If you’re interested in productivity, you know the feeling of adopting a new practice or system with high hopes for how it’s going to improve your life. The problem is, the results are often underwhelming. “Huh,” we think. “This new system is kind of helpful, I guess, but I was hoping for a more dramatic effect.”
Here are three reasons we experience disappointment after increasing productivity (and how to deal with it).
How much do you accomplish during an average workday?
If you’re like me, you probably spend most days completing many small, relatively unimportant tasks (I love Seth Godin’s term for this: “roach-stomping”).
You’re always working, but you wish you had more time to spend on the big stuff on your plate. You’re also frequently interrupted by other people and your own electronic devices.
We’re all busy. But busyness and productivity are not the same thing.
*My [last post](https://jonathanvieker.com/problems-with-personal-development-part-1/) was about two big problems with personal development (and their solutions), and this post covers three more.*
If you want to work more efficiently, gain new skills, become more valuable in today’s economy, or even just lose a few pounds, you’ve got to deal with a few challenges. Some are part of the personal development industry, and some are part of each of us.
Life is all about tradeoffs.
Every movement, every organization, every activity has baggage. There’s always something you have to put up with in order to reap the benefits. For instance:
At the symphony, you have to deal with some hoity-toityness. Orchestra concerts have a bunch of unspoken, seemingly arbitrary rules like this one:
During a multi-movement piece, no clapping between movements. Ever. God help you if you clap between movements. Except if, like, it was a really well-played movement. Then it’s a nice gesture.
We can get used to anything. Even a sweet yacht like this one.
Happiness is not a “when” and a “where”; it is a “here” and a ”now.” — Zig Ziglar
This too shall pass. — Unknown
I just got off the phone with my mechanic, and he had some bad news for me.
Sarah and I have had our beloved Nissan Sentra since 2007, and after 170,000 uneventful miles, ol’ BOBPLEX finally needs some work.