I’m allergic to words “productivity” and “goals”.
I used to be crazy about those kinds of things. I thought career advancements and achievements will make me genuinely happy and fulfilled. They didn’t.
Moreover I had a burnout and realized that my goals are not really mine anymore.
But I wasn’t. I took my time to really get to know myself and learn what would make me fulfilled. Then the russian war in Ukraine started and I was focused on totally different things but that’s a whole other story.
I had this belief that if I abandon a goal, everyone will be disappointed. Turns out I was projecting and it is actually me who would get disappointed.
Bottom line is that I’m still allergic to productivity. So what do I do instead?
I don’t have goals or a todo list.
I make “My enthusiasms” list.
I list all the things that excite me greatly and I wish to do more often. Things like genealogy, singing, playing sims, things I want to learn, projects, things I want to journal about. I do not set deadlines, nor do I make resolutions.
I just pick up whatever interests me at the moment and do it. Sometimes for an hour, sometimes for a few days. As long as it feels fun.
Then I leave it for the next thing or whatever life throws at me at the time.
But I come back.
This way I don’t have to feel like I’ve abandoned my interests but at the same time I don’t feel the pressure of seeing it as a goal that has to be achieved.
Works like a charm.