work.
The truth is Taurus can be focused when they want to be, but sometimes they'd rather do something mindless like binge-watch a series.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
What derails Gemini most from being productive? Easy: it's people. People who call them or stop by their desk. Gemini isn't going to turn down the opportunity to chat with someone or hear some gossip. They are going to get back to work as soon as someone spills the tea on the new manager.
Every time Gemini gets interrupted, even if it's for a work question or someone needing their help, it's going to distract them and make it more challenging for them to get back on track.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
One of the abilities that highly productive people have is how they tend to not dwell on the past. Unfortunately, Cancer does think about the past quite often. Once Cancer starts thinking about the things they did or didn't do, the relationships that failed or the mistakes they made, their productivity is toast.
Cancer is most productive when their desire to succeed is stronger than their fear of failure or their inability to let go of the past. They must come to terms with the idea that mistakes are opportunities for learning, and only serve to make a person stronger and more successful.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
Leos are usually very good about being productive and staying on task, but all that can get completely derailed when someone needs their help, even if they don't ask Leo for it. It's not that Leos are meddlers or stick their noses where they don't belong, it's that people trust them and confide in them.
It's not unusual for Leo to take on someone else's problems as if they were their own. They have enough things to focus on without taking on the world's problems.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Perfectionism is something that Virgos struggle with. They know it's impossible to achieve, and yet, sometimes they can't resist putting all their focus and energy into trying to accomplish something flawless.
Unfortunately, perfectionism is one of the largest obstacles to productivity. It's like driving from Los Angles to Las Vegas but going to San Francisco first. Then adding in trying to do it in under 5 hours and without a car. Strive to do the best job you can and forget trying to be perfect.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
What doesn't distract and derail Libra from being productive? Something can catch their interest on the internet and suddenly, instead of doing their work, they're watching YouTube videos or posting pictures on Facebook.
One of the biggest deterrents to Libra's productivity is comparing themselves to others. They may get into the mindset that they're not doing as well as their friends or they haven't accomplished much. If Libra stops their negative self-talk, they can be just as productive as anyone else.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Sometimes Scorpios are just too self-reliant and independent because not asking for help can completely derail them from being productive. There's no shame in asking stupid questions or asking for help. Nobody knows everything, and how will you learn if you don't ask?
Think of all the time that gets wasted trying to figure out something on your own because you're just too proud to ask for help. Everybody needs help at some point or another, and by refusing to get it, you get in the way of your own productivity.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
What derails Sagittarius' productivity? Saying "yes" to everything. It's great they are so enthusiastic and willing to help, but sometimes, you have to say no so you can concentrate on the things you need to do.
Sagittarians want to make everyone happy, even at their own expense. When you say "no" to things that aren't your own priority, you have the time and energy to focus on being productive.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Even the most productive and diligent of all the zodiac signs occasionally gets distracted. It's Capricorn's own productivity that gets in the way of staying on track and keeping focused.
Capricorns are known for working so hard that they forget (or choose not to) take breaks or vacations. They just work, work, work. But they aren't robots and they need to take breaks or they'll suffer from burnout, and will get so overwhelmed they won't be able to think straight.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
What distracts the usually intensely focused Aquarius? Unrealistic expectations. Aquarians can get so caught up in their brilliant ideas that they don't prepare as well as they should for the things that can go wrong or the rough times.
When something goes wrong, Aquarius will get frustrated and disappointed, making it difficult for them to get back into the groove of the project they were working on. They're smart enough to research the risk assessment, but they're still surprised.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
One of the things that gets in the way of Pisces' productivity is when they have too many ideas happening at the same time. Pisces may have trouble focusing on one idea and carrying it through until completion. They're so creative that one idea leads to another until they have so many ideas they don't know which one to start.
This overabundance of ideas can also lead to procrastination. If they begin a task and then think of something else they'd rather do, they'll drop the first one. It's wonderful to have many ideas as long as you don't let them overwhelm you.
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Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and astrology lover. She has written over 500 articles on the zodiac signs and how the stars influence us. She's had articles in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, and is a contributing writer to Ravishly, I AM & CO, and YourTango. Check out her website, her Facebook writer's page, and her Instagram.