I was looking forward to this uninterrupted time to think, write, and be more productive than I have been in a long while.

To that end, I have won three straight backgammon games against the computer.

Keeping myself on task always seems like such a struggle.

Of course, I worked out for an hour, being sure to include all major muscle groups, stretching, and 20 minutes of aerobic exercises. I ordered a new tarot deck, did research on the seven elements of life and transpersonal chakras, and I remembered to pay my quarterly taxes. I made several appointments and followed up on tasks for my upcoming workshops.

Hmmm, I guess it was a productive day after all.

Sometimes, I am so hard on myself that I forget to look at how much I have accomplished.

It’s easy when you have so much to do to forget to take a step back and see how much you’ve accomplished. When we only look forward, we are never done. Taking that few extra moments to notice how far you’ve come can bring you a bit of peace and, hopefully, think kinder thoughts about yourself.

There’s more to productivity than doing. There’s more to doing than actively accomplishing. The silence, the kind words we use toward ourselves, the more realistic expectations we set for ourselves all make for a very productive day.

How hard are you on yourself? There is always more to do, and there is always a need for playful rest (hence the online backgammon.)

When you are feeling down about your performance on any level, that is a sign to step back, take a deep breath, and remind yourself how far you’ve come and how far you will go, just not all at once.

Mary