Can you be both mindful and productive?

Mindfulness is a hot topic right now, we're all feeling the strain of lockdown to various degrees. Worries over money, health, work, the future.  Productivity is also a thought a little higher in our consciousness. Some are at in front of the TV all day frustrated at doing very little, some are working flat out. 

Being mindful and being productive are usually viewed separately.  Seen as two different entities. Mindfulness conjuring up ideas of being still, aware, conscious, relaxed and rested. Being in the Now, living happily moment to moment.

Productivity is seen as doing, producing, making, developing. Visualising success, and taking the necessary steps to make it a reality. The focus is very much about working on a better future.

If mindfulness is about being present in the moment, and productivity is about creating a better future, are the two in conflict? Can we only be in one camp or can we be in both?

 Being in the moment

Some people like to live for the moment, be present. The wild hedonistic idea of living for today, and not worried about the future. Let's party today and deal with the consequences further down the road.

Some live for the moment in a more mindful way, observing their thoughts and experiences,, doing mindful practices like meditation and breathing techniques. But they then don’t move into action with anything, they don’t create, they don’t produce. They just stay still like a monk or a yogi, waiting for enlightenment.

Working

With productivity, we have those who set those big goals, and go out and achieve them. Doing whatever it takes, long hours, brute force, full focus. Amazing stuff is created, dreams become reality, big money is maybe made. 

But that success can come at a cost, neglected relationships, other great projects abandoned, reduced mental and physical health. You also have those who are working in a very efficient and healthy way but are just not working on the right things. Climbing up a ladder very smoothly and quickly, not realising that it’s leaning against the wrong wall.

The middle ground

The key to a great life is working at mastering both. Being both mindful and productive. As illustrated in the diagram below, if we can get into that sweet spot of being both present and making progress, life is going to feel right.

How do you get into that zone, being both mindful and productive, fully experiencing all of life that is happening right now, and moving forward with plans and dreams for the future?

The good news is that you can move into it from either just working at mindful practices, or just from improving your productivity.

Mindful practices

So how could mindful practices such as say meditation, or breathing techniques, make you more productive? How do they help you to create a better future? 

Just from the state of being mentally still and quieting down the mind, you are using less energy. Stored energy can then be used to physically or mentally do things and do more.  

Your mind isn't constantly thinking about things, worrying, and problem solving all the time, so the body and mind are in a more rested state. And by being in this quieter state, it’s then more able to effortlessly respond to external changes in your world. You can adapt quickly, with less stress, less friction. 

Have you noticed that the more still the mind, the more great ideas come to the surface? You’ve allowed the space for them to just appear, and you are able to spot and capture them. So rather than constantly thinking about how to solve a problem, it's left to appear naturally.

In a more rested state the mind can also focus on things from a higher perspective, so you are able to look at the bigger picture, visualising how you would like the future to be. You're not just spending time "doing", not knowing why or what for. There's something positive driving you forward.

Productive practices

Switching it around, how could just improving your productivity processes help you to be more mindful and present, getting things done AND being relaxed, calm, and fully engaged in each moment?

This could be through designing boundaries in your workday for starting and ending each activity. Creating structure and control to give peace of mind. Building flexibility into these designs to cater for the unexpected, so your mind doesn’t freak out when things don’t go as planned

Using say the Inbox Zero approach to handling email. Having a different process, so you are not physically "in" email all the time, and your head isn't either when the laptop is closed.

Having mini personal brainstorming sessions during the day or week to get all your thoughts and ideas down on paper for new projects and for solving problems. Doing this in short focussed sessions rather than your head alone attempting it randomly, at inappropriate times of the day, like in the middle of the night, or when you're out for a walk.

Try both

Just by working on our productivity in the right way we can become more present and mindful. We build ourselves pockets of space to think and plan, and create the ability to be fully engaged in each element of our work.

Just by working at mindfulness practices will naturally aid us in being more productive, having more energy to undertake tasks, better focus, and clarity of vision.

If you can work at both then you'll be spending even more time in that sweet spot. Being present and making progress.