I’ve spent the last year or so reframing and redefining my definition of being Productive.
It used to involve quantitative measurement of outcomes.
But now?
My goal is to work less (and make that smaller amount of work fun), and along with working less, I want to breathe more deeply more often and do things just for fun.
Time used to close in on me—I felt guilty when I was not using my time wisely. I often spent free time doing nothing because I was conflicted between making it productive and doing something for fun (reading a book, riding my bike, spending time with a friend).
This weekend, I read a book.
I saw two friends at two different times.
Matthew spent the night and not only did we do yoga…
We also went on a bike ride. Joe was going running, and he told us we could ride with him on our bikes. Funny, after a few blocks, he totally left us in his dust. I knew his route though, so we occasionally caught a glimpse of him on the long straightaways…apparently we aren’t yet ready to ride bikes at his 7:20 pace. {in our defense, we walked our bikes across one busy street and up one steep hill}
On Sunday morning, we went down to the lake to watch the Finger Lakes Triathlon. Matthew had a good time with friends and also cheering for lots of people he doesn’t know!
Once he’s not grounded from his cell phone anymore (he left it outside…but not all night!), I’m sure I’ll get more of my beloved Hi texts.
This week? Teaching face to face….teaching online…prepping for the holistic health fair in Canandaigua on the 24th, and walking/doing yoga a lot.
My fitness attempt for the weekend made me realize that on most days I will not be able to get in 5 hours of activity. My goal there is currently to do a minimum of 3 hours dedicated to being active, and then throw in my 5 minute sessions every hour (unless I’m doing something where I can’t do that). Plus, it’s 538 steps to the parking lot where my car is parked, so that counts for something!
Next weekend I’m starting the yoga teacher training with Vishali, so that will help me with my activity totals too!
The results so far:
- I’m addicted. Seriously—if I miss one of my activities (like I went half a day without it on Sunday), I am sad—I don’t mean just conceptually sad, I really feel emotionally a little down. I think my brain/body is getting really used to this.
- I have more energy in general.
- Upper body is really toned—which still cracks me up since I’m walking way more than anything else!
LOL- that’s how I feel about yoga too 😉 I love your goals of working less and enjoying more. I do feel guilty when I’m not as productive as I think I should be. I don’t watch much tv at all – maybe an hour a day because I don’t think I have time for that sort of thing. But sometimes, I should just sit and enjoy something senseless.Â
I totally put a lot of pressure on myself to be productive! I’ve been doing better with it since Kaylin was born. I just love to check things off my to do list! Sounds like a fun weekend to me!
I could fit in 3 hours of activity each day if I really tried — and who needs to quit watching TV? I can workout while I watch at the gym!
Although I don’t want you to feel ‘sad’ when you miss activity, it is nice that your body is loving it so much that you notice how you’re feeling when you’re not so active.
I used to be wayyy too obsessive about working out. If I missed a workout I would beat myself up all day and try to find some way to fit it in. It was becoming unhealthy and I ended up hurting my knee because I wasn’t taking any rest days. I now moderate my workouts and get them in when I can, but I no longer stress if I got a day or more without a planned workout!
I am so jealous/excited for you to start yoga teacher training!! I would love to teach yoga. Post all about it when you finish!Â
joe is a real speedster!! that is too funny that he took off on you and matthew…and you were on bikes! and i love those matthew + yoga mat photos. isn’t it fun to be goofy!
oh yes – i feel i must be productive/doing something at all times during the daylight hours. labour day i sat and read a book for a bit…only because it was a “holiday.” i have no prob reading blogs + knitting, though! that is productive!
i love physical activity and movement and being active. go for your goal! thumbs up!
that is super cool that you are doing the yoga training, even just for fun. it’s so good to keep expanding our horizons. keeps us young!
good luck with all your classes, lisa!
I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself to be productive…and yes, I also usually feel guilty when I’m doing something just for fun! I need to really work on this. In the back of my mind though, when I know there’s a deadline (or some other form of work) looming unfinished I feel like I can’t fully relax until it’s done…ahhh, I sound like I need help, lol!
I have very productive days and very not productive days- I work really fast when I DO work, so then I feel like superwoman on those days! Other days are for relaxing more 🙂
I don’t really watch TV either so the days that I get off work early (4 or 4:30) I have the most productive nights ever! Makes me so happy… well I’m watching TV in the background as I type this so I guess I should take that back, haha.
I do put pressure on myself to be productive…and yes sometimes I feel guilty doing something just for fun.but overall I do relax and do things I want!
Love Matthew rolled up in the mat, so cute!
I’m probably active for about two or three hours on an ordinary day, between walking the dog, doing things around the house, doing errands by foot and (not as often as I’d like) intentional exercise. I’d like to fit in more of those 5 minute activity breaks that you mentioned. Could be good for me AND the dog…every hour, play tug or fetch for five minutes. We’d probably both get in better shape! I think it’s fantastic that you’re doing yoga teacher training! If it were offered around here, it’s something that I would consider as well. ‘m learning new stuff, but nothing so formal as classes. I’m learning to paint and stain, edit photos, run a generator…just stuff in day-to-day life. Now that I’m not working, I find that I’m anxious for new things to do.
That picture of Matthew rolled up in that yoga mat is adorable. Sometimes that’s all I want to do with my mat…only if it wasn’t so stinky. 😉
I also put pressure on myself to try and be preductive on most days. I usually just balance it out with doing some things I enjoy. They do say, no work, no play. 🙂 I like to think I’m active for atleast 2 hours a day. I really try to make sure I’m active on a daily basis since I work at a desk for 7-8 hours a day!
I also put pressure on myself to try and be preductive on most days. I usually just balance it out with doing some things I enjoy. They do say, no work, no play. 🙂 I like to think I’m active for atleast 2 hours a day. I really try to make sure I’m active on a daily basis since I work at a desk for 7-8 hours a day!
Sounds like a delightful weekend! 🙂
Sounds like a productive weekend to me!
yes I put a ton of pressure on myself to be productive, active, but sometimes my body wants to do nothing but then my mind gets me going. I am trying to get better at doing things for fun, a work in progress.
I DO put alot of pressure on myself to be productive for sure, especially now as a new stay at home mum. I have only ever known life as a career girl, and now to be at home with a little baby, I feel I should be showing a lot for the time I spend at home, which is hard when you have so many baby related duties to do which aren’t always visible 🙂Â
The perfectionist in me creates a drive to be productive all the time. I have tried really hard over the years to allow myself more time to relax and just….take it easy when I can. I think yoga does help me do that, when I actually do it 🙂 In fact, this post inspired me to do yoga this morning! I think it’s great that you are training to be an instructor. I think I would absolutely love that. I can tell your son will be your first star student!
For awhile I felt really bad if I wasn’t being productive on the weekends. Â I think this stemmed from the fact that I used to work every Saturday. Â Once I didn’t have to work anymore I wasn’t sure what to do with the time I had! Â Now I have zero issues with lack of productivity on the weekend. Â Actually sometimes I wish I still had an issue with it because maybe more things would get done haha.
This is something I need to work on, not feeling guilty when you are doing something that is fun! I am so glad to hear that you are getting better at this, it gives me some motivation to as well.
3 hours seems too much for me.. but then again I am walking everywhere on campus now so that helps with activity!
Wow, I didn’t know you were a yogi! I am too! I love that you’re doing the teacher training. There’s a yoga retreat in Bali that I daydream about visiting someday. I guess I could live without the internet connection if it was only a week or so. 🙂
Oh yay! So exciting for you going through Yoga training! You’re gonna be an amazing teacher. Sorry to hear Matthew is grounded from his cell phone. I wanted to hear more of your funny conversations 🙂
wow- If I gave up internet I could do it, but frankly I dont want to do 3 hours of activity a day. Â I want to do 3 hours of personal work- meditate, workout, personal growth… so maybe that is my new goal idea! Â