Do Mindfulness and Productivity REALLY Work Together?

Can you be mindful and productive at the same time?

The title I use is Mindfulness Teacher and Productivity Coach. As you can imagine, that usually raises some eyebrows because the two aren’t often perceived to work together (more on that in the video below).

The two are often put on opposite sides of the spectrum: mindfulness sits peacefully on the left, its legs crossed in lotus position, of course, while productivity hurriedly organizes and systemizes the right side of the spectrum, hopped up on caffeine and ambition.

So what on earth am I doing combining the two? (In the cruel words of Doubt and Imposter Syndrome, “Who the heck do you think you are?”)

As I’m in the thick of developing and delivering local workshops on practical mindfulness, energy-management, and intentional productivity (courses on these topics coming in the spring!), I’ve been giving this question a lot of thought. And, as usual, I figured I’d share those thoughts with you.

Consider this blog post The Marriage of Mindfulness and Productivity—Part I.

You see, I tend to embody both sides fairly equally. I’m the calm, introspective, self-aware empathizer sitting cross-legged on the left side of the spectrum AND the productive, ambitious, ridiculously organized systemizer on the right.

Side note: maybe my next book should be titled, Mindfulness is from Mars, Productivity is from Venus… but We’re Actually All in the Middle (on Earth). A bit lengthy, but you get the picture.

The good news is that I’m not alone here. While some consider themselves to be more creative empathizers (“right-brained”) and others more analytic systemizers (“left-brained”), the truth is you are a mosaic of qualities. You are multifaceted and multidimensional, and you fit into more than one box at once… or perhaps no box at all!

You are a combination of both hemispheres of the brain, both modes of operation, both sides of one self, and you constantly activate different parts of each side (though, yes, perhaps sometimes one more than the other depending on what the situation calls for, how you choose to respond to it, and your strengths or tendencies).

You operate optimally when the full “spectrum of self” is active—the productive systemizer and the mindful, creative empathizer.

This is good news for folks like me (“Earth people,” as they’d be called in my hypothetical book) who have never really fit fully on one side of the spectrum or the other. Maybe it’s a relief for you, too.

As I delve further into the psychology and neuroscience behind this, I realize there is a lot to cover here. I’ll lay out more specifics in Part II, but let me leave you with this for now:

With Harmony as one of my three words for 2020, I’m embracing the many different traits I hold and modes in which I operate, and I’m remembering that—though it might feel like it from time to time—they aren’t in conflict with one another. In fact, my multidimensionality is a strength, and my work, relationships, and general wellbeing are better off because of it.

Your multidimensionality is a major strength. You get to be mindful, productive, creative, systematic, and ALL the other things you are, all at the same time. This makes you incredibly versatile and adaptive—not to mention interesting—and opens doors to a world of possibilities.

So yes, you can be mindful and productive at the same time. (In fact, you might already be both of these things, even simultaneously, but have felt the need to choose between the two because they appear conflicting. We’ll deal with that conflict in my next post.)

Don’t limit yourself to fit into one box—or any box. You’re so much more than that.

Hopefully you enjoyed what turned into a motivational speech (I’m very passionate about realizing and stepping into your full potential)! For more inspiration, check out the wildly popular TED Talk below on multi-potentiality.

Then read on to part II of The Marriage of Mindfulness and Productivity for how to be mindful and productive at the same time.