Mindful Productivity

What do you most associate with your work?

“I’m busy”, “I’ve been busy all day”, “Gosh! This has been such a busy year”

“I’m so happy to have started”, “It was a good day”, “Wow! What a fruitful year”

The emotional gulf between these two states is so vast and the consequences so significant, that we assume bridging this gap requires substantial and onerous tools/processes.

Despite the ever-growing arsenal of tools, self-help books, LinkedIn posts, and Instagram influencers, productivity remains as elusive as the ‘outstanding’ rating during appraisals. If you check the web search trends for ‘how to be productive’ for the last decade, it’s a chart that could rival Nvidia’s stock price.

*‘how to be productivity’ in trends.google.com*

Ask yourself: ‘Did I do my work to the best of my abilities?’ For many, the honest answer is ‘Yes’. Yet, we don’t feel productive. Instead, we feel utilized, not fulfilled – a quiet dissatisfaction that nudges us to create more work for ourselves. We get sucked right into the vicious cycle of busyness masquerading as productivity.

Unfortunately, this productivity approach often leads to a sense of tiredness that feels satisfying initially but eventually spirals into health issues we tend to ignore. Over time, it impacts our relationships, friendships, and mental well-being. In the worst-case scenario, unchecked busyness leads to burnout – or, in extreme cases, the mind or body simply gives up.

The desire to be productive is a noble aspiration that drives innovation and inspires us to be a better version of ourselves. However, the lens through which we view productivity is often fogged, distorting our understanding and blurring the difference between being busy and truly productive.

Productivity ≠ Busyness

Instead, an alternative and healthier understanding of productivity is mindful productivity.

Mindful Productivity is a deceptively simple practice. In its cleanest form, it’s about taking a few moments to become aware of your feelings toward the work you are about to undertake.

This awareness leads to recognizing when you’re doing “busy work” versus “productive work”. Acknowledging this distinction repeatedly is the way out of the busyness maze. It helps you return to the efforts you find important.

Found this helpful?

If this article resonated with you, please share it on LinkedIn to help me spread the word on Mindful Productivity.

“You waste years by not being able to waste hours.” – Amos Travesky

And you waste hours by not being able to pause for a few minutes.

For the next task you’re about to begin – whether it’s writing an email, attending a meeting, starting the next Netflix series, or working on a Jira ticket, try this:

Write down the task you’re about to begin.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
With your eyes still closed, ask yourself: “How do I feel about this task?” (Angry? Excited? Anxious? Bored? Ashamed?).
Write those feelings next to the task.
Then, proceed with the task as planned.