Should one rely on productivity tools, let's say, for efficiency and time management?
Short answer: no! Oftentimes, using them is like treating the pain instead of the disease.
A more productive (pun intended), yet less pleasant tool is asking the following: "Why am I feeling unproductive in the first place?"
Maybe I feel hungry or thirsty?
Maybe I feel tired and need a break?
Maybe the task feels pointless?
Maybe I have other things to do?
After a short but productive (pun intended again) self-inquiry, I might realize that
😶 I don't take care of my basic needs
🤔 I don't like what I am producing
😠 I don't like the product I am working on
🤯 I don't know what I am doing with my life
Sure, this is not a very positive diagnosis. Who wants to learn that they are actually sick at heart rather than unproductive?
However, it is as negative as learning that
❤️ you need to change your diet and exercise more due to high blood pressure or cholesterol level,
🖤 unless you want to increase your chances of having a heart attack or developing diabetes.
Of course, sometimes it is totally reasonable to boost your productivity by changing the ergonomics of your workplace (e.g. switching between sitting and standing) or using co-working spaces. 👌
Oftentimes, however, lack of productivity is just the tip of the iceberg, hiding diverse psychological issues, ranging from mild deficits in grit to severe deficits in self-respect.
The good part is that these psychological challenges can be fully or partially overcome by becoming more mindful of your physical and psychological needs as well as learning more self-compassion. ☀️
At the end of the day, we are just humans, an advanced species of mammals, who are not fitted for the modern and ever-changing world.
Moral of the story: it is totally normal to feel unproductive as long as (1) you know why and (2) you know how to live a meaningful life, despite the occasional unproductivity. ✌️