Fitting these 6 elements into your day can help you lead a more productive (and fulfilling) life
Usually toward the end of the year I do an episode in which I talk about doing a year-end review. I started to do that for this week, but decided to go another direction. I do recommend a year-end review and plan for the coming year, so if you want some ideas for that, check out episodes 379 (Who Will You Be This Time Next Year? Setting Goals That Matter), episode 378 (Laying a Foundation: Lessons Learned), episode 170 (Taking Care of Future You), and episode 70 (Laying a Foundation for a Great New Year).
This week I thought I’d share with you some thoughts I’ve been having about what I want the coming year to look like and some of the elements that I think would let me feel that a day is truly productive. Honestly, it might not be possible to include every single one of them every day, but if I can achieve them most days or at least several days throughout the week, I’m going to feel pretty good about my level of productivity.
1. Responsibility
Doing the necessary; this is the work we do, both for pay and in our home. This is the stuff we think of first when we think of being productive–the tasks on our to-do list. This is a lot of what we talk about on this podcast when we’re looking at productivity–all the skills and tools we can use to get things done most effectively and efficiently.
2. Rest
Self-explanatory; taking care of our bodies and minds by getting enough sleep and rest are necessary to enable us to do any of the other things we need and want to do, and to enjoy the life we make for ourselves and those we love. For those reasons, I believe rest is a necessary component of productivity.
3. Reflection
Defined as “serious thought or consideration,” reflection is necessary for living intentionally rather than simply reacting to what life throws at us. Time to reflect on our choices, our words, our schedule, our task list, and our commitments. Thinking about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.
4. Recreation (“re-creation”)
Doing something fun, something we find restorative and energizing. This is different for everyone. It might be time spent reading a good book or puttering in the garden or crafting or hiking; it might be dinner with friends or playing tennis or antiquing. Anything that’s fun for you. For many of us, this doesn’t happen unless we are very intentional about it. Personally, my time tends to fill up with the first two (responsibility and rest) and recreation is something that I keep thinking I’ll pay attention to when work settles down–which it never does.
5. Relationship
A productive life–a life that matters–almost always matters in relationship to people. If I take care of my responsibilities but don’t share love, laughter, and support with the people I care about, then I don’t feel productive. More than just doing stuff for them, spending time with them, conversing, and creating memories (big and small) together, all are necessary components of a productive day/week for me, and require intention and attention.
6. Compassion
This is defined as sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others; it literally means to suffer together. Extending compassion–that is, feeling it, but also acting on it–is a crucial part of living a truly productive life. Noticing the needs of others, and finding ways to give to those in need, whether people I know or people I don’t. Need isn’t just financial; there are the lonely–perhaps someone you know who’s lost a spouse or a child, or recently relocated to a town where they don’t know many people; there are those suffering physically (I think of a friend who’s in and out of the hospital due to a chronic illness, and another friend who’s home recovering from recent surgery); there are the overwhelmed–maybe the military spouse who’s holding down the home front while his or her spouse is deployed.
For me, compassion means looking outside yourself and your own close circle to extend kindness and understanding to others you meet or even hear about. This can be anything from looking the grocery store clerk in the eyes and smiling as you say thank to to choosing to serve those vulnerable people such as those without homes or jobs individually or through an organization. As a side note, I’m still learning to be compassionate toward myself. Maybe you are too?
Closing thoughts
My point in all this is to think purposely and purposefully about what I want my life to look like, what will make me feel that my life is productive, both in the sense of getting the things done that are important to me, and also in making my life matter. By considering each of these elements and intentionally building them into my days, weeks, and months, I will be sure that I’m living according to my values and making a life that matters as I’ve defined it for myself.
In case you’re interested in other ideas for creating a productive day, I’ll share a few links below to articles with other writers’ thoughts on the subject.
What do you think?
What are the elements you think create a productive day and life? Post your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below or in The Productive Woman Community Facebook group, or email me
Resources and Links
Podcast episodes
- Who Will You Be This Time Next Year? Setting Goals that Matter – TPW379
- Laying a Foundation: Lessons Learned – TPW378
- Taking Care of Future You – TPW 170
- Laying a Foundation for a Great New Year – TPW070
Other resources
- The 6 Elements of a Successful Day
- The main secret of having a productive day (and the tips to get you there) | Spica
- 18 keys to have a productive day – TheCornerOfExcellence
- 7 Secrets to Having a Productive Day
- Work, Play and Rest; The 3 Elements of a Balanced Daily Routine
- The Anatomy of a Productive Day – Strange & Charmed
- How to Be More Compassionate: A Mindful Guide to Compassion – Mindful
- Compassion Is More Than A Feeling – Next Element
- Reach Out: Compassion Will Help Other People…and Yourself | by Martha Manning, Ph.D. | Curious | Medium
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Hi Laura! The 6 elements you share are key for healthy productivity. We tend to remember only point 1 but postpone the rest, which are key for our balance and well-being.
Thank you very much for recommending my article ’18 keys to have a productive day’.