Why we have to lower our expectations of productivity and how to do it

Monday, February 22, 2021



Racing towards a non-existent finishing line has always been a common theme in my life. This pandemic has forced me to reframe my attitudes on productivity, being proactive and to confront the guilt I feel for not working quick enough, for not achieving enough in my daily life. 


In Lockdown 1.0 I was baking non-stop, I took up watercolour painting and got really, really into a computer game. Now I'm in a similar lockdown, with multiple 'indoor hobbies' I could take up, but the teeny tiny little problem, is that I just really can't be bothered to? 


Even some of the things I usually love doing are beginning to feel like a bit too much, or they feel like I'd be wasting my time, not being proactive, not producing a good enough output.


Sometimes, even choosing a book to read feels like I'm making a decision on buying my future home and committing to a mortgage.


Sometimes, even cooking a nice dinner feels exciting but then, I'm reminded of the severe lack of dinner parties and no friends to share my food with?


Sometimes, even choosing something to watch on the TV feels like just a bit too much commitment and dedication for one evening?


Comparison is another thing that's really screwing us over right now with our perceptions of productivity. I find myself being inspired to start calligraphy properly and yet, look at all those amazing artists on Instagram with their perfectly crafted designs? Look at all those Etsy shops, how could I possibly be as good as that and, if I'm not, should I even bother? I forget that those people spent hours, days, months, years learning their craft. I forget that a hobby doesn't require an output for Instagram. It doesn't need external validation. Hell, it doesn't even need to be good? 


From speaking to friends, it feels like I'm not the only one having problems. We seem to be going in waves and one minute someone's smashed a target on Strava, the next minute they have literally nothing to say apart from that they made a nice breakfast that morning.


All this is why I've been trying to figure out what to do about this guilt, this perception of laziness. The main thing has been trying to lower my expectations of productivity and reframing the little things in my day to make me feel like I'm absolutely smashing life, even if all I did was make a pretty coffee that morning...


Things that sound lame and probably are, like:


  1. Becoming a 'local legend' on Strava, meaning I completed more attempts at a 'segment' than anyone else in 90 days
  2. Putting moisturiser on
  3. Having a snack that isn't unhealthy
  4. Stretching for 1 minute of the day
  5. Getting a new high score in Sudoku
  6. Replicating my favourite restaurant's recipes
  7. Spreading a new TV show out over a few weeks, rather than binge-watching
  8. Having a phone call with friends or family
  9. Making a smoothie to avoid starting work in the morning
  10. Reading literally 1 article, but it's a good article.


I can't imagine myself describing any of these as productive this time last year, but when I reframe my attitude towards them, when I start seeing them as genuine achievements purely because they made me smile, I feel the pressure ease slightly and the anxiety reduce.

This anxiety over not achieving anything, not having a 'productive day' has got to stop. As much as I recoil slightly at the phrase 'be kind to yourself', it's incredibly accurate and particularly important right now.


So, I am vowing to lower my expectation of productivity by attempting all of the following:


  1. Actually try to be nice to yourself
  2. Change your perception of what's productive & what's not
  3. Avoid judging others on their productivity levels
  4. Avoid comparing yourself to others on their productivity levels


Perhaps one positive thing that will come out of this pandemic, will be a slightly more relaxed attitude towards achievements and productivity. Maybe we'll all start chilling out a bit more and take every day as it comes, rather than racing towards a future.


Let me know if you have any tips of tricks to feeling happier with being less productive!


Imi x

Viennese Fingers Recipe

Monday, February 08, 2021





Sometimes, I buy something from the shop that's really, really good and when I look into how it's made it's somehow only using ingredients I already have? That kind of recipe is particularly useful during Lockdown when my only food shop is a Saturday and if I don't get what I need in that lot, then it's another week till my next chance. 

Viennese Fingers are a bit like these. I love Fox's ones you find in supermarkets but there's always an underlying artificial taste to shop-bought stuff. Which makes these ones I baked better, they're melty, simple and taste very homemade!

Ingredients

250g soft butter (I used salted which was fine, but unsalted would've been better)
75g icing sugar
250g plain flour
1tsp vanilla extract
50g cornflour
150g dark chocolate

Step 1:

Firstly, sieve all your dry ingredients together in a bowl, and mix in the butter and vanilla until you have a fully combined, thick mixture. You may have to use your hands at the end. If you're feeling strong and brave and your dough isn't too stiff then you can now pipe your biscuits with a star nozzle. If, however, you're a weakling like me then I would highly recommend simply moulding your biscuits into biscuit-like shapes and placing them on a greased baking tray.

Step 2:

Bake in the oven at about 175 degrees for 12 - 17 minutes or until golden and stiff. I put mine in for about 16 altogether, but it really depends on your oven.

Step 3:

Allow your biscuits to cool and move onto melting your chocolate in a bowl over simmering water. Once your biscuits have cooled, dip each into the chocolate, and place onto a tray lined with greaseproof paper. I always do this, and I also grease the paper beforehand.

Step 4:

Leave your biscuits in the fridge for an hour or two to set.


Let me know if you make Viennese Fingers and how they were!




Notes with Imi