Productivity Through Less Anxiety
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:19)
No one skates through life without significant mistakes, and life does not provide do-overs. Common human struggle is one reason younger people should take time to listen to the stories of their elders. Learning often comes from examining the mistakes of others. Their poor choices can save us from making the same ones ourselves. It is my turn to share certain foibles with you so you can avoid these struggles in your life. Nick Wignall helped clarify my thoughts on my mistakes in his article “3 Productivity Myths Holding You Back from Great Work.”
Wignall nailed me to a wall when he wrote, “1. I’m a high-achiever so being stressed out is inevitable.” My first semester of college was a mess. Rather than address the real issues, I told myself I needed to put more pressure on myself, and if I started to slack off, I up my internal anxiety. On one level, my productivity increased, but there were unintended consequences. Heightening stress is exhausting, which diminishes productivity over time. Increased pressure also cuts off creativity. The old children’s story remains true; the turtle beats the hare in the race!
Wignall’s second warning is “2. Being hard on myself keeps me motivated.” You and I are not alone in accepting this fallacy. Wignall points out, “The idea that we need to be tough on ourselves in order to succeed is baked deep into our cultural psyche.” Wignall helps us see the error when he states, “There’s a big difference between being disciplined and being hard on yourself.” Being disciplined can be relaxing because we wake up in the morning prepared to meet the day. We organize ourselves enough to have our day planned and disciplined sufficiently to complete each day’s challenges. We do not need to be hard on ourselves; we follow our plan.
Finally, Wignall pulls the plug on equating discipline with emotion. “3. I need to control my emotions in order to get things done.” Wignall explains, “A common misconception about highly productive people is that they’re unflappable cyborgs who either never feel emotions or have such tight control over them that they never get in the way of work.” While it is essential to be the master of our emotions, it does not mean we attempt to block our feelings. At their best, feelings are a guide; the Holy Spirit helps us recognize our needs, fears, and attention in each moment. Emotions are not to be feared but pondered and embraced as a tool for increased functioning.
Today, learn prayerfully from the struggles of my young adulthood and seek ways to address Wignall’s three warnings. Think of times when you’ve fallen into these three traps and how you’ve overcome their unhealthy grip. Then, thank God that mistakes are not permanent. God is gracious, forgiving, and restorative and will not leave you in despair. Reflection should not produce anxiety but provide a roadmap to a healthier tomorrow.