Newsletter Issue 1: Joyful Productivity

Welcome to The Productivist - a vibrant hub for high performers determined to unlock their full potential and become the best versions of themselves.

Are you ready to discover the secret to achieving greater success and living a truly fulfilling life? In this issue of The Productivist, we'll explore the incredible power of joyful productivity and the small yet impactful changes that can transform your daily routine.

So, let's dive in!

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Big Idea: Joy is the precursor to high performance

What if you were told that the key to unlocking productivity lies in a simple, yet powerful element — joy?

Picture this: a happy employee is 31% more productive than an unhappy one.

That means, if your current project takes an entire month of August to complete, approaching it with joy starting today would let you take every Friday off in August…

Plus, all of the last week of the month, on top of that.

The link between joy and success is so profound, I knew this would be the first topic of this newsletter.

Here are some practical strategies for joyful productivity you can implement going forward:

1. Embrace your emotions
   
   It's time to take ownership of your mood and emotions.
   
   Instead of blaming external factors, learn the art of letting go and taking control.
   
   Just like encountering a rude driver on the highway, certain things are beyond your control and are often expected.
   
   Psychologists say, letting go is good for your mental health.
   
   

2. Assess your job satisfaction
   
   If you're not happy with your job and there's nothing you can do to improve it, consider if the rewards outweigh the dissatisfaction.
   
   If not, it might be time to consider other options.
   
   

3. Find the silver lining
   
   If quitting is not an immediate option, focus on finding something you love about your job—a supportive colleague, an exciting task, or the ability to work from a beautiful office.
   
   Start your day by appreciating that aspect and amplifying every positive moment.
   
   Avoid dwelling on negative encounters and focus on the positives.
   
   

4. Instead of stress in the future opt for excitement in the present
   
   If you feel that what makes you most productive is working under stress…
   
   I am not going to argue with you.
   
   It makes sense. Especially because you perceive stress as helpful for your focus. (more on stress-as-enhancing mindset in the future newsletters)
   
   But, even though stress can boost productivity, happiness is much more effective.
   
   If you seek the rush of norepinephrine to enter flow state, don’t wait for a stressful situation in the future, but rather create excitement about the task in the present.
   
   Your brain releases this chemical in both stressful and exciting situations.
   
   Approaching tasks with an "I am excited to get this done!” mindset, will help you enjoy the process and feel intrinsically motivated.
   
   Choose excitement over stress.

Tiny Habit: 5-Minute Mindfulness Moment

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Before diving into a new project or task, take a 2-5 minute mindfulness break.

Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and centre yourself, focusing on your body.

You can concentrate on your breath, find your pulse without using your fingers, or do a quick body scan to notice various sensations.

This simple practice serves as a mindset and energy reset, enabling you to approach your activities with more joy and presence.

Impact breakdown:

• Closing your eyes: Gives you a break from the most energy-draining visual stimuli.

• Deep breathing: Invokes your parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and focus.

• Focusing on the body: Brings your attention to the present moment, fostering mindfulness and productivity.

The Productivist Questions

This is not something you thought you'd get in this newsletter, but your day is not productive if you haven't connected with someone on a deeper level.

Every week, you’ll find at least one great question here to reflect upon on your own or with your close ones, and this week it is all about productive conversation starters.

So instead of a typical "How are you?”, give one of these a try:

• What's the number one item on your bucket list?

• What's your best memory from childhood?

• What situations make you feel awkward and why?

• What did you buy recently that you now regret?

• What brings you the most joy these days?

And that’s a wrap!

Thank You! 🫶

Thank you for being a part of The Productivist community.

Speaking of conversation starters, you should send me a reply with your answer to one of the 5 questions I recommended above! I’d love to learn more about you.

I appreciate you being here and sharing in this journey toward joyful productivity and high-performance living.

With Joy,

Valeriya

PS How did I do?
Did I deliver on the promise of providing valuable insights and actionable tips?
What topics would you like me to include or change in future newsletters?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Please reply to this email and let me know how you found it.