Everything Is Productive

How do you define productivity? It feels like, as a society, we've reached a consensus that certain activities are innately constructive while others are a waste of time. I'm not going to sit here and passionately advocate that classically productive endeavors such as exercise offer lifestyle benefits comparable to the effects of melting into your couch while the vexing drone of reality television slowly liquifies your prefrontal cortex. But, with a slight adjustment to your understanding of the concept of "productivity," you may soon see that these contrasting modes of existence can be equally fulfilling. 

At the most rudimentary level, the word productive implies production or the creation of an intended outcome. If we accept this, activities cannot be evaluated as productive in and of themselves, but only insofar as they align with their pursuer's intention. Therefore, to optimize productivity, you must first establish an explicit purpose for your action and work toward it intentionally. The idea that one should do things purposely may seem like a no-brainer. Still, the abundance of opportunities for instant gratification that permeate western society often makes a total commitment to a single task far more burdensome than it should be. With limitless entertainment at our fingertips, chugging away at a multifaceted job littered with complication and nuance is difficult, but certain tools can help alleviate distraction and streamline focus. One such device is known colloquially as the Pomodoro Method.

The Pomodoro Method was developed in the '80s by a student who struggled with the plague of procrastination named Francesco Cirillo. He saw that his apprehension towards diligent work was likely a result of the natural human desire to avoid unpleasant feelings and figured that by chunking his workload into small tackle sections, he would meet much less resistance in his approach. He reached for his tomato-shaped (Pomodoro in Italian) kitchen timer and committed to working on one problem for 25 minutes without allowing his attention to stray towards any unrelated pursuits. Thus the Pomodoro Method was born. This time management technique has evolved into a well-rounded system that entails working on a specific task for 25 minutes, taking a five-minute rest, and repeating the cycle three times before enjoying an extended and more regenerative 15-30 minute break. While seemingly simple, this procedure has been shown scientifically and anecdotally to be a constructive step towards optimal productivity.

Reluctance towards approaching burdensome projects is usually spurred by the daunting feeling of their apparent endlessness. The Pomodoro method alleviates such concerns by breaking complicated tasks into actionable steps. For example, sitting down with the knowledge that you have hours of tedious labor ahead as you approach an essay could very well provoke a strong urge to stay as far away from your workstation as possible. Conversely, the Pomodoro method forces you to chunk your workload into bits that can be accomplished in less than half an hour, making your workload far more organized and less intimidating. Any Navy Seal who has made it through hell week will tell you that their myopic focus was racked on simply surviving until the next meal rather than the path of near eternal suffering that lay before them. Additionally, the 25 minute time constraint creates a sense of urgency rather than a seemingly endless amount of time to complete an insurmountable task. In my experience, this slight pressure exerted by the Pomodoro method improves efficiency and makes tasks more enjoyable by adding a sense of gamification to them as I race against the clock. 

Themes of productivity and "hustle culture" are becoming the zeitgeist of younger generations in the west. In light of our cultural shift towards an evermore competitive academic and work environment, I believe it is necessary to clearly outline specific aspirations and establish a structured approach to one's goals. While the Pomodoro method is not a be all end all formula for an optimally productive life, it is a tool that is quite useful for clarifying your intentions and centering your focus while simultaneously evading interminable procrastination. So, wind up your tomato timers and get to work!