Productivity ≠ Intentionality · BestSelf Protocol™ (free)

Productivity ≠ Intentionality

Aren't we all tired with all the extensive steps we're supposed to follow in order to be productive? Because yes, I certainly am. Infact, it made me more miserable. Well, not long ago I came across this concept of "be intentional, not productive" and after trying to etch this idea into my routine, I must say that though it is just a shift in perception it still made a drastic difference for me. I think for all of us the pressure to be productive can overshadow what truly matters. We fill out days with tasks, to-do lists, and endless activities, but how often do we pause to consider whether these actions align with our visions and goals?

The difference between intentionality and productivity-

•Productivity focuses on output- how much we can accomplish in a given time. While yes I agree this is practical, but it can lead us to prioritize quantity over quality.

•Meanwhile, intentionality emphasizes on purpose. It's about making concious choices that lead us towards our long-term vision.

Why Intentionality Matters?

• Clarity of Purpose: Being intentional helps you clarify what truly matters to you. When you focus on your goals, your actions become more meaningful and thus, you actually have a propelling system to keep going.

• Lesser Burnouts: Burnouts are the WORST. The pain of falling back into the cycle of procrastination after actually following a solid routine is what burnout does and mentally, the impact is worse. So whether it be me, a student, or a working adult, I believe that stress and burnouts are an inevitable obstacle and are often what lead to a drained mental health. And therefore, when you engage in activities that resonate with your purpose, you find greater satisfaction.

How to Cultivate Intentionality?

Though I've started practicing this a few weeks ago, I came up with some ways I think might help.

•Reflection: Okay...clichéd but very helpful. We humans are spontaneous and so to have the ability to grip yourself and hold back and reflect on whether what you're doing is actually something which aligns with your long term goals or not is something which, if cultivated somehow, changes the game.

•Limit your distractions: Alright, this is SO important. "We live in a world of distractions and temptations and one who can control himself is the one who can conquer anything." Agreed. *Over*Consumption of social media has caused a turbulence in my mind. I may have the answer to every single problem I have but HOW do I start? and WHERE do I begin from? A calm mind is the mother of mindfulness which is the mother of intentionality. Start by doing a brain dump and try clearing your mind.

• Change of Perception: This is actually pretty easy. In brief, to explain it with an example- let's say you're meant to begin working out but the *involuntary* intention is "Alright, gotta get this body in shape, I guess". So you just change it to- "So if I start right now, in ten years my body is going to function better, my health will favour me and I'll have lesser problems." See the difference?

•SAVE YOUR ENERGY: This is where I had to pause because I was constantly drained and this actually took time to learn. Okay so, THIS IS DIFFICULT. Again, the previous point correlates with this one.

Distractions=drained energy=irritated you=not being able to complete stuff="HOW DO I DO THIS?!"

So just take a moment to realise what's absolutely ruining your peace (and yes, it can be people too)

In Conclusion-

Shift the narrative from being busy to being meaningful. Priortize intentionality over mere productivity. Remember, it's not about how much you do; it's about how well you live.

Thank you for taking out the time to read it all. Have a great day/night!💙

8 comments