Comments on: Why Trying to be Productive is a Huge Waste of Time http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/ Live on Your Own Terms Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:51:18 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Steven http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-30841 Steven Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:09:54 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-30841 Thought provoking article. The problem is that managers in our workplaces want us all to be ever more productive. There doesn't seem to be any sense of accomplishment because the goal posts for our productivity increase every year (sometime every quarter). You seem to write of a utopia - were we have a choice - but in reality most of us do not. I have to be more productive to earn money and survive. I could quit my job but then my family would be destitute. Thought provoking article. The problem is that managers in our workplaces want us all to be ever more productive. There doesn’t seem to be any sense of accomplishment because the goal posts for our productivity increase every year (sometime every quarter). You seem to write of a utopia – were we have a choice – but in reality most of us do not. I have to be more productive to earn money and survive. I could quit my job but then my family would be destitute.

]]> By: Ahmad http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-30467 Ahmad Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:03:14 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-30467 Really enjoyed the read. Actually I was scouting for how TO BE productive when came across your site and this post. Really like the quote that productivity assumes that your doing something positive but it's acutlally a rejection of yourself. I now understand- productivity can either be used to reject yourself and put yourself in a obsessive rat race even more, where you produce more but enjoy less. Or it can be used to liberate more and enjoy what your doing but just giving the time management aspects to fulfill dreams and goals that you would otherwise not be able to achieve (like me being on FB for 4-6 hrs straight is what i might love doing, but there are other better ways even to enjoy life! so there's another counterargument). I think your point is that there needs to be a balance. That getting more things done in less time doesn't mean anything and that there are somethings that take priority in life to accomplish. I think the main point is that you need to learn to be productive, but live yourself, live authentically, live goals and do things that are really important in your life, and be flexible to not follow your schedule sometime and enjoy life. the reason i am seeking to be productive is just that-- to live more authentic, to liberate myself, to accomplish the things in my life that i only dream about. So using productivity tools etc to enjoy your life more. your website is definitely bookmarked :) May God guide us to living truly for His sake. ~Ahmad Really enjoyed the read. Actually I was scouting for how TO BE productive when came across your site and this post.

Really like the quote that productivity assumes that your doing something positive but it’s acutlally a rejection of yourself.

I now understand- productivity can either be used to reject yourself and put yourself in a obsessive rat race even more, where you produce more but enjoy less. Or it can be used to liberate more and enjoy what your doing but just giving the time management aspects to fulfill dreams and goals that you would otherwise not be able to achieve (like me being on FB for 4-6 hrs straight is what i might love doing, but there are other better ways even to enjoy life! so there’s another counterargument).

I think your point is that there needs to be a balance. That getting more things done in less time doesn’t mean anything and that there are somethings that take priority in life to accomplish.

I think the main point is that you need to learn to be productive, but live yourself, live authentically, live goals and do things that are really important in your life, and be flexible to not follow your schedule sometime and enjoy life.
the reason i am seeking to be productive is just that– to live more authentic, to liberate myself, to accomplish the things in my life that i only dream about.

So using productivity tools etc to enjoy your life more.
your website is definitely bookmarked :)

May God guide us to living truly for His sake. ~Ahmad

]]> By: Fred http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-29675 Fred Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:35:18 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-29675 I really enjoyed this article. As a musician I'm always trying to cram in more practice and am always thinking of ways I can speed up my progress. I can definitely see how that mindset could be destructive. I really enjoyed this article. As a musician I’m always trying to cram in more practice and am always thinking of ways I can speed up my progress. I can definitely see how that mindset could be destructive.

]]> By: Lindsay http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-28758 Lindsay Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:25:31 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-28758 Brilliant. I'm quoting this on my blog. It's exactly what I needed to hear and savor on for a while. Brilliant.
I’m quoting this on my blog. It’s exactly what I needed to hear and savor on for a while.

]]> By: Top 12 Posts on How To Simplify Your Life — CrystalsQuest Crystals Quest http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-19672 Top 12 Posts on How To Simplify Your Life — CrystalsQuest Crystals Quest Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:53:42 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-19672 [...] Why Trying to be Productive is a Huge Waste of Time – best of all, this talks about how to decondition yourself from this bad habit. [...] [...] Why Trying to be Productive is a Huge Waste of Time – best of all, this talks about how to decondition yourself from this bad habit. [...]

]]> By: John Dillon http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-10318 John Dillon Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:15:14 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-10318 One part truth, two parts bullcrap. It's not all "do what you love" but also "love what you have to do" or sometimes it's "just do it" ... as Bhagavad Gita says, if its something you hate doing but you feel great when you are finished, then you did something REALLY GOOD. There is a world that needs to be taken care of, don't be so naive to believe your inborn PASSIONS are going to build the world perfectly, when in fact what's good is not always what your selfish passion is. For example some parents naturally love their children and put them number one, while others force themselves to sacrifice and do it even though it causes them discontent, they know it's right. It's only the assholes who would ditch their kids to "do what they love." You must also do what is required, your duty. If you don't do your duty, you're a cunt. One part truth, two parts bullcrap. It’s not all “do what you love” but also “love what you have to do” or sometimes it’s “just do it” … as Bhagavad Gita says, if its something you hate doing but you feel great when you are finished, then you did something REALLY GOOD. There is a world that needs to be taken care of, don’t be so naive to believe your inborn PASSIONS are going to build the world perfectly, when in fact what’s good is not always what your selfish passion is. For example some parents naturally love their children and put them number one, while others force themselves to sacrifice and do it even though it causes them discontent, they know it’s right. It’s only the assholes who would ditch their kids to “do what they love.” You must also do what is required, your duty. If you don’t do your duty, you’re a cunt.

]]> By: nameless http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-9994 nameless Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:02:50 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-9994 Loved Jack Yuen's comments. Echo, would not have heard his thoughts if I was trying to be productive. Purpose does seem to be a construct of our mind, most things are. It seems we need to live with sense of purpose, as humans need to feel in control of thier lives...hopefully, with understanding that we are not. The secret is to enjoy each moment for what it is, it is what we are doing. Taking ourselves too seriously, all the things we must accomplish causes us to continually think of the next task. Seems like checking the boxes becomes the purpose. You create your moments, might as enjoy them. Eckardt gives a great example of bird sitting on a branch, singing away, without any thought of what of what it is going to do next. Then the bird flies away, not knowing where it will go, what branch it end up on next. No worry of tomorrow. Each moment is just that. Loved Jack Yuen’s comments. Echo, would not have heard his thoughts if I was trying to be productive. Purpose does seem to be a construct of our mind, most things are. It seems we need to live with sense of purpose, as humans need to feel in control of thier lives…hopefully, with understanding that we are not.

The secret is to enjoy each moment for what it is, it is what we are doing. Taking ourselves too seriously, all the things we must accomplish causes us to continually think of the next task. Seems like checking the boxes becomes the purpose. You create your moments, might as enjoy them.

Eckardt gives a great example of bird sitting on a branch, singing away, without any thought of what of what it is going to do next. Then the bird flies away, not knowing where it will go, what branch it end up on next. No worry of tomorrow. Each moment is just that.

]]> By: jack yuen http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-9845 jack yuen Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:50:40 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-9845 Jonathan, A wonderful post. I don't know how I found this post - but it was surely not the result of trying to be productive! The truth is that we are not put on this earth to 'produce things'. We are here to find joy in the experience of 'doing things'- whether for some defined purpose (which is in itself a lie) or for NO defined purpose what so ever. The lie is: '...if I can just get these things done as quickly as possible - then I can get THAT, which will allow me to do the things that I want to do...' As a result of this lie, we take the joy out of doing what we are doing now... in the illusion that we will experience the joy later on. For many of us that future joy keeps falling out of our grasp. As it has been said, taking it one moment at a time, without the constraint of time guilt, will allow us to experience the joy of life now...tomorrow...next week...next month...next year... ...In one continuous stream! Jonathan,

A wonderful post.
I don’t know how I found this post – but it was surely not the result of trying to be productive!
The truth is that we are not put on this earth to ‘produce things’.
We are here to find joy in the experience of ‘doing things’- whether for some defined purpose (which is in itself a lie) or for NO defined purpose what so ever.

The lie is: ‘…if I can just get these things done as quickly as possible – then I can get THAT, which will allow me to do the things that I want to do…’
As a result of this lie, we take the joy out of doing what we are doing now… in the illusion that we will experience the joy later on. For many of us that future joy keeps falling out of our grasp.

As it has been said, taking it one moment at a time, without the constraint of time guilt, will allow us to experience the joy of life now…tomorrow…next week…next month…next year…
…In one continuous stream!

]]> By: Fellowship Fridays: Stress Management Tips & Techniques | Quest for Balance http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-9486 Fellowship Fridays: Stress Management Tips & Techniques | Quest for Balance Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:31:21 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-9486 [...] 3. Jonathan Mead, of Illuminated Mind, tells us Why Trying To Be Productive Is a Huge Waste Of Time. [...] [...] 3. Jonathan Mead, of Illuminated Mind, tells us Why Trying To Be Productive Is a Huge Waste Of Time. [...]

]]> By: Seven Traits of the Highly Remarkable Man http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/02/17/why-trying-to-be-productive-is-a-huge-waste-of-time/#comment-8977 Seven Traits of the Highly Remarkable Man Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:22:37 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=677#comment-8977 [...] smarter. Sometimes the law of diminishing returns proves to be accurate. For example, the impact on productivity of having a fairly organized workspace vs. one that is immaculate, is negligible. It’s a much [...] [...] smarter. Sometimes the law of diminishing returns proves to be accurate. For example, the impact on productivity of having a fairly organized workspace vs. one that is immaculate, is negligible. It’s a much [...]

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