Reflections on Productivity: June 2020
This month we have added four more women to The Yes List: YouTuber; Tiffany Ferguson, Artist; Charli XCX, Author and Artist; Jenny Odell and Founder of Sad Girls Club; Elyse Fox. All of these women have created work which we think speaks to the question of what productivity looks like during a pandemic. As we have been watching, listening, reading and following these women we have been reflecting on how our ideas of productivity have been challenged and what we’ve learnt. We have been talking it through with each other and asking our friends how they define a productive day right now.
Here are four of our reflections on what we have learnt about productivity;
Drop the guilt
The link between our idea of productivity and self-esteem is what can make these conversations so complicated and emotionally charged. If you feel bad about yourself after spending the day in your pjs, a lot of that guilt comes from larger forces at play (capitalism ding ding ding).
Not only that, but social media and the apps that we use on our phone have specifically been designed to be addictive, so if you find yourself spending more time on your phone than you wanted to - don’t be too hard on yourself, the algorithms are working hard to try and hold your attention for as long as possible.
If you struggle to find a healthy relationship with productivity it can be helpful to follow accounts that will remind you to be kind to yourself; Sad Girls Club founded by Elyse Fox is great for this, and so is @viva_la_poema, @worrywellbeing and @allex_elle.
Start thinking critically about our digital channels
On a good day a nasty comment or triggering post can floor you, pair this with a global pandemic (with the separation from friends and family, new working setups, childcare demands, and health anxieties that come with it) the results are mentally exhausting at best.
When we start to think critically about our digital habits - waking up and picking up your phone, checking work emails at the weekend, having your phone on the table when you eat... it becomes easier to take note and create new habits which allow you to refocus your attention from never-ending social feeds to the world around you. Tools like Aloe can help you bridge the gap and keep track of self care on and offline.
In the channels themselves, it’s valuable to connect to a sense of purpose. We give social media and our phones so much of our precious time, it makes sense to question what it is giving you in return. It helps to list out a few key things you’d like out of the relationship and to regularly check in and adjust if it's not delivering.
Stop optimising dumb stuff
If you are anything like us you’ll have tried apps, tools and tips to try to get the most out of every piece of your day. During lockdown as the personal and professional goes through a strange osmosis, we’re learning how to draw a line between them again and enjoy the long way round. Forget about presenting a perfect picture online and start enjoying what matters most to you whether that’s conversations with friends, watching the world go by or getting out into nature.
Make your own definition
There is no one definition of what productivity looks like. Even for each individual person it can look very different from day to day and month to month. Some days brushing your teeth and binge watching Netflix might be 100% the right amount of productivity for you and other days/weeks you might be able to write, record and release an entire album (we see you Charli).
One of our friends told us that “productivity for me has been me trying to process my emotions in a healthy way” which we thought was a great example of anti-capitalist productivity (go Elise!) Another said “I would define a productive day now as one where I've done things I want to do” which seems pretty spot on. So our advice is take time to ask yourself the same question - and if you’re up for it share your definition in the comments below - we’d love to hear your take!