I’ve been spending a lot of time musing about productivity. Y’all, I am convinced that we don’t need to be stressed, anxious, or even caffeinated, to build a thriving business or enjoy a rewarding career. Which is great in theory… but I’m having a little trouble executing this idea of “chill productivity.”
I call it: the productivity problem. Can you help me solve it?
The Routine
My normal day looks a little something like this:
1. Wake up, go out on the patio and look around at the world for 20 minutes. Meditate for a bit. Journal. (Very chill.)
2. Make breakfast, eat breakfast. (Still chill.)
3. Drink coffee, after I’ve been awake for an hour. (A little less chill, caffeine.)
4. Gym (NOT CHILL), mobility (sort of chill), or yoga (chill).
5. Sit down at my laptop for hours and work like a psycho until I’m totally burnt out. (ABSOLUTELY NO CHILL.)
6. Go teach a yoga class. (Return to chill.)
7. Sleep. (Asleep but brain is not chill.)
We Want It All
I wasn’t always like this. In less-productive times of my life, I spent a lot of beachy days in the sun. I’ve always maintained the belief that being busy isn’t a badge of honor, and that it your productivity doesn’t define your worth.
And yet, here we are.
Now that I’m chasing my dream of running a retreat business, I’ve admittedly been a little… frazzled. Juggling my marketing clients, yoga retreats, in-person and online yoga classes, and writing, all while trying to have a social life and care for my health makes me feel like a circus performer. I care deeply about my students and clients, and the perfectionist in me is always asking, “Couldn’t you be doing more?”
And yes, it would be easy to say, “Madison, just stop doing so much!”, but here’s the kicker: I truly love what I do, and I don’t want to give any of it up! I want to reach my happy little goals, which is going to take reliable effort and dedication. Thus, the productivity problem.
My Question for You
If you’re in the same boat as me, you’re in good company. According to Forbes, 36% of managers will face stress and burnout in 2024. There are so many of us who struggle to find balance, which inevitably leads us to discover that we’ve been pouring from an empty cup.
Which leads me to my question for you:
How can we be productive, live in the moment, and enjoy our work, without working at such a frenzied pace?
How can we be productive without feeling like we’re being chased by a bear?
I’ve found that movement, breathwork, nutrition, and eight or more hours of sleep generally help me come back down from the stratosphere after I finish working, but I’d really love to find new ways to keep my nervous system regulated when I’m at my laptop.
So let me have it in the comments at the bottom of this page! I want to hear from you. Do you set a timer to stretch? Do you throw your laptop across the room? Are you naturally just a chill person, or are you struggling too? Once I get a list of feedback, I’ll compile a new blog with a list of common struggles and tried and tested tips for success!
We can do this, together.
The short answer: Just chill!
While accomplishing a task, think to yourself, “How relaxed can I be while doing this?” Don’t focus on the list of of other chores or projects you need to accomplish, this is only drawing your focus and energy from your current task. Be present, REALLY focus on the job at hand.
That’s my take.
Think it as a yoga class. You start your day like you start the class. Grounding and stillness first. No matter what peak pose you’ll be leaning towards, we always start the same way. Then you start building it up slowly. If you want to hold the peak pose, you’ll have to build the heat with patience and won’t be able to go as fast as you may want – your body commands. When you are at the peak pose (i.e. you sit down at your computer), your balance gets challenged and your resistance gets tested. If you fall, you laugh and try again.
My point being – productivity does not come in bursts! When looking at your to-do-list, pick only the most 3 important things you need to nail down today. Then move on. Obsess over quality. Do it again the next day.
My two cents!
Mix computer time up with moving. I have a standing desk and an ergonomic setup for monitor, keyboard and mouse. I take frequent breaks to stretch, sit in an easy chair (where I sometimes do work on my phone, not great, but it mixes things up), throw a load of laundry in, have a snack, play an instrument. Sometimes I print things and mark up hard copies (or draw on copies on my iPad). I don’t like long shifts on the computer.