Slow and Productive

Today, I have a whole 8 hours (minus nursing sessions) to myself to do things that are not related to direct hourly pay. It feels ridiculously indulgent. Since becoming a Mother, the pressure to produce and spend my time well has intensified. Now that any time I’m not working I want to spend with my baby when he’s awake, I am acutely aware of how little time I actually have. Prioritization takes on an entirely new meaning because my resources are limited in a way that I have never experienced. The clear priority is my son, but beyond that, I am struggling to find a balance and know how to spend my time well. A free hour could be spent on work, home, fitness, self care, my relationship, my studies, my writing…it all becomes too much.

As the minutes tick down and my attention shifts to my to-do paperwork stack or my planner, my default is to scurry around, shuffle paperwork, flip through tabs on my computer, clear out my email. When I default to making to-do lists or go into organization mode, I am doing things to feel productive but am not actually productive. When I focus on all that I could do, the less I actually do. An alternative that I am trying is to channel the paradoxical idea of slow productivity.

Even with the intent of slowing down, I find myself hastily preparing my work space to make it conducive to a slow process…quick—vacuum, make the tea, light the candle. Quick is such the default that to do slow productivity takes deliberate effort. To set the stage for being slowly productive, I start with these three ingredients:

Start with the Breath.

Fill your lungs. Fill your lungs from the bottom of your stomach up. Many of us, especially type A’s, perfectionists, and those with anxiety will find the breath to be short and shallow in the chest. Conjure up imagery of a balloon filling up from the bottom up or a glass being filled with warm liquid from the bottom up.
Consider your Pace.Play around with the pace, but it might include: boxed breathing (5 counts in, 5 count hold, 5 count exhale, 5 count hold) or extended exhale (attempt to slowly inhale and exhale for a count or two longer)

Involve your Senses

Visual. For me, I like to set the visual stage by tiding up a bit. I don’t want to get carried away with this, as it can easily turn me back into go mode, but a few quick things like clearing a space on my desk, whipping down surfaces, or putting a few items in their homes can do wonders.
Auditory. I like to put my airpods in to try to tune out other sounds and then put a soothing instrumental playlist on. You can also use the sounds around you—including traffic noise—to encourage you to get deeper in touch with the present moment. The key is to take a moment to immerse yourself in whatever sound you are focusing on.
Olfactory. I like to light a candle or turn on my essential oil machine. You also may put on some nice lotion or spray your favorite scent.
Taste. For me, it’s tea. Loose leaf really sets the mood. Even if it’s just adding lemon to your water or varying the temperature of your beverage or type of cup you are using, having a beverage that is slightly different than what you would normally consume can have a way of encouraging mindfulness and setting the mood.
Touch. I like to put on comfortable clothes, my favorite pair of knit socks, and a cozy blanket. You might connect with a pet or take a quick shower or apply lotion to your hands to tune into the present moment.

Channel your Intuition.

The brain speaks loudly and intuition whispers. It is essential to slow down and set the stage for your intuition to surface. Let your intuition guide you on what would feel productive. Consider that the brain will often say things are productive that are ‘go’ oriented. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do in a moment is nap or read or meditate. Productivity does not always equal quantifiable output. We need to recharge to create and effectively do. Ways you can channel your intuition:

Write.
Meditate.
Gentle meditative movement like yoga or running.
Do something mindless with your hands like coloring or knitting if you are into that kind of thing.
Tune into your body. Take the ‘elevator’ to the ground floor. Most of us live in our heads. Intuition is often called a ‘gut feeling’ for a reason. It manefests lower in our bodies. Imagine taking an elevator from your head down into your heart or your gut. See what surfaces as you come into contact with these parts of your body.

This is how I am trying to do slow productivity this afternoon. Now that I have paused, I have realized the productive thing I want to do today is write. Then cook. Then move my body. The process above doesn’t have to be prescriptive, but I encourage you to experiment with the essence of it—breath, senses, and intuition—to set the stage for a more productive use of your time.