{"id":11490,"date":"2012-09-24T21:22:20","date_gmt":"2012-09-25T05:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=11490"},"modified":"2013-09-20T08:57:44","modified_gmt":"2013-09-20T16:57:44","slug":"could-productivity-be-taking-over-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/could-productivity-be-taking-over-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Productivity Be Taking Over Your Life?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Imagine this:<\/p>\n

You wake up one morning feeling dissatisfied with your life. You\u2019re in a dead end job, you\u2019re overweight, your house is messy, and you know that the problems stem from a single cause \u2013 you never seem to get things done.<\/p>\n

On this particular day, something gives you a little jolt of inspiration. You decide that this is it: you\u2019re turning your life around. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the next few weeks, months, maybe even years, you do just that. You take some evening classes and switch careers. You lose weight and get fit \u2013 you even start training for a marathon. You declutter your whole house.<\/p>\n

And life looks a lot better.<\/p>\n

But…<\/p>\n

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Now that you\u2019ve been bitten by the productivity bug, it\u2019s hard to stop.<\/strong> You remember how great it felt to finally have that sense of achievement \u2013 to know that your life was going somewhere. You think that if only you could be just a bit more productive, things would be even better.<\/p>\n

You start working longer hours, trying to cram more into the day. You constantly read new books and blog posts on productivity, looking for new ways to use your time as efficiently as possible. You ditch social events as a \u201cdistraction\u201d or a \u201cwaste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perhaps, as your focus on productivity at all costs grows, you even end up short-changing your partner or children.<\/strong> After all, a leisurely romantic meal doesn\u2019t seem very productive \u2013 nor does spending four hours building a fort with your kids.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure you can see where this is heading: too much productivity will make you unhappy, not happy.<\/p>\n

Productivity Alone is Not an Achievement<\/h2>\n

Being productive is a great way to make the most of your limited time on this planet. If you struggle with procrastination or poor time management, reading a good book or attending a seminar that tackles these topics can be a real help.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important, though, to think about why<\/em> you want to be more productive<\/strong> \u2013 and to hold onto that reason so you don\u2019t lose your perspective.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you want to solve your time management issues so you can finish work at 5pm and come home to your family.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you want to be more organized, so you don\u2019t waste so much of your life on trivia like where you left your car keys.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you simply want to be the best person you can be.<\/p>\n

Learning to be more productive can and will help you reach your goals. But productivity in itself, however, won\u2019t give your life meaning.<\/p>\n

Is it Time for You to Be Less Productive?<\/h2>\n

If you feel as though you\u2019re on a treadmill, forcing yourself to squeeze maximum productivity out of every moment of your day, then it\u2019s time to slow down.<\/p>\n

Of course, I\u2019m not saying that being productive is bad<\/em> … but, as with many things in life (like chocolate!), it\u2019s easy to have too much of a good thing.<\/p>\n

Give yourself a chance to reconnect with what\u2019s truly important in your life, like:<\/p>\n