Maximizing Productivity

Maximizing productivity:

In reading the Time Management page of a website called Strategies for Success, I was struck by how much sense it made. At the same time, I feel there is a major issue that was not addressed. The infomation given very clearly said that major distractions to getting things done includes watching TV, unplanned visits with family and friends, etc. But what about the value of engaging in these activities? Should they just be avoided at all costs if one wishes to be effective in the management of one's time?

I believe that down time is essential to one's productivity. That is to say, that regular time off from the focus one maintains in order to be productive is necessary. So a period of sustained focus followed by a period of relaxation is optimal for maximum productivity. The specifics of the time periods involved needs to be worked out by and for each person. For example, one might find it very effective to work for four hours, have lunch, take a nap and, then, work for another four hours.

I also believe it is always necessary to have a long stretch of time once a week to just vegetate, see friends, watch movies, work in the yard, etc. Vegetating does not mean one needs to be a couch potatoe or cease all activity. What it means is that the activity needs to change to one that does not require focus: a shift from left brain to right brain activity if you will.

There are studies that reinforce this notion of brain rest as a part of optimizing productivity. One such study shows that learning/memory is enhanced if a period of sleep is interposed between bouts of study. A related idea is that the best way to live life and be productive is to be in "Go, go, go!" mode: straight ahead with no deviations from the path.

This might be a way to be productive if utilized in short bursts, but it is definitely not the way to live one's life. One needs to move ahead in a relaxed fashion with periodic pauses to review one's progress and to incorporate the past into the present before one moves ahead again. This produces and ebb and a flow--a rhythm to life that is very pleasant--and is necessary--I believe--to the life well lived.