How to have a productive day?

Today, I'm going to talk about how to create a day that isn't necessarily perfect, but is good enough. A day where it's not about getting everything done, but about being present in what you're doing – and feeling good about yourself at the end of the day.

For months, I felt that productive days were reserved for people who get up at five in the morning, have plans down to the minute, and never fall behind on their tasks. But this image exhausted me more than it inspired me. It was too strict. And it didn't include me. Me – who is sensitive to the rhythm of the day. Me – who works with feeling. Me – who needs breaks to breathe.

Now I believe that productivity is not about pace, but presence. That it is not the quantity that matters, but the quality of what you do. And that sometimes a day when you just tidied up your desk is more valuable than a day when you achieved ten goals but felt empty inside.

For me, a productive day starts in the morning. Not with a task, but with an attitude. Sometimes I just need silence. Sometimes I write down a sentence I hear in my mind. Sometimes I feel I need to sort something out for myself before I take action. This is not laziness. It is coordination.

And when I'm in tune, everything goes more smoothly. I don't have to do a lot—it's important that I do what feels right on that day. Sometimes that means finally calling someone I've been meaning to call for a long time. Other times, it means tackling a project I've been carrying around inside me for months. Thirdly, it means simply giving myself permission not to get something done today – and that that's okay.

I like to leave room for the unexpected. For breaks, for inspiration, for people. I used to think that disorder would hinder me – today I know that sometimes it is precisely in disorder that I find the essence.

One of the most liberating thoughts I have embraced is this: rest is part of productivity. It is not a break. It is part of the journey. And most often, the best things come to mind when I am not doing anything “important.” That is when my heart relaxes and my thoughts find a new path.

At the end of the day, I no longer ask myself, “Did I do enough?”

Instead, I ask, “Did I listen to myself today? Was I honest? Did I allow myself to be human?”

And if the answers are yes, then I know I was productive. By my standards. Not by the world's standards.

If you did something from the heart today—even if it was just one thing—then you can rest easy. And if you are just a little more in touch with yourself than you were yesterday, then you have done something extraordinary.

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Hugs,

Eva.