Great read, thanks! I started my PhD studies just this year, but I can totally relate to every word. Working full-time, being a mom of two, studying for a PhD and Gestalt psychotherapy at the same time, and still making time for sports and the things I enjoy has really taught me that every task takes as much time as you give it. And when you’re actually busy, there’s just no time for overthinking or overanalyzing — you just get things done, and that’s that.
Absolutely love this and a great reminder to myself as well. Last year, I was in a horrible place, and it showed on my skin too with really bad breakouts. I was miserable and it showed. It all stemmed from me feeling too pressured to be productive and creative in a capitalist structure. I tracked every metric too just to make sure I was doing something. I convinced myself if I wasn't busy, I wasn't good enough.
Sometime at the end of 2024, I took time off to just 'be.' I did everything slowly and intentionally. Brought that energy into the following year, and happy to say thinking "It's never that serious," changed my life — I no longer vilify myself for not being productive, I listen to my body's flow, because if always works out when I approach it slowly. Being able to think past the clutter also allowed me to plan and organise big projects, slicing them into smaller chunks and timing them.
Funny enough, I feel more productive now even though I have set more boundaries and prioritised myself. The output of my work has improved too. I now even have time for family and hobbies. And yes, my skin cleared tremendously as well.
That's beautiful, Shafiqah. It's amazing how the 'slow down' can actually lead to so much more being done. Love the the journey you've taken (and the clear skin is a delightful bonus!)
I am semi-retired, trying to make more of a living, trying to have time for retraining in the arts and doing volunteer work, while I make money to supplement my retirement income. And it always seems to be so hard to “find time” to do the things I actually want to do like creative projects, as opposed to just putting in more hours of my desk. Which is very hard on the body.
I absolutely love this post because it gave me an idea that I could actually use because the endless quote “to do” list is not workable. I have one as long as both arms that would run out the door.
And the one thing I would add to the organizing side of this is that once you decide what’s important for you to get done, then that can become a stable point of reference to align all the other things too.
And then you can see if the next thing that you’re about to do is going to forward or hinder your basic goal for that day, or a certain time.
One thing I have found for myself is that my most productive days start with a list of things that I must get done in that day and I write it the night before, and then adjust it as needed.
And I have to actually include the things that forward my own personal purposes on that list. Whether it’s completing a step of art lesson, attending a virtual class, or whatever it is, if it’s not on the list it will never be done.
And later in the day, I always check my production list. I see something that is on the list that doesn’t need to be actually done, or it will impede getting good rest to be fresh for the next day, it gets re-prioritized. I work out a way to do it more quickly, or shift to another day and it goes back on the “battle plan” that I am making ahead.
And I don’t mean sweeping the task under the rug, I mean looking at the things that I have to do, the time that I have available that day, or on a future day, and where I could be more efficient in combining several tasks say on one trip out.
Great article! Years ago I read Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (thanks for the spelling!) and found his insights informative and transforming of my time and thinking of priorities.
The problem is that that approach -- as with all the other productivity approaches -- still assumes you can somehow set appropriate priorities when you have a to-do list that is over a hundred items long and most of them are both urgent and important. Then it kind of breaks down.
Great piece, thanks! Lately, I've been discovering how much happens in the space of inactivity. Doing nothing or setting aside a time for mini silent retreats (even w/i my own home or city); an incredible clarity arises in that space of inactivity, not to mention pleasure. Speaking of pleasure: there's that which comes from following your passion and creating what you feel aligned with and another pleasure in simply being. I learned that after spending too much time in my creative sphere, doing things I loved but neglecting other aspects of myself. Doing what we love can also become a source of distraction and emptiness when we don't leave time for rest and other aspects of our being to be nurtured. cheers!
Great read! As I was going through the article, I was thinking that may be it’s the fear of facing disappointment about the outcome after putting big efforts that holds us back from getting to the stage where quality is the ultimate goal!
Fascinating! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining industry line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.
Losing all my free time brought me to a crossroads where I had to reexamine everything I thought I knew about productivity. For so long, productivity was measured by completed tasks, hours logged, and endless checkmarks on a to-do list. But when free time disappeared, it became glaringly obvious that relentless work without pause wasn’t a mark of achievement it was a sure path to burnout and a diminished capacity for creativity and meaningful connections.
Great read, thanks! I started my PhD studies just this year, but I can totally relate to every word. Working full-time, being a mom of two, studying for a PhD and Gestalt psychotherapy at the same time, and still making time for sports and the things I enjoy has really taught me that every task takes as much time as you give it. And when you’re actually busy, there’s just no time for overthinking or overanalyzing — you just get things done, and that’s that.
Thank you Danny Kenny for your insight and wisdom I love to learn how to use my time properly and always felt I could have been more productive.
Congratulations on finding your groove. Life doesn't always permit this focus. I'm retired. I have it now...
Absolutely love this and a great reminder to myself as well. Last year, I was in a horrible place, and it showed on my skin too with really bad breakouts. I was miserable and it showed. It all stemmed from me feeling too pressured to be productive and creative in a capitalist structure. I tracked every metric too just to make sure I was doing something. I convinced myself if I wasn't busy, I wasn't good enough.
Sometime at the end of 2024, I took time off to just 'be.' I did everything slowly and intentionally. Brought that energy into the following year, and happy to say thinking "It's never that serious," changed my life — I no longer vilify myself for not being productive, I listen to my body's flow, because if always works out when I approach it slowly. Being able to think past the clutter also allowed me to plan and organise big projects, slicing them into smaller chunks and timing them.
Funny enough, I feel more productive now even though I have set more boundaries and prioritised myself. The output of my work has improved too. I now even have time for family and hobbies. And yes, my skin cleared tremendously as well.
That's beautiful, Shafiqah. It's amazing how the 'slow down' can actually lead to so much more being done. Love the the journey you've taken (and the clear skin is a delightful bonus!)
Much appreciated, the way the nuance is held here.
I am semi-retired, trying to make more of a living, trying to have time for retraining in the arts and doing volunteer work, while I make money to supplement my retirement income. And it always seems to be so hard to “find time” to do the things I actually want to do like creative projects, as opposed to just putting in more hours of my desk. Which is very hard on the body.
I absolutely love this post because it gave me an idea that I could actually use because the endless quote “to do” list is not workable. I have one as long as both arms that would run out the door.
And the one thing I would add to the organizing side of this is that once you decide what’s important for you to get done, then that can become a stable point of reference to align all the other things too.
And then you can see if the next thing that you’re about to do is going to forward or hinder your basic goal for that day, or a certain time.
One thing I have found for myself is that my most productive days start with a list of things that I must get done in that day and I write it the night before, and then adjust it as needed.
And I have to actually include the things that forward my own personal purposes on that list. Whether it’s completing a step of art lesson, attending a virtual class, or whatever it is, if it’s not on the list it will never be done.
And later in the day, I always check my production list. I see something that is on the list that doesn’t need to be actually done, or it will impede getting good rest to be fresh for the next day, it gets re-prioritized. I work out a way to do it more quickly, or shift to another day and it goes back on the “battle plan” that I am making ahead.
And I don’t mean sweeping the task under the rug, I mean looking at the things that I have to do, the time that I have available that day, or on a future day, and where I could be more efficient in combining several tasks say on one trip out.
Thanks so much for this helpful article!
Great article! Years ago I read Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (thanks for the spelling!) and found his insights informative and transforming of my time and thinking of priorities.
Congratulations on recapturing lost time!
good stuff
Excellent and useful observations shared clearly.
The problem is that that approach -- as with all the other productivity approaches -- still assumes you can somehow set appropriate priorities when you have a to-do list that is over a hundred items long and most of them are both urgent and important. Then it kind of breaks down.
Great piece, thanks! Lately, I've been discovering how much happens in the space of inactivity. Doing nothing or setting aside a time for mini silent retreats (even w/i my own home or city); an incredible clarity arises in that space of inactivity, not to mention pleasure. Speaking of pleasure: there's that which comes from following your passion and creating what you feel aligned with and another pleasure in simply being. I learned that after spending too much time in my creative sphere, doing things I loved but neglecting other aspects of myself. Doing what we love can also become a source of distraction and emptiness when we don't leave time for rest and other aspects of our being to be nurtured. cheers!
Great read! As I was going through the article, I was thinking that may be it’s the fear of facing disappointment about the outcome after putting big efforts that holds us back from getting to the stage where quality is the ultimate goal!
You only realise the blessing of time when there isn't enough of it.
Fascinating! I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining industry line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking.
check us out:
https://thesecretingredient.substack.com
This is great - a very refreshing perspective in today's hustle culture. I will definitely give this framing exercise a try!
Losing all my free time brought me to a crossroads where I had to reexamine everything I thought I knew about productivity. For so long, productivity was measured by completed tasks, hours logged, and endless checkmarks on a to-do list. But when free time disappeared, it became glaringly obvious that relentless work without pause wasn’t a mark of achievement it was a sure path to burnout and a diminished capacity for creativity and meaningful connections.