2 ways productivity has become distorted
Hi!
As we (hopefully) are reaching the end of the circuit breaker here, do drop a reply to share what you have liked and disliked about being forced to stay home during this time, and how you hope to design your life going forward to have more or less of those things respectively.
Sharing an article this week:
The Wages of Productivity
Anne Helen Petersen examines two ways our understanding of productivity is distorted:
First, confusing Productivity and Leisure. Leisure is no longer purely about having fun, it must be done in a productive way. We must be well read, familiar with all the latest popular content, or constantly be improving or learning something. When gaming, several times I have found myself, despite a game no longer being fun, feel that I must still power through and complete the game. It is as if I must apply similar traits of resilience and accountability even to an activity that is intended for my relaxation.
With time so scarce, it may feel like simply having fun is too frivolous and wasting precious time. Fun activities must also have an element of improvement - building a network, seeking status on social media, mastering something new.
Leisure ends up less relaxing, or becomes a source of stress. The pressure to be productive detracts from the enjoyment and restful value of fun activities. In confusing the two, and forcing leisure to be productive, do we end up achieving less and feeling more stressed?
Second, outsourcing Productivity. It is often overlooked how much our productivity exists because we outsource "unproductive" tasks to others. This could be delegating tasks considered unimportant to someone else down the chain - such as colleagues or family. If anything, staying at home has exposed in my own life how much of my own productivity is dependent on the assistance I get for childcare.
Outsourcing also happens when we push the tasks we do not want to do, to those who we can underpay to do them. Is this a class divide of high earners who are "productive" and the lower class of people who have to do the "unproductive" things, earning less as a result? I wonder whether this is a sign of fundamental issues of equality and wealth distribution. If our productivity is reliant on others, should more of our wealth be going to those? If someone is stuck doing the "unproductive" tasks, how are they to escape the trap and enter the "productive" realm.
I do not feel qualified to give an informed view on such systemic issues without more knowledge and reflection. However, I think it is a good start to be aware of what sustains my productivity, and give due credit for that.
Are these issues you would like to hear me reflect about further? If these inspire reflections on your own productivity, please do reply and share them too!
Stay safe!
James
About Ideothetic Flow
Ideothetic Flow is a small passion project following my own thoughts about living life better and think of how we can be better human beings. Every 2 weeks I share something I find interesting, usually related to challenging common expectations or ideas.