Do your friends, spouse or significant other think interest in productivity is silly, pointless or a waste of time? Then you need help being productive in a hostile environment.
The corner of the internet occupied by personal productivity blogs and resources is quite a little community. But it’s sometimes easy to forget that outside the community there’s a widespread lack of understanding as to what it’s all about. Many are prone to laugh and scoff at the whole concept.
For example, my partner can’t understand how I can possibly want to spend time reading blogs in the niche. Common questions I get are along the lines of “why don’t you spend less time reading about productivity and more time being productive?” and “did you do the washing up or were you too busy being productive?”
Maybe it’s just me, but I sometimes have a hard time getting across that I spend time both reading about and doing, that learning about productivity is both a means to a more productive end and an enjoyable activity in its own right.
I realized I was clearly losing the battle for hearts and minds and I fear others may be too. So I’ve come up with five tactics to make easier the pursuit and practice of productivity in a hostile environment:
1. Demonstrate Results
There’s a well-documented temptation, especially with productivity systems, to spend all your time tinkering and tweaking the system rather than actually getting anything done. I’ve certainly been guilty of this in the past. But this is a sure recipe for mocking that you’re all reading and no doing. By having to show what you’ve done to escape the mocking, the incentive is there to quit procrastinating and get on with it. This works in the same way as making your commitment public when trying to break a habit or make a change - the thought of others’ disappointment or gloating really helps to keep you on track.
2. Out of Sight, Out of Mind
I get up early to blog, read my feeds and pursue various other personal projects. Much easier to firewall time when it’s not under challenge for being a waste of time that could be better spent on home improvements.
3. Make it Relevant
If you can pass on something of value from your learnings that gives you an excellent platform for demonstrating that what you’re doing isn’t a waste of time. For example, my partner loves the new menu plan I suggested we adopt. And where do you think that idea came from? The same goes for your friends, if you can apply something you’ve learned to a problem they’ve got, your weird little hobby will become more tangible and less risible.
4. Don’t be Ashamed
When I first started getting into this topic I kept it a secret from everyone, thinking they’d think it was odd. But remember as long as you’re confident about it, you can sell anything to anyone: see my post on how to make your own cool for more details.
5. Draw Comparisons
If you are still having trouble convincing those you wish to, I suggest changing your approach by drawing comparisons between your ‘waste of time’ and their preferred time wasters. Common time wasters that can be pointed out include watching rubbish on TV, video games and reading trash novels. Of course if you’re an avid video game player yourself, your argument will be somewhat undermined!
I hope some or all of these work for you. If you’ve got any more theoretical or road tested tactics, please let us know in the comments.
This article was written by Richard Thomas. Richard writes on productivity in the real world at his blog pantsonfaster.com.
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[…] Productivity in a Hostile Environment […]
For me, I could substitute the word “productivity” with “blogging” in this article and it would sum up my situation pretty well at times (although it would be a bit too extreme to call it “hostile”). The first four points are very effective. I would be very careful about using #5 though!
Richard, your place sounds like mine at the moment.
“When are you ever going to make your first million?”
“Why do you spend so much time on that darn computer?”
“If what you are doing is meant to be a money-making business why am I still working?”
I use your #2 and #3 a lot. #5 could be taken a bit negatively in my situation.
How about this for #6?
6. Take Care of the Little Things
Take short breaks from your activities to make sure the little things in life are taken care of.
* Always keep the garbage bins emptied
* Wash up as often as needed
* Bring home a gift occasionally
* Feed the dog/cat/giraffe
* Make the bed and take out the dirty clothes
Adapt the idea to your situation. By keeping on top of the niggling jobs it helps to smooth out the day and free up more time to be productive.
- Geoff
Tip #7 - Do what you know is best for you. You can’t let other people hold you back or hold you down. IF the people around you are the right ones, they will understand. If they do NOT understand, then they are not the right people for you to be around.
That’s my opinion.
Mr. Positioning
Stanley F. Bronstein
Attorney, CPA, Author & Professional Speaker
I have to come in slightly on the side of your partner. If the expectation is that you have certain household chores that are your responsibility - the washing up for example - and they are being neglected in favour of reading productivity blogs then your partner will have some negativity towards to your reading of productivity blogs.
I think #6 suggested by Geoff Robertson is a pretty good idea.
Also I’m sure there are some activities that your partner does that you see as a waste of time.
You’re right that you have to approach such a situation delicately, you can’t just do what you want with no regard for other obligations.
But there is scope for compromise. That’s why I follow tip 2 - get up early to focus on my priorities - leaving time to pull my weight elsewhere as Ben suggests. Which tactics you use will partly be informed by who you’re dealing with.
[…] are two great articles to get your started: The Radical Simplicity Manifesto by Cal Newport and Productivity in a Hostile Environment by Pick The […]