What does Productivity Even Mean?
I admit it… I am a box checker. I love to write my to do’s on paper and physically check them off as I get them done. The gratification is tremendous as I look at all the completed tasks I got done, and yet it can be overwhelming for me at times. It becomes overwhelming when my list grow, I don’t get to check something off, or tasks keep spilling onto the next day… then the next… then the next… and sometimes the task just fades away into the sunset until someone or something reminds me whether or not I ever got it done.
Lately, my to do’s are a bit scattered because I have a lot going on with work, family and all around life. When I feel scattered it’s literally a red flag saying, "ALERT! Get clear… focus on your priorities, one at a time!” And that’s exactly what I did to center myself this past week. I stopped and thought about my overall productivity.
I realized that productivity does not always need to come forth in a pretty to do list. Productivity actually happens and takes form in so many different ways, ways that are not always planned for or scheduled on my calendar. Here are a few of those productive (yet unscheduled) things that I took the time to pour into this week:
Resting. Oh my WORD there is something so magical about just sitting to sit. Not scrolling on a phone, watching TV or even engaging with others. I don’t do this often but my bum and my heart love this feeling of simply sitting down and glancing out of a window.
Taking time for SELF. I forgot how nice it is to decide to take myself out to the store for no other reason but just feeling like it. Last week I talked about minimizing and how that is really helping me set intentions with having and buying “stuff”. This week I experienced the joy that comes from shopping for a need rather than a want and actually feeling rewarded from it.
Communicating with others. The phone is such a powerful technology when it’s used the old school way of dialing a phone number and calling someone. I spoke with a few near and dear people in my life that I don't speak to on the regular and it was so fulfilling. Catching up and reminding ourselves of what’s important and the change that has happened as of late to realize how much our priorities are important was honestly so productive and meaningful.
Reading. I love reading and I realize I can do it even more than I do now. I listened to my audio book while driving and thought how productive it felt to have that wisdom in the moment AND have it pour into other facets of my day. To read is to expand awareness, gain new perspectives and appreciate the diversity in so many different types of authors.
I’m ending this week with gratitude and appreciation for checking these things off that I should be scheduling time for wayyyyy more often than I currently do!
How do you define productivity? What are some things that are unscheduled yet so powerful when you actually spend time doing them?
Light + Love,
Bev
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