Posts Tagged ‘productivity’
How to be Productive and Happy at the Same Time
All too often, the most productive, successful people in the world are also the most stressed out, unhappy, basket cases in the world. Most of them probably think that happiness is more of an indulgence than a necessity and that if they want to stay on top of their game, they need to sacrifice leisure, balance, happiness, and all other time-consuming, fluffy sentiments. This is false! Life is too short to spend every moment of it in a flurry of anxiety and guilt and toil. Teach yourself to change the way you think about productivity and happiness. You’ll be happier and more productive because of it.
Don’t follow the format – There’s a good chance that in your lifetime you’ve been told what professions will make you the most successful: doctor, lawyer, investment banker, etc. – these are all great careers if they appeal to you on personal level. But you shouldn’t pursue a career just because it is supposed to be lucrative. If you don’t enjoy your work, you won’t put in the effort necessary to be good at it, and if you aren’t good at it, you won’t make any money. Everyone should spend some time trying to figure out what they want and who they want to be, and building a career for themselves that points them toward their goals. If you are passionate about what you do, your work won’t seem like work, and you will be able to spend more time on it without sacrificing an ounce of happiness.
Spend time on yourself and your dreams – So, maybe your love of writing children’s poetry or playing guitar doesn’t translate into a viable career. Don’t give up on your passions just because you can’t make money from them. Instead of wasting time watching TV shows you don’t care about or fretting over the next day’s errands, do something that fulfills you. It’s funny how leisure time can feel productive when we spend it doing things we really love.
Learn to focus – Ok, so it’s a lot easier said than done. Our minds are almost always entertaining more than one thought at once, but it’s possible to learn to control it. It’s a skill that takes time and patience and practice, but it’s possible. A method that works well for some people is setting a timer for a short amount of time: 15 or 20 minutes, and really focusing on one task for just that period of time. Then, when they finish with their 15-20 minutes, they take a quick break to stretch and do it again. It’s also much easier to focus when you are organized and aware that each issue will be attended to in order of importance. With practice, you will be able to acknowledge erroneous thoughts as they come up and dismiss them before they take up any of your time.
Live in the moment – Do you ever have days when it feels like you’ve had way too much time to think? Sometimes we get caught up in our cerebral world of worries and philosophies and all of the things we didn’t have time to get done yesterday. Live in the moment. If you feel overwhelmed by thoughts, stop and just appreciate your surroundings and your senses. It sounds all earthy and “enlightened”, but it’s true! Open the windows, smell the air, or have a cup of tea. Appreciating your physical state and surroundings helps you to stay grounded and makes you feel alive.
Push yourself – Within reason, obviously, but the more often you push yourself, the easier it becomes to go a little further the next time. Also, contrary to common belief, the more you do the more energy you have to keep doing. Push yourself in every aspect of your life – physically, intellectually, and emotionally. When you work, try to be more productive and focused. When you play, try to appreciate each moment. The more you push yourself, the more you stretch, and the greater your capacity becomes for productivity, balance and happiness.
