Hey there,
Lately, I’ve been struggling with my plate being too full and having to juggle and prioritize multiple things. This got me thinking about how we measure our days. Most of the time, it feels like life boils down to this endless race to get things done. We make lists, we check boxes off, we hustle. This gets tiresome after a while, so I started thinking what if this is the wrong thing to measure?
This hit me the other day when I was with my son. We were sitting on the floor, surrounded by toy cars and building blocks. He was giggling about having just made a bubble out of saliva – something so small! In fact, something I might’ve missed if I’d been thinking about work, or dishes, or the emails piling up in my inbox. And in that moment, I felt more productive than I had in weeks (it’s really been a stressful few months). Not because I finished a task, but because I was there. Fully there, enjoying this small moment with my toddler.
We’ve been told for pretty much our entire lives that productivity equals getting more done in less time. And sure, there’s value in that – both work and personal life need some structure. However, I started thinking that maybe I’m missing the point if I stop just there. Imagine if instead of counting tasks, I started counting the moments that made me smile. Or the times my toddler and I laugh so hard we cry. Or the deep talks with my wife. Or the sunsets we actually watch instead of photographing for Instagram (do kids still use this nowadays? I honestly don’t know what’s cool anymore).
And it’s not an easy shift to make in our mindset. I know I struggle with it. There’s this pressure, right? A little voice that says, if you’re not doing something, you’re wasting time. But is enjoying our time really wasting it? Is it bad to spend hours goofing around with my boy? And when did society decide that happiness isn’t productive?
I think part of the problem is how we’ve been trained to see time. Time is money is something we’ve all heard too many times to count. But is it? Time feels more like moments to me – moments you can spend, share, or let slip by. If we’re always chasing the next thing, we lose the chance to actually live in those moments.
Sometimes, I look back at my most productive days and wonder: What did I actually do that mattered? I answered emails, had meetings, crossed things off my list. But then I think about days where I felt truly alive – when I played with my son in my parents’ backyard, had a long quiet dinner with my wife, or laughed with a friend until I was breathless. Those are the days I remember. Those are the memories that fill me up. Not career achievements and certainly not the countless hours spent in pointless extremely important meetings.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should all quit our jobs and ignore responsibilities. (Trust me, the laundry isn’t going to fold itself. Even though I’ve been trying to get it to do so for years now…) Maybe it’s all about balance (shocker, right?!). Maybe it’s about asking ourselves, Did I enjoy today? as much as we ask ourselves What did I get done today?
I’ve been trying to rewire my brain to reframe productivity as moments enjoyed. Not fully there yet, but I’ve made some progress, and it definitely takes some of the pressure off. It gives me permission to savor the small things. To pause when life offers something beautiful, even if it’s just five extra minutes of snuggling with someone we love.
It’s funny, too, because when I do let myself enjoy those moments, I actually end up feeling more energized. More creative. More ready to tackle the tasks waiting for me. It’s like slowing down fills the tank in a way hustling never could.
Watching my son experiencing the world for the first time makes me think that kids understand this better than we do. They don’t care about to-do lists. They care about what’s fun, what’s interesting, what feels good in the now. My son doesn’t know or care if I’ve had a productive day – he just wants me to play with him, regardless of whether I completed my to-do list for the day or not. And honestly? I’m learning from him every day. Learning to be less judging and more forgiving with my own performance and productivity.
Some days don’t work out as we want them to. And that’s okay. All we have to do is take some time to recharge, dust ourselves off, and give it another go the next day.
So, let’s notice those little moments. Let’s find joy in them. Let’s give ourselves credit for the times we smile, laugh, or just breathe deeply and feel alive.
Maybe productivity isn’t about conquering the day. Maybe it’s about letting the day touch your heart. I know this sounds too cheesy, but I really like the sentiment, so I decided to leave it as I initially wrote it (don’t judge me, please).
That’s all I wanted to share today. Thank you for reading and for sharing the newsletter with family and friends. It helps me grow and reach more people who might find value in what I have to share.
Till next week,
Dobri🍃
P.S. this is the first time in more than a year that I didn’t publish my post at 2 p.m. Eastern European time… It was all done in the morning, but I forgot to click the schedule button…