The Science of .... Productivity?

In March of 2020 when the pandemic hit, my life changed drastically… as it did for pretty much everyone on this planet. 

I was suddenly teaching through zoom which was a new experience for me. It presented- at first- a unique set of challenges. How would this work? Would I be able to hear? Would I still feel connected to my students and community?

I was lucky. The changes I experienced at first were challenging, but it was through these challenges that I experienced a wake up call.

Like so many of us I was looking for a way to pivot to experience more joy and fulfillment in my life and connect to my purpose more deeply. But how?

I was now working from home which gave me extra time that I was previously spending on commuting. I began to think thoughtfully about how I could use that time productively.

pro·duc·tive·ly

in a way that produces or increases something, especially wealth or resources; profitably.

“Productive” began to take on a whole new meaning. What was I trying to increase?

It was at that point that I took a class called The Science of Well Being (taught by Dr. Lori Santos of The Happiness Lab) where I learned about the research behind what really makes humans happy and the misconceptions we carry around happiness. (hint: it’s not about material things or money).

I knew this deep down already, but hearing the latest research validated what I already knew in my heart and inspired me to put this knowledge into practice.

It was through this class that I learned how to work on increasing my own happiness by building more “productive” habits by incorporating specific wellness practices into my life. (This is what inspired Joyful Singing!)

Here are the practices from the class:

Savoring- taking time to savor the things you enjoy. (For me I’ve developed a routine of savoring a cup of tea in the late afternoon in one of my late grandmother’s antique tea cups. ☕️)

Gratitude- expressing gratitude for the people and things in your life.

Kindness- increasing your acts of kindness.

Social Connection- making connections with strangers and acquaintances along with scheduling time for the people in your life.

Exercise- increasing your physical activity to at least 30 minutes a few times a week.

Sleep- making sure you sleep at least 7 hours a night.

Meditation- meditating for 5-10 minutes daily if you are a beginner or increasing your time if you already meditate regularly.

Signature Strengths- using what Dr. Lori Santos calls your top “character strengths” in new ways. (ie appreciation of beauty & excellence, perseverance, humor, spirituality, love of learning, leadership, etc.) This varies for everyone depending on your top strengths.

You can take the quiz here: https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register

And if you are interested in signing up for this class, it’s open to anyone and is ongoing.

And it’s FREE!

https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being?

Putting self care above all else has taught me that I have more energy and passion for what I’m doing and what I can give to my family, my friends, & my community. AND it’s helped to foster more joy, more happiness, and more fulfillment in my life.

I continue to grapple daily with that word “productivity” and what I “should be increasing.”

But having this framework has given me something to return to when I get stuck.

If you find this helpful, let me know how it goes! Send me message on instagram or through my contact page! I'd love to hear from you!