Get Less Done -- And Love It
I write pretty regularly in this blog about how to get things done better, faster, and more effectively. I'm a big fan of tips and techniques that boost productivity, and I'm constantly looking for ways to hack my own workday to get more done in less time.
But maybe I am neglecting the other side of the coin: getting less done -- deliberately.
Leo Babauta writes on Zen Habits about the beauty of relaxing. He says,
There's too much emphasis these days on productivity, on hyperefficiency, on squeezing the most production out of every last minute. People have forgotten how to relax. How to be lazy. How to enjoy life.Babauta thinks we should occasionally stop being productive and enjoy ourselves. Doing less and loving it is a great option when you're battling a non-productive day: take a nap, read a book, listen to some music, enjoy a long lunch.
If you have trouble learning to relax, here are three tips:
- At work, give yourself an hour off. Don't try to be productive -- just have fun.
- Take 5 minutes to go outside for a walk and breathe the fresh air.
- Take evenings off (no working!).
(image by pawpaw67 via Flickr, CC 2.0)