Category: Work

What Does It Mean To Be Productive?

In our society, a lot of emphasis is placed on being productive.

For example, in the economy, there are metrics for how productive the average worker is. In our private lives as well, people who feel overwhelmed with all they have to do may wonder, “How can I get more done?”

There have been many technological efforts to solve this problem. Labor-saving devices, like the dishwasher or vacuum cleaner, have been introduced as a method of doing in minutes what previously had taken hours.

Perhaps more than any other invention, the computer increased productivity. As computers have gotten faster and smaller, we can do more with them than ever before.

There is a question of how much labor these devices are actually saving, though. Despite using dozens, or even hundreds, of these, we feel busier than ever. They haven’t saved labor, really, but allowed more labor, of various kinds, to get done. They have allowed us to be more efficient.

Is that productivity, then? Being more efficient with our time and other resources?

Being the most efficient, however, is not always the best way to get the most done. Some people, for example, meditate regularly. Benefits to meditation vary from person to person, but often it allows calm, ordered thoughts. Which in turn allows for greater concentration, which can lead to getting more done. Sitting and being completely unproductive can lead to greater productivity later on.

Creativity is similar — letting your mind wander can help you to see things in a new way. But “letting your mind wander” is not obviously productive.

So what, exactly, is productivity? And can we increase it without exhausting our nervous system?

Related questions: How can we be more productive? Are we too busy? What do you think about when your mind is not preoccupied?

Snowblower Or Shovel?

Assuming you have to move snow around, do you use a snowblower, or the more old school method of shoveling your way out of a snowstorm?

Share why if you wish.

Snowblower Or Shovel?
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What Traits Have Led To Your Success?

Success, in all facets of life, is due to many factors. Thinking about your successes, can you identify just a few traits that led there?

In our culture, the trait of hard work is often praised. This is understandable, because it is something entirely within your control. You can decide how much attention and time you devote toward a project.

And no doubt, hard work is important. Of course, there is also the saying, “Work smarter, not harder.” This would suggest outside the box thinking, perhaps, is valuable.

The list of possible traits a long one, with possible contradictions.

Perhaps you find success due to the high quality of people you surround yourself with. Or you have always made it a point to be early for every meeting. Saying yes might lead to new opportunities; setting boundaries by saying no could be important for some.

Honesty, as they say, is the best policy, and maybe you agree. Being well connected can open many doors. So can being generous with your money and/or time. But looking out for yourself — if not you, then who? — might lead to personal advancement.

And then there are things completely out of your control, which could be lumped together as “luck”. Perhaps success is little more than being in the right place at the right time.

Consider the times you have had success, whether in your personal or professional life. Can you identify particular traits that come up again and again? If so, what might you do to play up to your strengths?

And if the answer is no, what might that say about succeeding in life?

Related questions: How do you define success? When is it useful to fail? How has luck shaped your life? What is important?

Should Health Care Be Tied To A Person’s Employment?

For many people, at least in America, health care is largely subsidized by their employer. Does that system make sense?

Health care is one of the more controversial topics in American politics. Millions of Americans get their health insurance, to pay for the ever-increasing cost of health care, from a plan offered by their employer.

It is easy to see how this situation evolved. In addition to salary, an employer may offer additional benefits as an incentive to take a job. These might include, among other things, generous vacation time, stock options, and yes, cheaper health insurance.

Indeed, that can be an attractive benefit, as health insurance is very expensive. This is due to the fact that health care is expensive. However, large companies that represent hundreds or even thousands of employees, can negotiate lower prices that would be unavailable to individuals.

One downside to this scenario, though, is that having health care offered through an employer means employees are put at a severe disadvantage. A worker might be unhappy with a particular job, but feels they are unable to leave because they can’t afford to lose the health insurance for them and possibly their family.

Additionally, an employer’s choice of plan could impact what medical procedures an employee is allowed to get, or even which doctor they are allowed to have.

So, which is it? Is subsidized health insurance a nice perk that comes with signing on with a big company? Or is it a tool that gives an employer unfair leverage over their employees? Should health care be tied to a person’s employment?

Related questions: Is health care a human right? Health care: private or public? What does it mean to be healthy? Is your sense of self tied to your job?

Is Your Sense Of Self Tied To Your Job?

For some people, their choice of occupation is crucial to their identity. This is not surprising, since the average person spends around a third of their life at a job.

In some ways, it makes sense that a job is so important. After all, anything you spend so much time doing is automatically important. With the possible exception of your immediate family, your co-workers may very well be the people you spend the most time with.

Moreover, you might be talking about your job often.

If you meet a stranger, one of the first questions you ask each other might be, “What do you do?” The answer helps the two of you determine how much you have in common and might influence your subsequent conversation.

Similarly, respective jobs are frequently the topic of conversation among spouses or romantic partners. After all, if you care for someone, you want to know how they spend their time, and how other people might treat them.

So a job is important. But is it healthy to base your identity on it?

After all, different people have different reasons for working. Some might work just to pay their mortgage, while others might be trying to make the world a better place. As the saying goes: some work to live; others live to work. Are both types of people defined by the job they do?

And if you lose that job, through no fault of your own, do you cease to have an identity in much the same way that you might lose your health insurance?

In your case, does your job impact your sense of self? If so, should it?

Related questions: Who are you? What do you like most about your job? What are ways to achieve work-life balance? How does your personal life influence your work life?