“A flame that burns twice as bright burns in half the time.” ~ Lao Tzu
I can hear these sounds now:
“You should be disappointed in yourself” (for not taking the SAT in seventh grade).
“Don’t be like [fill in a not-so-studious sibling/cousin]!
“You need to work harder or you’ll fall behind.”
“Always analyze, analyze, analyze!”
“We need to improve our operational efficiencies, otherwise this is going to happen.” What else?
My mind was filled with negative self-talk, heavy thoughts, and beliefs that were not serving me. Throughout my life, from an immigrant Asian family to a business leader focused on metrics, the voice has been consistent:
You haven’t done enough.
From a young age, I was indoctrinated (without consent) into the “you better work hard or you’ll fall behind” school of thought. I fell into a busy culture and started focusing on productivity.
But it never feels enough. Promotions, raises, accolades, praise—none of these satisfied the feeling inside me that I was never enough. There is always a compulsive need to do more.
As productivity experts say, you need to master time management. But while trying to manage my time, I realized:
Time really manages me.
Whenever I take a break from being productive, I get busier. I constantly spend my energy focusing on the past or the future. Never in the moment.
Eventually, I was exhausted. Life becomes miserable. It sucks the joy out of life.
One night, at the lowest point in my life, I sat in a local park and stared into the abyss. Questioning the meaning of existence and why I stopped enjoying life.
In one miraculous moment, a two-year-old waddled up to me with boundless joy and embraced me. This is a moment I will never forget.
The mother of the child apologized to me. I relented and assured her, “Please don’t apologize. I needed that.”
The greatest teacher I could have at that time was a two-year-old who barely knew his right hand and his left hand. course? My achievements do not define my self-worth. Self-acceptance is not dependent on how much I have accomplished. Love is unconditional.
This started my journey of rethinking my life. And rethink productivity.
It wasn’t until I started looking more consciously into my own inner world that I was able to redesign my programming and completely shift the paradigm.
Through personal therapy, meditation, and letting go of old beliefs, I learned something that is inherent in each of us:
There’s nothing left to do. There’s nothing more to do. Just enough. There is always enough.
The next thing I gained on my journey was the fact that I could still”productive” and enjoy my life.
In the cutthroat environment of hustle culture, we often find ourselves racing against time, trying to squeeze extra efficiency drops out of every second. As a result, it sucks the soul out of our lives.
If this were a cooking show, we’d be walking around the kitchen at a crazy pace following the final recipe to the letter: “success.“
Yet somehow, in all our hustle and bustle, we overlook the most important ingredient: vitality.
This is how we show up in the world. How we show up for each other. How a two-year-old happily hugs a stranger.
No our Without vitality, we cannot be our best selves and do our best. We cannot create culinary masterpieces that bring joy to the world.
While this is something children naturally have, we adults need to relearn this feeling.
The reality is that the relentless pursuit of productivity often leads us to paradoxical results: burnout; a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion; working from a depleted place (without energy) and creating work that feels…lifeless .
Following the cooking metaphor, let’s consider a more harmonious way of getting things done.
Injecting life energy into your productivity stew
If you had more energy in your mind, body, and spirit, how would that change your motivation at work? Whether it’s starting a new side project, finally writing that book that’s been swimming in your head, or working toward your next promotion at work, how will more energy help you?
Like savoring every sip of aged Pinot Noir, we can fully experience the gift of the moment. Through this concrete place, we create from an energetic place of inspiration.
Here’s how we can incorporate this goodness into our daily lives.
Pause to take a breath
Before diving into the depths, take a moment to breathe. Taking deep breaths is like a mini vacation for your brain, and it’s a lot cheaper than a flight to the Bahamas.
Focus on the main course and less on the side dishes
By focusing on what really matters, we can focus all our attention on fewer, more meaningful tasks.Consciously doing less can create more Influence. surprise!
Balance, the secret ingredient
Among the secrets of success, “doing nothing” (aka rest) is the unsung hero that rejuvenates our minds and prevents us from becoming vulnerable.
Self-compassion, the basic spice
It doesn’t matter if we don’t create the best work at the beginning. When we try new things, it’s okay to fall short of our own personal expectations. Add a little self-compassion and patience, and remember that every cook has cooked a dish or two.
Find fun in cooking
Life can be chaotic. We are human beings after all. Embracing chaos in the kitchen leads to creativity and sometimes the most delightful surprises. Did you know that chocolate chip cookies are made by mistake?
We need to understand that our journey through life is not linear. When we make mistakes, we may feel like we have failed or gone off track. We can be very confused. But it’s the experience of going through this chaos that brings us clarity.
So don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Be open to making messes and try to have fun doing it. This might get you closer to your goals than you expected or open up new possibilities you didn’t even know you could imagine.
Stir small changes
Remember, it takes time to develop new habits. Adapting to this new productivity secret doesn’t mean overhauling your menu overnight. Start with small, incremental steps—perhaps a morning ritual that includes a moment of gratitude, a new activity that allows you to disconnect and recharge, or a three-minute dance to yourself. Anything to bring you back to reality.
Change brews slowly, but once it takes shape, it creates sustainable results: a sense of peace, contentment and harmony—and it’s well worth the effort.
Productivity and Well-B’s Tie Plateain
By incorporating moments of mindfulness, rest and self-care, we create a more sustainable way of working and living. As a by-product, we are gifted with longevity.
Paradoxically, by letting go of our obsession with time management and producing results, we gain more quality time in our lives doing the things we enjoy and truly care about. Because we have more energy for them.
After working in the corporate world for over twelve years, I decided to quit my 9-5 job and enter the entrepreneurial world. As you know, starting your own business is like walking into uncharted territory. It can be exciting and scary at the same time. Unlike a corporate job, where your productivity parameters are defined, as an entrepreneur you create your own job.
This paradigm shift led me to embrace the techniques mentioned in this article. Not only did rethinking productivity keep me sane, but I actually enjoyed the work I did for the first time in a long time. I feel more energetic. Filled with more energy. And I had more fun. Now this is a recipe worth keeping.
If you find yourself lost and confused in a world so focused on productivity, be like a two-year-old and look at this amazing world with curiosity, wonder, and awe. Remember, no matter what you achieve, you are valuable.
About Tellab
Taylor is an author and founder of the Power Punch Project, a newsletter curating unconventional ways to increase productivity. “A tropical oasis in your inbox.” You can sign up for the free newsletter here: powerpunchproject.com.
