There is so much pressure right now to be masters of productivity. Zoom meetings on the hour, an unending stream of emails, family responsibilities, and the overall anxiety pervading society are like a tidal wave and all we have are little arm floaties.
And yet, there is the very human desire to be productive. We want to feel like we’re contributing. We want to feel a sense of control over our surroundings that comes with leadership.
But we can’t have that. No one can. Instead we’re stuck at home, like everyone else, spinning our wheels, hoping to get traction.
So what does productivity look like for us, members of the clergy, pastors, imams, for me as a rabbi, in this era?
In order to be productive, we have to think bigger than just cranking widgets. Productivity is about moving ourselves towards our goals. As a result, I think these principles will help:
1. Take care of yourself first.
Just like in airplanes, you have to take care of yourself first. For those of us who thrive on helping others, it is essential that we are actually able to do that.
It says in Bava Metzia, in the Mishnah:
If a person found their own lost property and their parent’s, their own takes priority. If their own and that of their teacher, their own takes priority.
Just as with lost objects, we have to have a sense of what is a priority. Right now, making sure you are taking care of yourself is key.
This can look a lot of different ways, so do what is right for you.
It could be:
Basic self-care tactics (socially distant, of course)
Separating yourself from screens more, despite the pressure
Setting up a chevruta that you wanted but couldn’t justify any more
Challenging yourself to exercise more
Watching Netflix for a few hours and not feeling guilty
Whatever it is, actually take time and take care of yourself. You can’t have productivity if you’re leaking energy.
2. Actually take your day off.
This one is absolutely essential.
You are entitled to time off, just like before. You actually should take it. It is life-giving, which is why you had it before.
Don’t shrug it off. It is there for a reason.
Take your day off.
3. Learn how to stop using your email as a todo list.
I dropped this one in here because it has changed everything about productivity for me, even from before this crisis. But now, more than ever, it is time to dig into it.
I’ve gotten a bit of a reprieve from the onslaught of emails I normally receive, which means that I can start to revisit my relationship with email. And so can you.
There is so little we can be in control of right now, so implementing some control will really help.
Your email is ONLY an inbox. It is someone else’s todo list. Here is the simple version of how to do this:
- Learn how to use a todo list manager. (I really like Todoist.)
- Take your emails and turn the ones that require an action from you into todos. Those next steps might be: reply, research, call someone, etc.
- If it just information, save it and then sort it away into a folder or archive it.
Those are the basics. Give it a try.
4. Invest in yourself and learn something new.
This one might seem counter-intuitive. This is a great time to invest in yourself, to grow during this time by learning something new. I don’t mean a new commentary to the Torah, or that section of Talmud, or to start Daf Yomi after all of this, though you can do that too. Rather, learn something you’ve been waiting on for a long time.
It doesn’t have to be work-related. Just something that is for you. Being excited about something expands out to all parts of our lives.
Do some Youtube research.
Sign up for an online course that doesn’t “directly” apply to your work.
Read a series of articles or books on a subject you’re fascinated by.
Point is, we always say, “I don’t have time for that” or “this isn’t a priority right now.” But, the truth is, we can only do so much for our people right now, and it is ok to invest in yourself.
I’m fascinated by productivity, which is why I’m writing about it today. There’s backstory, but that’s for another day. As a result, I decided to invest in some more learning on the subject.
5. Put everything into context.
Not everything is the most important thing.
Some things are urgent and even important, but most things aren’t. So remember that you’re just a human being, give yourself a break.
Remember that people are acting out fear, anxiety, and a desire for resolution. Their demands on you reflect that, so put it into context.
Even the major holidays, which are about to descend upon us, will be ok. They will be different, they might not be our best, but that is absolutely ok.
6. Sleep.
You deserve it. Take the time. It can be a nap that lasts 15 minutes.
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