The Productivity Trap - Don't Reduce Yourself to Just Output
I love reading books. I have a collection I value a great deal. But there is one in particular that Is especially valuable, and extremely under appreciated: My Journal. Reflection a major missing ingredient in today's productivity-obsessed world. Without it, we easily reduce ourselves to hamsters on a wheel, mindlessly churning out "work". In our rush to do more, we forgot that meaningful progress requires regular periods of pause and contemplation to evaluate, learn, and adjust course. I overlook this often. So what's my plan? Simple: Schedule Daily Reflection: Start with just 15 minutes at the end of each workday. Ask: What worked well today? What didn't? What should I do differently tomorrow? The math is simple. There are 1440 minutes in a day. 15 Minutes is just 1.04%. Practice Deep Review Rituals: Monthly and quarterly reviews are crucial for big-picture thinking. Block out 2-3 hours of uninterrupted time. Review goals, celebrate wins, analyze setbacks, and adjust strategies. It's now officially on my calendar. Write It Down: The magic happens when thoughts hit paper. Keep a decision journal to track important choices and their outcomes. Document lessons learned from both successes and failures. Create Space for Insights: Your best strategic thinking won't happen at your desk. Take regular walks, schedule thinking time in nature, or find a quiet spot away from screens. It really makes a difference. Steve Jobs, for example, famously took long walks when tackling complex problems, leading to breakthrough innovations.