The trap of productivity:

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The trap of productivity.

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Feeling like you always need to be doing something.

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Always working for something.

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Always doing more.

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This has plagued me my whole life.

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The need to always be on.

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It comes from my parents.

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Specifically my mom.

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She’s a type A go-getter.

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Always on the move.

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Always planning something.

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Doing something.

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Keeping busy.

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She kept us busy as kids.

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Drove us around to all our activities.

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Was put in dance, tennis, swimming, soccer, basketball, and tennis as a kid.

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And that was just outside of school.

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Was also involved in all the extra-curriculars I could.

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I was that kid.

The resume kid.

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The one who tried to do everything.

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I’m very grateful for it now.

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But it’s also hindered me.

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It’s kept me on.

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24/7.

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Hard to stop.

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I’ve learned ways to stop.

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To relax.

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To chill.

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But it comes with guilt.

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Rest comes with this feeling that I should be doing more.

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It has taken me to unbelievable heights and got me accomplish much more than I could imagine.

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Got me into medical school at 16 in Scotland.

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Got me out of medicine.

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Got me to live in Amsterdam and Montreal.

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Got me to read 350+ books in the last few years.

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Got me to write 1100+ blog posts and 2 books since 2021.

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Got me to run 2 marathons.

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Got me to train for an Ironman.

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I have been more productive than most people are in their lives.

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And yet there’s this underlying feeling.

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This feeling that I’m not doing enough.

Not maximizing my time enough.

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Slacking off too much.

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Resting too much.

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I know these are lies.

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I know rest is important for performance.

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It’s the key to it.

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And yet I can’t seem to relax.

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To truly let go.

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To stop.

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To shut off.

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I’m always going.

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Always thinking.

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Always planning the next thing.

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Meditation has helped.

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It’s taught me to be more present.

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Forced me to stop.

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Reading has as well.

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Especially guys like Alan Watts.

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He had this great quote I saw recently that was a good reminder.

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‘Stop measuring days by degree of productivity and start experiencing them by degree of presence.’

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Remind yourself.

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The only moment that exists is now.

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Here.

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Right in front of you.

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Not before.

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Not after.

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Not worrying about what to do next.

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Focused on what’s in front of you.

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Enjoying the moment.

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No matter what it is.

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Today was a productive day.

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Finished 2 books.

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Worked out.

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Went to an appointment

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Met a friend for coffee.

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Did a lot today.

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And yet it doesn’t feel like enough.

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Feels like I need to do more.

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The last few months on sabbatical have been incredible.

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They’ve forced me to reconcile with what I want in my life.

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Forced me to reflect.

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To think more about my spirituality and my beliefs.

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It’s allowed me to read 40 books in a few months.

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To write 50+ blog posts.

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While spending 10+ hours a week training for an Ironman.

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It’s been truly special.

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And yet, it doesn’t feel like enough.

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This is what the trap of productivity can do to you.

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I need to get out of the measure of being productive.

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The KPI of always making sure to do something.

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Some days it’s healthy.

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It pushes me to keep going.

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But others, I need to remember.

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You don’t have to be productive.

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You don’t have to be on.

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It’s ok to relax.

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It’s ok to rest.

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It’s ok to take time for yourself.

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Be careful of falling into the trap of productivity.

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I’m still figuring out how to handle it.

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