Productivity Culture Can Take a Hike
“What a beautiful view,” said my son, in his sweet 9-year old voice. I didn’t even have to nudge him to appreciate the sweeping mountain vista in front of us! I stood behind him, in awe of him, in awe of nature. We had just climbed to the top of a large rock at Staunton State Park, an hour outside of Denver.
My son had a Monday off school so I decided we’d hike. In late September, Aspen leaves tend to peak at a beautiful golden hue. It’s a magical time of year in the mountains, lasting only a few weeks, and I was craving a glimpse. I also wanted time with my son, outside and away from the temptations of screens. I didn’t realize at the time that I’d come back to these goals subconsciously as a productivity meter.
Delightfully Devoid of Detailed Directions
We departed our home with a bag of snacks, a six-hour time limit, and no set plan. I didn’t even use my map app!
Yes, I did miss the turn for the park. Thanks for bringing that up. I have feedback for whoever places signs along Highway 285, but I digress. We were fine. More than fine.
That day I lived in my son’s world for a few hours. We listened to his audiobook on the drive. We played at the nature center after we reviewed trail options. We snacked in the car as it gently rained. He picked out a trail, we discussed walking in the light rain, and how we could always come back if the rain didn’t stop. He told me he liked hiking in front, so he led. He rambled in a stream-of-consciousness fashion, and told me everything he knows about the speed of sound.
When we returned home, we re-entered society. He wanted to watch a show and I wanted to respond to emails. We’d landed back at “real life” and the glow of our individual screens.
That evening my husband asked me, "how was the hike?" My two responses were:
Delightful. See above.
...and this is the part I’m less proud of...
Not very “productive.”
I used air quotes around “productive” because it felt yucky even as I was saying it. The thought of reducing our beautiful day together into a business term sickened me. But the productivity cat was already catapulted out of the bag. My hubby said gently, “Yes, it was.”
The Productivity Culture at Home
I’ve been trying to design my life with more intention around aligning my time with what matters most (i.e. family).
And yet, I still struggle with our world’s focus on productivity culture. I did (in a way) major in it. That’s a big part of what Industrial and Systems Engineering is. Optimization has been a cornerstone of my education and career. “Being productive” now as an entrepreneur, with more freedom and flexibility in my days, still has a hold on me.
I didn’t email, write, plan, generate, contact, clean, or organize anything tangible that day. No KPIs tracked our input or output on a dashboard. Zero economic output.
Was it productive?
My son and I made memories, created connections, shared smiles, marveled at nature, and enjoyed simply being. Look at all those action verbs.
Maybe this was the most productive day of the week.
I won’t always have a full day to do a 1:1 hike with a loved one. Most of us don’t. So how do I stay present to this concept on the daily? How do I shift a worldview to prioritize relationships over getting stuff done (GSD in the business world)?
Maybe it’s in the “Rose, Bud, and Thorn” sharing at dinner or how our kids stall at bedtime by suddenly opening up and sharing things with us.
Or maybe it’s more staring out the window time.
Perhaps it’s simply the removal of phones to ask your partner or friend how they are doing. And giving them the gift of your full attention.
What a gift our full attention is - and we can give it freely - if we pay attention.
Productivity, as traditionally defined, matters. I love a good checklist or system. And I wish to be free from its grip as I choose to slow down, take time for my humans, and practice simply being. That philosophy will “produce” more than my checklist ever could.
Maybe the most meaningful things we do are felt.
Have you wrestled with these questions too?
Let’s take a hike and talk about it.
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