here´s how chilling out in life can be productive for you.
here´s how chilling out in life can be productive for you.
Don´t take productivity for granted. It might be up for surprises.
30.03.24
“Weekends and holidays shouldn’t be time to recover.”
“They should be time to rejoice. Burnout cultures exhaust us through the week and force us to recharge during our time off. Healthy cultures provide daily space to refuel. Some perspectives that have helped me refuel lately.”
It´s been quite some time now, but Adam Grant´s writing will always be of such tremendous use and spark for our minds, won´t it?
This little extract from one of his newsletter´s issues was some kind of a reassuring pad in the back for me.
For months I´ve dwelled with this echo in my head: you need to write more, be productive, rise and shine! And for the long run, it seemed like the plan.
However the more I experienced around it, the more I found a lack of enthusiasm to continue that old long game of working past mid night, or not having any chances for relaxation to come into my door, knocking for a little time-off.
Anyways, I decided that path should lead me no matter what to the end result: leading a bright community and creating something meaningful out there.
Bringing passionate minds all together for a journey of self-awareness, enhanced work, and intentional/focused living.
This seems like a big goal, hence the charm behind the science of working ´till you make it. I wish I had had this revelation long ago: productivity, or its equal: quality work should not be forced all day, just aid to make its progress.
Adam Grant took this advice way before apparently, and reached to its core:
Healthy culture are there for us to recharge and have peace of mind, not war of craft.
That´s why I love writing. it brings me peace, joy, fulfillment, and healthy challenges.
But when pushed too far the consequences are lethal: long burn-out sessions trying to make sense of the keyboard alignment in front of me and how is it possible I couldn´t write any word for the last 20 minutes (just staring at a popping cursor)…
That´s not cool. At all.
So how can we generate a healthy approach to the “productivity” culture we live in?
I like to call it the slow-steady flow.
Even better, it´s a catchy name, right?
The slow-steady flow
It allows our energy tank to be depleted intentionally.
Our fight with time is ceased and instead replaced with a connection between good work, our energy capabilities, and the quality of the process.
Slow-steady flow requires that you dissect your schedule accordingly. Knowing when you work at your best, and when is it time for your optimal recharge.
➯ This recharge can look like going for an outside walk.
➯ Taking a big glass of water into your system.
➯ Making space for a good friend´s call or meet-up.
➯ Grabbing your best read for the day and enjoy of 15 minutes of uninterrupted exhilarating pleasure! (You may be able to find some amazing reads in Substack, just saying.)
Even better: sitting on a comfortable chair, listening to some music, or simply sitting there with your own thoughts and feelings.
That could make you feel in control again.
Because the thing with “rejoicing” is that it implies a subtle type of recovery.
Not a forceful one, not a productivity-centered type of “relaxation”. No.
Rejoicing is taking out the trash inside us and making space for better experiences.
It is taking the time and energy to work smart while appreciating the opportunity to live a little each day.
The best of two worlds combined: productivity and enjoyment.
This is the example you were looking for: fun and work can be intertwined.
You only have to focus on making it a reality.
🎬 Review
Here is a glimpse of the work I did during the week, and also the links to my socials if you´d like to immerse more in the content I create on a daily basis.
I only create videos that serve this purpose: help build a community of driven minds passionate for learning, growth, wellness and wisdom.
📸 Instagram 📹Youtube #️⃣ Twitter ✨ TikTok
✍🏻 Previous Letter
➥ Hey, in case you didn’t receive it, here is last week´s newsletter edition.
Expect a high-quality read inside.
🧠 Reflection
Don´t apologize for being different.
You are defining what success feels like.
Don´t try to impress people who don´t get it.
Before we wrap this talk, just a quick reminder:
➥ If you enjoyed what you read and found real value, please, be my guest and share your read with a friend or special person.
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Thanks for reading the letter! I promise more to come.
See you on the next edition of the Driven Minds Newsletter, until then:
Stay happy 💭
- Alex
