Member-only story
Why Being Productive Doesn’t Have To Mean Being “at Work”
You can actually be productive doing whatever
“ Why weren’t you at work between 8:21 and 8:33?” my corporate sales manager asked me. I told her I actually was working, I just ran into a colleague I share a project with on my way to the toilets and I quickly discussed some feedback I had received about said project. Her reply: “Look Ferry, if I don’t see you behind your desk or in a meeting I’m assuming you’re not at work”. That was the stupidest thing I ever heard in my entire life. At the same time, it was the best thing I ever heard, as it made me realise I needed to get out of that environment, quickly.
What does “productivity” look like?
Her words made me realize a couple of things. Like I said, first and foremost that I needed to get the heck out of the toxic envoriment. But secondly, and more importantly, it made me rethink the meaning of “ being at work”. Or better yet: what does it mean — to me — to actually be productive? Do I need my laptop for that? Should I be unavailable for anything but “ work” between certain hours and what actually is work?
There is so much pressure coming from social media, influencer and maybe even people you work with, where desirable things are shown off combined with people…
