This content is locked. Please login or become a member.
The Productivity Paradox
We live in a time and age where we value productivity so much. And we are also in a country that is driven by the Puritan work ethic. We define ourselves by what we do. If we’re doing something, then we’re worth something to the point that we don’t take our vacations. So the U.S. provides fewer vacation days than any other country. And yet, we don’t take them all.
And even when we do take them, we work on our vacations. But as a consequence, they’re not in the present moment and their productivity would be so much greater if they stayed present, as well as their performance on their tasks. Even if you’re doing a task you don’t particularly like, you’ll actually feel happier. But also what we know is that you’ll be able to be more productive when you’re in that state because you’re going to naturally be focused.
Creativity in Crisis
CEOs have been asked about what is the most valued trait in employees. And above everything else, they say creativity. Yet, research also shows that we’re in a creativity crisis. Creativity skills are dropping amongst our youth and incoming workforce. So this is a sad state of affairs. However, why is it important to take time off you might ask? If you look at the research on creativity, the moments when we come up with our greatest insights and breakthrough ideas are when our brain is in delta wave. It’s a time when we’re spacing out. It’s a time when we’re not focusing on anything. So if you remain focused all the time, whether it’s on your computer or on your cell phone — constantly doing, doing, doing, producing — you’re not allowing yourself into that mode that will actually lead to the greatest creativity that you have.
Scheduling Rest Periods
How much time off you need may vary by individual. Also, given the society we live in, we don’t always have a choice. We maybe are not able to take time off, but one thing we can do is alternate the way that we schedule our day. So if you’ve got work activities that require intense focus and creativity, you want to alternate those in your schedule with time that you spend entering data or doing something that’s less intellectually rigorous. And you’ll find that by alternating the very high-intensity activities with activities that are less cognitively demanding, you’re going to be able to have those rest periods that then allow you to have those creative outbursts.