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Intentionality, not productivity - Intend

intend.do · 666 words · saved by 1 readers

The concept of “productivity” was invented in the late 1800s as a frame for measuring standardized output among laborers all doing the same job. It’s since been reapplied to refer to any kind of output, including creative or intellectual work, but it still only asks: what is produced? If you try to maximize productivity, any success comes at the expense of eliminating what makes life worth living: play, rest, health, serendipity, social connection, or even the extra care involved in adding those unnecessary touches to your work, that delight you and others. More and more people are noticing that productivity isn’t really what we want. It seems to me that what many of us want is intentionality. Intentionality is not about output, but about the connection between what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. It’s not about working as much as you can, but about fully working when you’re working, fully playing when you’re playing, and fully resting when you’re resting. It feels good to do goo

“Productivity” is not up to the job. The concept of “productivity” was invented in the late 1800s as a frame for measuring standardized output among laborers all doing the same job. It’s since been reapplied to refer to any kind of output, including creative or intellectual work, but it still only asks: what is produced? If you try to maximize productivity, any success comes at the expense of eliminating what makes life worth living: play, rest, health, serendipity, social connection, or even the extra care involved in adding those unnecessary touches to your work, that delight you and…

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