The Productivity Epidemic & Finding Daily Rest

Work work work. Sometimes, it seems as though that’s all anyone knows how to do these days. We get up early to be productive, and we stay up late just trying to finish one last thing. More often than not, to-do lists go unfinished, new projects get abandoned, and yet we still can’t shake that feeling of lagging behind. 

Farmer Ryan and son Nick (on tractor) move this pen of pigs to fresh pasture.

Is it the comparison of ourselves to the ultra-productive (and ultra-unrealistic) influencers on social media that contributes to that feeling? Through our phone screens, we see people across the nation effortlessly accomplishing the things we only dream of having time for, like building that new deck, or making dinner 5 nights a week from scratch. Meanwhile I’m sprawled on the couch in my pajamas watching the kids make messes, or hurriedly driving from one appointment to the next, trying to remember what was on my grocery list! I barely have time to shower, let alone design my next DIY project.

Or maybe it’s the way our parents raised us, always getting us out of bed to get started on the day’s work? “The early bird gets the worm,” goes the popular saying. The work ought to get done FIRST, and then we can play – but playtime didn’t come very often. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t use our waking hours to accomplish things! Things like weeding the garden, fixing the broken window blinds, or organizing the garage. There’s always something that needs to be done. Today we struggle to find a balance, with part of me desperately trying to rationalize the modern message of self-care, while the nagging voice in my head tells me I’m worthless without something productive to show for myself.

Maybe it’s simply the fast-paced world we live in. Everything moves so quickly: TV shows, radio ads, fashion trends, and Instagram. We bounce from one thing to the next, never truly engaging, nothing really sinking in, just seeking cheap and easily digestible entertainment. By watching sped-up clips of picture-perfect Americans building treehouses in 30 seconds, could we have possibly fallen out of touch with reality? Do we understand that building a treehouse or baking sourdough or painting cabinets actually takes quite a bit longer than the time it takes to heat up soup in the microwave? Are we subconsciously subjecting ourselves to those outrageously unrealistic expectations?

When I think about how to combat this epidemic of panicked productivity, two things come to mind. 

1. Adjust your expectations

I know what I see on social media isn’t accurate. But am I going so far as to relieve the internal pressure that I subconsciously apply when I’m doom-scrolling? I need to verbally tell myself that I can’t do all those things. My burst of energy isn’t going to get me the treehouse, sourdough, and painted cabinets. I need to adjust my expectations and bring them back to reality, and a simple way to start is to shut down the source. My time is a precious resource, and every day I get to choose how to use it. My goal is to use it realistically, NOT the way social media tells me I should. 

You already know that work on the farm is never-ending. But infinite to-do lists rarely make productive days. Rather, a daily schedule filled with reasonable tasks will help you not only get started with the day, but also know when to quit.

2. Know when to quit

That brings me to my next point. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I know I surely do: my worth is not wrapped up in my productivity. I am worthy of love, rest, joy, and peace regardless of what I accomplish throughout the day. Sure, my daily accomplishments do encourage and enhance those feelings! But my worth as a person is not wrapped up in them. Getting to the end of the day with only 3 of 10 tasks completed can be disheartening. It’s natural to want to keep going and get it all done, while berating myself for not using my time more wisely. I’m slowly learning to put the to-do list down and take a seat, reflecting on what I DID accomplish, and, as cliche as it sounds, counting my blessings. When you allow yourself grace to quit, you also allow yourself room for things you might not have had time for otherwise, like gratitude, laughter, inner reflection, and peace. 

When was the last time you sat outside in the cool of the evening and just soaked it all in? The joy of being alive, of the burgeoning, wild life that is all around you! Or the gentle sights, sounds, and smells that permeate your senses, grounding you, and reminding you that you are beautifully human, perfectly imperfect. I challenge you to set aside at least one evening this week to quit…and indulge in some thinking. Dig around in your brain for a little while and see what you come up with. We’d love to hear about it.

Vintage Meadows cattle enjoying the evening sunset.