Meaningful Productivity & How to Set Meaningful Goals

Recently, productivity has gained a negative reputation. Nevertheless, it remains a fundamental aspect of our lives, both personally and professionally. We all have tasks to complete, driven by necessity or choice. However, productivity doesn't have to be a constant hustle that leaves us feeling drained. Instead, it can be about effectively managing our time and energy, allowing us to work towards exciting goals and finding space for hobbies and enjoyment.

What is meaningful productivity?

“Meaningful productivity is about purposefully managing time, energy, and resources to achieve goals that matter to you. It means prioritising tasks aligned with your personal vision and values, rather than giving in to external expectations.”

Meaningful productivity is about building a relationship with yourself and understanding what you really want and need in your life. It's about doing more of what you care about, focusing on your own growth and fulfilment. We should always question whether a new goal is driven by our own aspirations or influenced by external expectations. By prioritising goals that are truly important to us, we can lead happier lives with a sense of purpose and fun along the way.

 With meaningful productivity, we are doing more of what benefits us. This means that we take self-care seriously while understanding that it takes different forms for different people. For some, it will be spending more time with their families. For others, it will be finding some time and space to be alone. Everyone can benefit from sleep, a healthy balanced diet and some exercise.

Completing tasks can also be an act of self-care. Even with the most exciting goals, we sometimes have to tackle less glamorous tasks along the way. Sometimes, we have to do things that don't thrill us but are necessary for our progress. In those moments, meaningful productivity means adopting a positive mindset and finding strategies that make the work more pleasant, helping us complete the task and avoid unnecessary worry.

How to Set Meaningful Goals

Reflect on the Past 6 to 12 Months

You don't have to wait until December or the beginning of the academic year to start afresh. Regardless of when you begin your process of setting meaningful goals, start by reflecting on the past months. If you had any goals, ask yourself the following questions:

• What went well?
• What didn't work out? Why?
• Did you set yourself goals that weren't truly yours, or did you underestimate the time needed to work on your objectives?
• What brought joy, and what are you grateful for?

Analysing the past teaches us valuable lessons about what we should do more of and what we should avoid in the future.

Reflect on Your Vision, Values, Strengths, Needs, and Wants

Now that you have reflected on the past, you should ask yourselves questions about your vision for the future, as well as your needs and wants.

To set meaningful goals that align with your values, we recommend creating a guideline, in other words, a personal philosophy that states your core values, the definition of success and happiness, as well as long-term goals and guiding principles. To discover these, you can use the following techniques:

• Ideal day exercise: Consider what would constitute your perfect day or week.
• Journaling: Challenge your thoughts and beliefs by asking thought-provoking questions.
• Self-appreciation: Give yourself credit by appreciating your strengths, talents, personality traits, accomplishments, values, and beliefs.

Remember, there are many exciting things in life, but not all goals will be suitable for you. A person who values independence and adventure will choose different goals than a person who values family and security. People have different natures, personal traits, and preferences. The more we adjust our goals to our personality and current needs, the more meaning and happiness they will bring to our lives.

Also, make sure to regularly check in with yourself, as your values may change over the years or with changing circumstances.

Meaningful Productivity Hacks

Use WOOP for Setting Your Monthly Goals

The WOOP method is a goal-setting and problem-solving technique that helps you achieve your goals effectively. WOOP stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan. Begin by identifying a specific wish (goal/objective), visualising the positive outcome, considering potential obstacles, and creating an actionable plan to overcome those obstacles. The WOOP method is valuable because it provides clarity, realism, motivation, actionable planning, and flexibility in pursuing your goals.

Start with 10 Minutes

Sometimes the hardest part is getting started. The 10-minute rule is a productivity technique where you commit to working on a task for just 10 minutes. By tricking your brain into thinking it's a short amount of time, you can overcome resistance and often find yourself in a flow state, leading to continued work beyond the initial 10 minutes.

Take Action

While planning is valuable, it is through taking action that we make progress and achieve desired outcomes. If you ever find yourself feeling blocked, you can get out of a rut by setting a small achievable steps towards your goal.

Question Your Opinions, Beliefs, Attitudes

By actively examining and challenging our own perspectives, we open ourselves up to new ideas, expand our understanding, and cultivate critical thinking skills. It encourages us to be open-minded, receptive to different viewpoints, and willing to reassess our positions based on evidence and thoughtful reflection. Through this process of self-inquiry, we can continue to learn, evolve, and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Get into the Flow State

When in flow, individuals experience a seamless and effortless flow of thoughts and actions, where time seems to fly by. Achieving a flow state often requires finding the right balance between challenge and skill, where the task at hand is engaging enough to hold one's attention but not so overwhelming as to cause anxiety. Engaging in activities that align with your interests and passions, eliminating distractions, and setting clear goals can help facilitate entering a state of flow.