For most of my adult life, I’ve been seeking efficiency, productivity, not waste time, as I needed to find the best way to the end. Not sure because I’ve reached to the end or because I realized the journey is the end, I stopped seeking it. Yet, back in my mind, I still have those impulses and have to remind myself not to pursue those impulses. Manifestation of this effort:
- Switching to music instead of podcast that usually I could have learned something.
- Watching movies/TV instead of reading a book on leisure time.
- Spending hours in the kitchen to make homemade food for my family on weekends instead of doing something more productive.
- Spend extra long time stretching, showering, grooming.
- Not joining meetings that I’ve been invited to because I don’t think I’ll add much nor get much.
- Declining more often work invites if I really don’t want to do it.
What non-productive thing you do that your younger self wouldn’t allow it?
Our New Journey 
Interesting! I was raised by parents that ALWAYS have to be doing something “productive”… well, not always always but they definitely value it above many other things and honestly kind of I think have a bit of a superiority complex around it (ie “productive”= “better”.) I think by nature I also get a lot of satisfaction from checking things off a list or getting things done etc, but I like the idea a lot of slowing down and just enjoying things too. I think I do have a pretty decent balance, though I do still struggle with always having a list a mile long of things I want or need to do (see my may goals post 😆).
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I really like this reflection.
Many of the things on your list ARE productive, simply in a different way. Cooking for your family, stretching properly, not wasting time in silly meetings, resting your mind with music or TV… you choose those things intentionally so that you can live the life you want to live.
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I think making homemade food for your family IS productive! You are doing something special and important! But I know what you mean. We are conditioned to be productive. One of my friends told me that she doesn’t read books because it makes her feel “lazy” to sit and read. To me, reading is LIFE. So it’s sad that feels like a waste of time for her.
We only get one life, and I’m in the “back 9” era of mine, so I don’t want to waste time – but that means I want to enjoy myself, which is not “productive” but it’s productive in that it’s bringing me a happy life!
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I agree with Nicole- making food for you family is productive! That’s the main thing that jumped out at me from this post. But that just shows how ultra-productive you normally are, if you consider it an indulgence.
I would say I listen to more “fun” podcasts now as opposed to “educational.” Also, my reading is almost 100% fiction, so I also consider that to be enjoyable rather than productive. And I guess I have blogging, which feels productive to me, but is also just a fun hobby.
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I hope more people can take this approach to life. Slowing down and looking around, noticing your life, this is so valuable. It can be difficult for someone who is ‘type A’, very driven and motivated, but I think it gives life more meaning.
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