The Reverse Approach to Productivity

When you think of the word "productivity," what comes to mind? Maybe it's getting through your To-Do list or working diligently to beat a deadline on a big project. Either way, we usually relate productivity to the speed at which we get something done.

For example if you got a lot done this week, you might say "it was a productive week!" This might be appear true at the surface, but what are the tasks you're getting done? What's on your list that you're so eager to cross off?

On a recent episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim interviewed entrepreneur, photographer, and author, Kevin Kelly. As part of the conversation, Kevin shared a new way to think about productivity that challenges our conventional "get things done quickly" approach.

Kevin argues that we should stop trying to fill our plates with things we want to get done as quickly as possible. And instead, we should seek to fill our plates with activities that we never want to stop doing.

When I first heard this I thought it sounded idyllic, but difficult to attain for those of us in the working world. After all, it often feels like we have no control over the things we have on our plate (especially if we have a boss or clients who dictate what we should work on).

But you may have more flexibility around how you shape your current job and overall career than you give yourself credit for.

Here's a helpful place to start:

Create a list of activities or projects that you "never want to stop doing." Another way to think about it is to list all the activities that, when you're in them, you lose track of time.

When I did the exercise, I identified things like writing, creating new training programs, presenting to live audiences, and doing deep strategy work. While I can't spend 100% of my time doing these things, I have started to think of ways to incorporate more of these activities into my weeks.

As Kevin Kelly argued in the show, it's from this deep work — work that we get lost in — where true productivity and results come to life.

Can you reverse your approach to productivity?

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P.S. My wife, Pema Sherpa, and I have another blog called The Mindful Minute! Check it out.