Six Ways To Feel Productive When Productivity Isn’t Your Goal.

As previously stated, I’m a huge fan of taking 30 days to reset your samskaras… or thought channels.

It’s mid-day, day 20ish, when I realize I hadn’t posted anything tracking my path… that whole accountability thing everyone talks about.  It hits me, how crazy badly I need a routine… of some sort.  I recognize that without a “something to do”, I don’t do anything.  This particular week started out pretty bad, personally, which normally takes me a day or two to overcome… and that’s a samskara I need working on.  We all have them.  It’s good to recognize them.

Working at one of my new offices.

From the comfort of my deck, under the shining sun, I read a couple blog posts and sifted through my Emails.  It gave me some motivation and I suggest doing so in times when you are struggling with the idea that you’re wasting this gift of freedom.

I also suggest the following six ideas to feel productive when productivity isn’t your goal.

1: Journal

Journal to get out The Corporate Routine out of your head (or anything else, for that matter).

As any reader knows, I’ve got some personal stuff rummaging around my head taking away my focus.  Little conversations that will never actually be had keep repeating up there in my brain… stealing valuable clock cycles (you’re welcome my old compadres!).  It was insanely useful to just write down one of the conversations.  It may be nothing but vapor, however:

• It gives the issue some space to breathe on its own without your brain as a parasite.
• It is 500 words of writing experience… syntax, grammar, spelling, defining voice.
• Someone with a talented voice can write out their own random thoughts and people will seek it out.  Will this happen to you tomorrow?  Is the issue in your current core work?  Maybe not on both counts.  However, no writing is a complete waste of time.

2: Generate motivation!

Catch up on that backlog of emails and RSS feed to clear the plate for you to begin focusing forward.

Here are a few tidbits I found interesting this week.  The links are to the entire article.

Action is more important than objects.  This article makes a point that other cultures start teaching children action words before nouns like Westerners.  Pretty poignant while moving beyond work into your Digital Nomad Path.

John Greathouse discusses The Herd mentality and how to move away from it.  While I was already away from it, this was a great reminder of why I did it… that I want to matter… that I made the right choice.  “The Herd” will always take you back.  It’s a good thing to remember.  Even in a bad economy, you still have the option of going back to a day-job.

Part of Benjamin Jenks’ goals is to help 100 people live their dream along the course of living his.  Oh yeah!  Focusing on the idea of helping people returns you to the roots of why you’re doing something.  If you’re only in it for you, then you’re in it for the wrong reason.

3: Accomplish something easy

… and quick

It doesn’t really matter what it is, but if there’s something that’s only going to take a few minutes, just do it.  It’s a small sense of accomplishment

I already had a post written for last week, so publishing it really wasn’t that big of a deal.  Had I not wembled on the publishing, and just done it, I could have concentrated on something a little more important: Designing your lifestyle is just as important as doing things.

Last week, I found myself literally living a dream.  That should have been enough… and would have been much more fun to turn over in my mind.

4. Discover your new way to make money!

There are a lot of articles out there that tell you quick ways to earn money and there’s likely something along the lines of your chosen profession.  Find people that resonate with you, take good notes, and act on what they do.  Simply put: Getting paid to do what you love is a huge motivator!

Before I left my job, I already had a couple clients for Web Site Maintenance.  One of them paid their monthly invoice this week and that felt good.

5. Don’t Panic!

Yes, that’s on the cover of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but that doesn’t make it a false statement.  It’s OK.  Understand your panic.  Remember, things are going to work out.

• Confession time:  I panicked.  I’ve started entertaining some 9-5 positions.  I know!  Already!  However, it’s a good feeling that jobs are out there.  It doubles the safety net so to speak.
• I also took a couple waiter shifts at a restaurant.  I said I’d wait until 3 months in, but the opportunity was there… so I’m taking it, now.  It’s on a fill-in basis, so I can accept or deny shifts as I feel inclined.  It also is a foot-in-the door of bar-tending and frankly, I loved doing that.  A job: Yes.  Different: Yes!

6. Escape into pleasure.

Look, if you’re not going to be productive, you should be enjoying something.  What are some of your Personal Design Elements?  Can you go work on one of those?

No BS Zone

De-stressing doesn’t necessarily mean doing nothing at all.  Do something… anything… To sum this week’s article up: Don’t get so focused on Un-Corporate America, that you get caught up just trying to get away from it.  You’re going somewhere.  Focus more on moving in that direction, than on moving away from the 9-5.

What are some other ideas to keep you from feeling just stagnant?  I’ve got a comments section, you’ve got a keyboard.