Being productive.. or the lack of it.

Iñigo

Some people appear to be able to sit down and write a fictional book, or just be more productive in their study or at work for long periods of time.

I have found that there appears to be mental obstacles to my own productivity. Sometimes I just don’t have the momentum or attention to keep productivity high in quality or quantity. I wonder if anyone has also observed this ‘issue’ and/or have any suggestions, explanations or ideas in the context of Buddhism to improve and maintain productivity of any type?

federica

i often find i complete something to 95% but then give up at the last hurdle.
you should see the knitting projects i have....

I'm serious....

genkaku

Expect less.

See what happens.

RichardH

As someone who paints for a living.. being productive was no problem early on, because it was fueled by dreams of success. Once those dream either didn't come true, came true and were disappointing, or deflated in the face of real people suffering, being productive became a problem. Right livelihood is a good motivator, making a living. Inspiration is good but fickle. I tried drugs at one point to fuel productivity, and saw pretty quickly where that would lead. So productivity has its own seasons and ups and downs.. You can't push it.. just take advantage of inspiration and energy when it arises.



:ninja:

Zero

any suggestions, explanations or ideas in the context of Buddhism to improve and maintain productivity of any type?

Not sure if this is in the context of buddhism - will share as it has helped me with improving and maintaining productivity.

Kind of depends on what youre doing I find.

For writing / studying say - try considering where in the process, your weakness lies... for me I found that it was the initial sitting down and zoning in - once I was there it was fine but the conflict was a little before that!

I resolved therefore to follow a format - so I had a set area that I would use for studying - I left it unchanged and its sole function was for studying (so say reserve yourself a table) - I gave the table a name and it had its own song and everything - it became the centre of learning.

I then made a routine for myself and the rule was that I had to be in the studying space at a certain time and that was that... I could do anything I wanted there but I had to sit there - inevitably after a few moments of sitting, the studying commenced and that was it.

The motivation to sit comes from discipline - if you want something you have to do some stuff to obtain it - its pretty simple...

taiyaki

Contemplate death.

I do death meditation when I feel this way.

Focus on the fact that life is short and you don't know when you're going to die.

From the point of view, real motivation springs. Life is lived. Everything is explored. Squeeze the essence from life.

Something like that.

here is a guided meditation:

http://www.aci-la.org/ALLAUDIO/Brian/BS_GM_Death.mp3

Sabre

For me a lack of motivation basically comes to either to much thinking ("Don't wanna do it, will do it another time, not really needed now") or a lack of mental energy. The first one is not really as bad as it used to be, through meditation I can get around it.

However, the lack of mental energy to put in my studies sometimes really gets me. Luckily, most of the time I love my studies and it is all going well, but at some other times I don't think it is the best way to spend my time. At those times an aversion arises that can take so much energy, I don't have much left to put in my studies.

I don't really know a Buddhist response to this other than first recognizing it as it is. There are some ways the Buddha mentioned in cultivating energy, but these apply to cultivating energy for the Dhamma, not for study or work. So the main reason I post here is to see how others fare.

With metta,
Sabre

Iñigo

Thank you all for your feedback. I will digest this
Iñigo.

SpinyNorman2

I wonder if anyone has also observed this ‘issue’ and/or have any suggestions, explanations or ideas in the context of Buddhism to improve and maintain productivity of any type?

I think visualising success can be helpful, in other words being clear about what you want to achieve and then imagining what it might be like.

Spiny

Iñigo

I think visualising success can be helpful, in other words being clear about what you want to achieve and then imagining what it might be like.

Thanks Spiny, to pick on your point, do you have an opinion on the role of desire and craving play in visualisation? Would "I" be at risk of seeding new desires and hence suffering?

SpinyNorman2

I think visualising success can be helpful, in other words being clear about what you want to achieve and then imagining what it might be like.

Thanks Spiny, to pick on your point, do you have an opinion on the role of desire and craving play in visualisation? Would "I" be at risk of seeding new desires and hence suffering?

Yes, from a Buddhist point of view there needs to be some assessment of whether our goals are wholesome or unwholesomesense - will success with a particular project really make us happy, or will it just add to our suffering?

Iñigo

Here is a related question, buddhsit feedback welcome :=)

Should we act now to improve our economic and environmental situations (not only for us as inviduals, but for our family and for our general improvement) or should we instead see even that as based on desire and hence with outcomes e.g. dukkha?

My opinion is that such action to improve is skillful action, but to desire the future outcome is unskillful and may result in suffering. In which case we must choose to act to improve but not cling to the resutls?

Could this be improve upon? Is there a better way of seeing this an approaching work, study and other proposals to improve our material lives?

andyrobyn

The only possible useful response to these questions is ... what do you think? , how can you answer this questions, and then put into action in your current situation.

Iñigo

Hello Andyrobyn
My perspective is that we cannot help but act. We are bound into action through our mere existance. So I will always reap karma, all that I can try to do is to be mindful at the point where choices are made, and try to keep intention good and skillful.

By answering your question, I feel I would be best asking if "study, work and other 'material' pursuits are skillful and good in context to buddhism?"

My answer at present would be, they are if and only if the intention is skillful and non-selfish, thinking of helping others even whilst appearing to act to help myself. This is tricky isn't it?

Thanks for your reply!

andyrobyn

In my experience, trying to see the big picture is the best way to "help myself and benefit others". Sometimes it can be more difficult than others for me, especially when I can not please others, as I was a real people pleaser for most of my life and it feels uncomfortable not too.

WallyB

I wonder if anyone has also observed this ‘issue’ and/or have any suggestions, explanations or ideas in the context of Buddhism to improve and maintain productivity of any type?

Buddha taught enjoyment or zeal (chanda) is the basis of mental power. therefore, trying to do what we love can help

a monk develops the base of power endowed with concentration founded on desire [zeal; chanda] & the fabrications of exertion

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn51/sn51.020.than.html

Iñigo

I agree Andyrobyn, the larger picture seems to reduce our individual desires and cravings. It is just a question of remembering that we are not the body-mind then

Thanks a lot WallyB, this document is very useful. It explains the way to treat any desire, skillfully. It then answers the question of how to continue in the world; with the play of desire and karma etc.