Why Your Productivity Will Never Look Like Someone Else’s — And Why That’s Okay

There used to be a time when I thought productivity HAD to look this ‘this’ – the ‘this’ meant: I complete a few articles, publish them, and research my teaching curriculum. I was so fixated on productivity that it had no breathing space, let alone rest.

The boxed idea of productivity was so overwhelming that it was stressful most of the time. It always made me think I wasn’t good enough; I didn’t get to do these tasks while others had it all. This was a corporate hangover that took ages to shake off. It was much later that I realised I was measuring my productivity against others’, and that’s when I had to pause, rethink, and revisit my life goals.

Redefining productivity

The days I could manage only half or even nothing at all, I would get tense. I would get irritable; I felt my day was wasted. I would often feel distraught and share with my husband that I felt I wasn’t able to achieve as much as my peers; it must be that I’m not good enough. That’s when my husband made me realise that productivity doesn’t always have to be ‘doing’ or ‘achieving’ something.

Even sometimes, getting through the day, wrapping up housework on time and just relaxing with a cup of chai in front of the TV or in my favourite spot on the balcony is also ‘productive’. In fact, he always insists that I sit for a few minutes just doing nothing (no social media, no TV, no writing or art). I just couldn’t figure it out at all. I was so hardwired to give an ‘x’ amount of output because the others always seemed to be doing it all; anything less than that felt like a day wasted or like I wasn’t good enough.

Since then, I’ve learnt to relax and let go of the ‘need’ to fill in the space and void in time.

How do we measure our productivity vs someone else’s

We usually define our productivity based on someone else’s metrics, not realising their life ambitions, the sacrifices they’re willing to make, or the challenges they face. Our productivity does not occur in a silo or a vacuum; it depends on several factors.

The thing is, we’re so groomed by our corporate life that how our minimum on paper nine-hour shift (off-record, clocking in 14-16 hours and more) had to look like – our so called ‘productivity’ was tracked by a silent monitoring tool, that said if we were on our laptops working for minimum eight hours with a less than one minute loo break, it was counted as ‘productive’.

And if not the ‘corporate hangover’, the ‘Sharma ji ka beta’ syndrome, seems to creep in, where we often hear how a random relative or neighbour is always getting more things done than we are.

Yes, of course, it is good to set a deadline for ourselves, else we’ll be all over the place. And in the workspace, we need metrics to define our ‘productivity’; however, external factors beyond our control are seldom considered. Something that I have written in my previous pieces, so we won’t be delving into that now.

Productivity at a personal level

Productivity at a personal level, perhaps, need not always be measurable. It’s how we feel when we’ve wrapped up for the day.

After having quit corporate life in April last year, it took me a while to come to terms with ‘slowing down’. I always knew that ‘resting’ and ‘taking a break’ were equally productive, but it was so frowned upon. We’re now so ingrained in pushing our limits, going beyond our call of duty at work, and multitasking that we’re risking a faster drain and brain fog.

Now, being a wife, a homemaker, a mum to a teenager, a dog parent, a writing mentor and coach, I realise that ‘productivity’ for me can mean many things. Instead of going into a frenzy that I did not do ‘enough’ today, I count the things I’ve managed to achieve.

My personal productivity checklist

Waking up by 5:30 every morning, preparing breakfast and snack for my daughter – that’s productive.

What do I gain from it? Well, there’s a deep sense of satisfaction that I can contribute to my daughter’s well-being and school routine.

Here’s my productivity checklist now:

1. Going for a walk with my dog and playing with him in the park – that’s productive.
2. Getting to do my yoga and exercises – that’s productive.
3. Planning my meals for the day with my cook – that’s productive.
4. Spending time with my husband, having our morning coffee – that’s productive.
5. Checking on a friend every once in a while – that’s productive.
6. Talking to a concerned parent about their child not being eager to read or write and helping them calm down – that’s productive.
7. Having my meals on time – that’s productive.
8. Preparing fun and unique evening snacks for my daughter – that’s productive.
9. Taking her to classes – that’s productive.
10. Weekend movie nights with my daughter – that’s productive.
11. Teaching and mentoring kids – that’s productive.

What I’ve mentioned above is not what I can manage every day, but I do manage most days.

How can my productivity be the same every day? And since we’re human, our productivity cannot always be measured by a strict metric.

The outcome may not always be measurable and tangible, but over time, I have realised it makes a huge difference in your life, perspective and mental attitude. Because you feel grounded, in control of things, and able to make a difference or an impact, albeit in a small way, you feel confident.

Here’s a tip while creating your productivity checklist – make a list of activities or things that fill you with a sense of achievement, purpose and the ability to make a positive impact and difference – no matter how small. If it does, that’s a plus. If it doesn’t, revisit the activities with a fresh perspective or a positive shift in mindset. Our producivity checklist is not carved in stone, you can always revisit it and reprioritise it.

Define your ‘productive’/ Why Productivity Can’t Look the Same Every Day

Being productive doesn’t always have to involve a monetary angle. It could have a deep sense of satisfaction and achievement.

Rest is productive. If we don’t rest, we cannot be productive – the math is simple.

Ever since I bid adieu to corporate life, I’ve gone back to doing what I love most – art, cooking, writing, reading, researching, and mentoring. I know this may sound extremely ‘domestic’ to some, but it brings me immense joy, peace, calm, and grounding.

I follow a couple of YouTube channels – Home Gupshup and Simplify Your Space – and I’ve found that there are women like me who love being home and try to bring out the best in what they have, whether they’re homemakers, parents, or plant parents.

Being a homebody, I like to invest my time and energy in making my home look and feel the way I want it to. Because this is my place of zen, where I relax, self-soothe with my chai.

Create your productivity checklist, keep it doable and achievable and make it work for you. Don’t try to overdo it because your friend or sister can (this is the ‘Sharma ji ka beta syndrome we talked about earlier).

I launched The Write Compass where I have been mentoring children through my W.I.N.G.S Program, and it has been extremely productive for me. I realised how working with children from Grades 2 to 5 and Gades 5 to 7 and my 6 Month Writing Course with senior students from Grade 8+ has helped me evolve as an individual.

The concept of personal productivity is not a far-fetched idea. It all depends on our mindset as to what we want to achieve. It is different for each one of us, and comparing it with someone else may not be wise. If you’re looking for a more grounded, soothing, calm and well-balanced slow-paced life, personal productivity would be the best thing for you.

If you’re keen to explore journaling or a creative art reset to support your pause and rest, we can help. As a Writing Mentor and Creative Thinking Coach, I mentor students and work with adults (professionals, retirees, homemakers) to hit the pause/reset button by learning to journal, write, or even be restfully creative.

One does not need to be a writer or an artist, but just an openness to pause and learn something soothing, because who knows, it could spark a life waiting to be unfolded and boost your productivity!

Get in touch with us at The Write Compass, or let’s connect over a Discovery Call to see what program works best for you.