I haven't written an article in 20 days.
This is the longest cold streak I’ve gone through ever since I started writing 8 months ago. It feels weird and unproductive, something that I’m not used to.
But that's okay.
Why?
Because being productive at the expense of your mental health is nothing to be proud of.
Excess productivity has its downfalls
All over social media, we’ve been told that being productive is the best way to live your life. Get up in the morning, exercise, meditate, breathe, eat healthy, work, read a book, listen to affirmations, sleep on time, rinse and repeat.
I absolutely agree with this kind of lifestyle and have always worked towards being more productive. But lately, I’ve been thinking if being too productive at the cost of your happiness is even worth it.
Long story short. Last year, I was super productive.
With two jobs, writing on Medium, writing on Substack, side hustling in the evening, and running a business. I was doing it all.
Looking back, I realized that even though I learned a ton with everything I did in the past year, I was so busy being productive, that I forgot to live life.
I forgot how I felt after watching a UFC knockout (something that I loved).
I forgot how good it felt learning a new song on my guitar.
I forgot what chilling with my friends on a Friday morning felt like.
Even though I was productive all year round, I forgot the feeling of life’s simple pleasures. Things that have nothing to do with being productive.
Excess productivity comes with the baggage of living a monotonous life like a robot, the by-product of which is to forget what living truly is.
Living life on a razor's edge
Living life to the fullest is like living on a razor's edge.
Lack of productivity leads to a dull life, with no ambition and no growth, while being too productive leads to a monotonous one.
Everyone’s trying to live life on the razor’s edge, trying to find a balance between doing what needs to be done and what gives them joy.
The best way to live life to the fullest, in my humble opinion, is to be productive without burning out. Because that's where the music stops.
I see people burn out and quit all the time, from friends to influencers online, burnout is extremely common, wouldn't you agree?
The reason for this is a cocktail of overambition and lack of patience. Most people love drinking this cocktail, that's the only thing they know.
The only way to avoid burnout is to take a break from time to time.
It's Okay
I got fired from my job a few months ago.
Even though I felt frustrated, angry, and pissed off at the time, deep down I felt relieved because I no longer had to do something I hated. I no longer had to answer to stupid bosses who would micro-manage me all the time. I no longer had to be answerable to someone for every small action I took.
Getting fired gave me a reason to take a break.
A break from all the hustle and bustle of my life. From all the evening sales calls on Zoom trying to sell stuff to people. From all the overambitious targets I had set for myself.
Initially, it felt weird not being productive, but later I realized the break was much needed.
For the longest time, I felt bad about it. I felt as if I was just wasting my life, but I was wrong. It took me forever to realize that it's okay to take a break from time to time.
It's okay to not be productive for a few months.
It's okay to chill, and live life for a change.
It's okay to achieve your goals a little later than you had initially planned.
It's okay to take some time to do absolutely nothing.
Why?
Because I’d rather achieve my goals after a few years rather than live a miserable life every day trying to achieve them sooner.
What's the hurry anyway?
It's okay to delay your goals and enjoy the journey, even if it takes a few more years than you had initially planned.
It's your journey, not your mom’s journey, not your friends’ journey.
Yours.
So slow down and enjoy the ride.
Learn from your mistakes.
And if you feel you’re burning out.
Take a break from time to time.
Because it's okay.
-Rishav
This is beautifully written! Absolutely loved it!🫶