Why The Quest For “Perfect” Productivity Will Fail
“Perfect” productivity is the wrong path for an impossible quest.
Before the pandemic, the productivity advocates were telling us how to design the perfect morning routine or the steps needed for top work performance. This has intensified with the “new normal”, their message now calls for us to be writing books, learning Spanish, and doing two workouts a day.
Undertaking such projects or goals is not always a bad idea. It can become the case though when any break from pursuing them is equated to laziness. Two hours a day spent watching videos online may sound to you like a poor use of time. Yet, for some it will allow an all-important rest and a way to process their emotions and thoughts, following another “groundhog” day of lockdown.
The human brain needs to recharge. These productivity advocates fail to realise that creativity and insight come from activities they consider “lazy”. A long night’s sleep may feature a dream that implants an idea for a screenplay, and a TV show can change your perspective on how to approach failure. These examples challenge the long-held views of society and what we define as “productive behaviour”.
Meanwhile, the speed of life has continued to ramp up, even in the face of the global pandemic. Not only due to the forces of the global economy, but those of technology too.
We expect immediate action will achieve instant “success”. Technology has created wealth at speeds never seen before. A start-up born today can become a global presence in less than a decade. An Instagram influencer can earn more than the CEOs of major companies. In such an environment, patience becomes a vice, and risk-taking becomes the rule of the “game”. This is pressed upon to no group more than young people.
There is no time for thinking. The pressure to achieve “success” in life for young people such as myself, extends far beyond that of their future career. It is multi-layered, and demanding. Such measures of success include: peak fitness, the perfect career, wealth, an active social life and the perfect partner. Social media is the greatest transmitter of such messages. For a young person to feel progress towards these goals, a constant hustle must take place, where choices in work and leisure are often taken to please others. The chance of burnout never being too far away.
The prism of lockdown removes the mental loopholes. The excesses of “perfect” productivity before lockdown were kept in check by certain outlets. A guilt-free hour or two of chill after the evening commute, and the Friday night release . Now, the rules of lockdown stop or restrict the following: outside entertainment, socialising and the clear boundaries of the work day. Therefore, you have more control over your time than ever before. You have no excuse but to work on the goals needed for “success”. Every moment spent watching a TV show is a lost opportunity for growth. If you want that perfect career, you should do a “free” online course that you have been told is needed. You want to be body beautiful, now there is time for multiple workouts a day.
The better message: Find Your Path And Your Pace. You have been presented with the opportunity to shape your day. You may love to cook every evening. You may find that a short nap in the afternoon gives you the energy you always lacked. In life, you may find that card games or birdwatching bring you joy. It may not fit into any money-making possibilities or your idea of “success”, yet if it makes you satisfied and gives you energy, that is the most important point.
A happy person is a productive person. This is the contradiction of “perfect” productivity”. If you are always doing activities that you dislike such as working out or doing “online” courses you can’t bear, you will procrastinate. This has been shown in recent studies, as a way in which we manage negative emotions. This will always be a challenge that you face at work, with tasks that you don’t enjoy, but must be done. To do this to your free-time is not just unfair on you, but will reduce your willpower for when you really need it.
