The hard lesson that I seem to learn again and again is that of productivity. True productivity seems to be something that I continue to find ways to optimize and make less stressful. It wasn’t until I began reading Smarter Faster Better that I realized what the true definition of the term was:

Phase 1: The Beginning of the Productivity

My productivity journey began at the beginning of the Pandemic by building habits that were in line with the type of person I wanted to be. I was recommended Atomic Habits by James Clear. In this book, he broke down the value of creating identity-based habits. These tiny habits would pave the way towards the larger things you wanted to accomplish. One of the biggest problems that people face is wanting to go from one thing to another without realizing that they need to create the habit. For example, if I were to exercise minimally and then want to run a half marathon, I would likely be unsuccessful in my goal because I didn’t have a habit of exercising. It’s about breaking down your goals into actionable habits that will allow you to accomplish the goal. One of my favorite James Clear quotes that emphasize this notion is that “You don’t rise to your habits; you fall to your weakest systems.” It’s one of his most recognized for a reason (Dare to Lead).

Phase 2: Taking Productivity Too Far

When I began taking classes in preparation for Grad School in Spring 2021, I was in full productivity mode. This seems to be something that I catch myself doing. Once I’m able to form a good habit or reach consistency, I try turning it up a notch and this ends up reverting my progress on the system I established. I’m currently in this phase this semester, I disappeared for a month and was able to make strides in productivity for training for the Dopey Challenge as well as grad school but I was sacrificing on other things that make life worth living such as connecting with people, exploring the area/getting outside more than just for workouts, spontaneity, etc. It’s my biggest misconception that more = better and I know how wrong this is in every avenue of productivity.

Phase 3: Transformative Power of Real Productivity

Charles Duhigg’s book couldn’t have come into my life at a more opportune time. It’s important that I refine my habits so that I can forgo the mindset of more is better and find ways to reach my goals without sacrificing my productivity. In the episode he was featured in on the Dare to Lead podcast, he discusses the value of the human brain as the biggest tool that even technological advancements can’t exceed. This reminded me of a recent conversation I had where we discussed the false perception that technological productivity resources can provide. For me, I’ve noticed that it creates more work and wastes time rather than being productive. This might not apply to everyone, but I definitely still fall into the trap of being intrigued by a new time management tool and trying to use it to optimize my life. Fast forward the hours I spend trying to do this and realizing that I accomplished nothing lol.

The Takeaway: Intersection of Productivity and Wholeheartedness

Some of the things that I’ve set out to do have created hurdles in my path towards Wholehearted living. I wouldn’t trade the journey I’m on with them for the world but I know that in order for me to be able to savor that journey and not live life out of the present, it’s important to work towards obtaining this so that I can continue setting goals and reaching new heights while not sacrificing my wellbeing and burning out. I know that in the end, working smarter will likely lead to more productivity but it’s about keeping in mind that the goal isn’t to just do more more more. It’s about doing it in the best way and learning from it to improve the next time. More to come on this new phase of my productivity journey!

Sources:

Clear, James. Atomic Habits. Random House, 2018.

Duhigg, Charles. Smarter Faster Better. Random House USA, 2017.

Parcast Studios. “Brené with Charles Duhigg on Habits and Productivity” Dare to Lead. 12 July 2021. https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-charles-duhigg-on-habits-and-productivity/

Parcast Studios. “Brené with James Clear on Atomic Habits, Part 1 of 2” Dare to Lead. 15 November 2021. https://brenebrown.com/podcast/atomic-habits-part-1-of-2/