In "Is the problem that dislikable work feels more productive?" I posed a simple question -
I’ve been thinking about this since I read it this morning. Could it be that work you dislike and are being mandated to do feels more productive? I did about six hours of great work today, but most of it was talking to people I enjoy talking to and learn a lot from and playing around in Google analytics. I felt like I got nothing done until I looked at my list at the end of the day – tons of good stuff checked off.
One of the greatest things about working for yourself is that you can focus on what you want to do, and often that’s work-that-feels-like-play-but-also-pays-you. Isn’t that magnificent? Work that doesn’t feel like working that’s highly productive? Just, it’s easy not to feel productive afterwards, since it felt like playing all day… what do you think?
A fantastic response from Joe in the comments just now. Since it's an older post, it's unlikely anyone would see it but me, which seemed like a shame. Here's what Joe wrote -
Ok, a newer post led me here to this older one, so this may be a responds to something out of date. I've felt this way before and I've given it some thought.
It has something to do with what you can quantify. Accomplishing things that you can measure for comparison will give you a better sense of that accomplishment. On the other hand, doing things that are harder to measure allows room for doubt. This happens in mandated projects as well. The only difference is you'll also be questioned externally until productivity becomes visible.
Exercising is a good personal example. You may not feel like anything is changing until you start seeing the numbers. And over a greater period of time you begin to really feel the effects.
So in these cases, give it more time. If you have the data that says you've been productive, trust it. Your emotions will eventually catch up.
Great stuff -
"Exercising is a good personal example. You may not feel like anything is changing until you start seeing the numbers. And over a greater period of time you begin to really feel the effects.
So in these cases, give it more time. If you have the data that says you've been productive, trust it. Your emotions will eventually catch up."
Update: Joe now has a blog here - http://joeyespo.com/
This post on goals from Joey is pretty good, seems like it'd be a good jumping off point.