Embrace Learning Without Judgment: Redefining Productivity
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Chapter 1: Understanding Learning Beyond Conventional Norms
This is a thought I recently reflected on while lounging in my hammock, a message I feel compelled to share. My aim is to encourage you, the reader, to judge yourself less for how you allocate your time.
It's important to spend our time wisely, and yes, reading a book is typically more constructive than watching mindless TV, like negative news or uneducational shows. However, I believe we tend to be overly critical of ourselves. I often find myself thinking, "What am I doing? This isn’t productive," or "I didn’t accomplish anything today."
Guilt often creeps in on quieter days, particularly if those days fall on a Tuesday instead of a Sunday. Society tends to condone laziness on Sundays, but it becomes harder to justify a relaxing Tuesday. As someone invested in self-improvement, I feel the pressure to learn and grow every day. But is self-judgment truly conducive to productivity?
Learning manifests in various forms. It’s not solely about reading books or taking courses. Productivity often implies that we end the day knowing more than we did at its start or having achieved something significant. Yet, do we recognize that learning can take many shapes?
The Biggest Myth In Education - This video explores common misconceptions about what constitutes true learning. It emphasizes that education extends beyond traditional methods and invites you to rethink your approach to acquiring knowledge.
Learning Can Be Playful
Play is indeed a form of productivity.
I stand by that statement. I’ve often felt guilty about enjoying myself too much. Growing up, my father would frequently say, "You’ve had enough fun this weekend. It’s time to prepare for school." We mistakenly equate productivity with misery and view enjoyment as laziness.
If I had a delightful day, I would end it feeling guilty, thinking, "Now it’s time to buckle down and be serious." This mindset is fundamentally flawed.
First, the guilt-shame cycle is detrimental. For example, I find joy in working out. During exercises like squats, even when my legs tremble, I often laugh as I push through. While workouts can be challenging, I don’t view physical exertion as suffering. I enjoy it, and it’s beneficial for my health.
Secondly, play is a natural way to learn. Children and animals learn through play; it’s fundamental to their development. Humans created formal schooling, while nature embraced play.
When young animals engage in play, they acquire vital survival skills. Similarly, children enhance their imagination and problem-solving abilities through play. Activities like jumping on a trampoline not only provide fun but also promote health.
As adults, we can derive immense value from playful experiences. A major reason adulthood feels monotonous is that many forget to embrace play. When we allow ourselves to enjoy life, we tap into a youthful spirit that fosters health and happiness.
Engaging in sports or gym activities teaches us teamwork, coordination, discipline, and more. Enjoy activities that bring you joy; you don’t need to be reading or attending classes to learn.
Learning Styles Don't Exist - This video challenges the notion of fixed learning styles and encourages you to embrace a more flexible approach to learning that can include playful experiences.
Learning Can Be Subconscious
Our conscious mind represents only a small fraction of our brain's capacity, with estimates ranging from 5% to 10%. The subconscious encompasses our habits, emotional responses, belief systems, and muscle memory.
Engaging in activities like meditation, positive affirmations, or visualizing desired outcomes is also productive; we are training our brain. I often remind myself that focus is a muscle that can be strengthened through meditation.
Yet, many still judge this practice. There were times when my husband would ask, "When will you finish meditating and do something more productive?" Initially, he didn’t grasp its significance, and it triggered my belief that I was wasting time instead of working.
This perspective is misguided. Meditation is a crucial investment in self-development. Activities like self-hypnosis or listening to affirmations can be as valuable as traditional learning methods.
Don't criticize yourself for taking time to reflect, journal, or meditate. These practices can be as educational as any documentary or textbook.
Learning Can Be Emotion-Based
As emotional beings, we often overlook the significance of our feelings. I pursued an engineering degree, and the stereotype that "engineers have no emotions" is simply false. Emotions are part of our human experience, serving essential roles in our lives.
Instead of dismissing emotions, we should recognize their purpose. They guide us through experiences, providing insights. For instance, feelings of unease can signal a need for caution.
Understanding that emotions are a form of communication can transform our relationship with them. When we feel fear, it’s often our body’s way of reacting to the unknown, seeking safety.
Experiencing emotions, such as grief, can yield profound lessons. The brain tends to remember significant emotional moments, linking them to valuable insights. Emotional intelligence is a powerful tool for learning.
Overall
When you find yourself questioning your productivity, ask: What should productivity truly look like? Watching distressing news may warrant a change in activity, but spending time in nature, painting, or journaling is equally valid.
Remind yourself that productivity isn’t rigid. Allow yourself the freedom to learn in diverse ways, and practice self-love throughout the process. The real unproductiveness lies in the constant self-criticism and shame we impose on ourselves.
Let’s strive to be kinder to ourselves.
Thank you for reading!
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