Reframing Productivity

One day, I was in a meeting with Pastor Rich. I don’t remember the context, but I must’ve been sharing a frustration because the only thing I remember from that meeting is what he told me.

He gave me insight into the trajectory of a creative moving into management: it often means doing less creative work and more managing people.

That conversation started my journey to reframe what productivity means for me.

I’ve realized that when I don’t get to create, I become frustrated and feel like I’m not being productive.

A few years after that conversation, when I returned to my creative business, I felt that frustration even more. I was so annoyed by all the things I had to do to run a business—like invoices, meetings, budgets, accounting, insurance, and taxes 😵‍💫

Then I remembered Pastor Rich’s insight: I needed to reframe my idea of productivity. I realized that I was being productive, but I didn’t feel it because I wasn’t creating all the time. When I understood that productivity is about working towards a goal, got clear on my goals, and accepted that all these tasks were part of creating the life I envisioned, I felt so much better.

Are you feeling unproductive or overwhelmed by tasks you don’t want to do but have to? Try reframing what you consider to be productive. All the work you do, whether creative or administrative, is part of the journey toward your goals.

If this H@zy Talk was helpful for you, I share a practice that helps me keep my productivity intact. Watch it here.