When I was a high achiever I used to love being productive. How much I could get done in a day was my measuring stick for success.
Living in the grind of endless striving and self-pressure really wore me down.
I started to trade up hard deadlines for self compassion and the incessant need to get more done for ease and flow.
(I have not, however, given up my to do lists… I love them too much!!)
The only issue was, I still wanted to execute great ideas and complete projects.
Can you be productive without hustling and compromising your wellbeing?
Recruiter and Productivity Consultant for wellness entrepreneurs, Renee Clair, says YES you absolutely can and in this episode she tells you how.
Within the first 5 minutes of our conversation, she dispels the fallacy that being productive is a good thing, no matter the cost and that the harder you work, the more success you'll have.
"There's a huge difference between busy and productive" she says. "“Busy means to be mindless and disconnected . . . whereas productivity being in the present moment and feeling aligned to what you're doing.” [10:05]
Listen in to discover:
How to be aligned and intentional with your productivity
How to change the way you work and ditch unhealthy productivity habits (ones that come at the cost of energy depletion)
How to be productive in a way that takes self-care and wellbeing into account
5 productivity tips to help you make the most of your time without compromising your wellbeing
About Renee Clair
Reneé Clair is a recruiter and productivity consultant for wellness entrepreneurs as well as a yoga + meditation teacher. She helps wellness entrepreneurs lighten their workload so they have more time and energy to enlighten others! Her clients gain deep values of boundary-setting and self-compassion through her fun approach to otherwise dull productivity tasks.
The Difference Between Being Busy and Being Productive
Renée helps us untangle intentional productivity from being busy as she explains that they are energetically different. Productivity is about being in the present moment and feeling aligned to what you’re doing, whereas busy productivity is when you feel disconnected and are just going through the motions. Understanding this distinction will lead you to your breakthrough and help you find the balance you need. To learn more, go to [10:05].
How to Be Intentional About Your Productivity
Do you feel guilty for taking a nap or watching TV? Do you take the time to rest and recover from a hectic workday? We often feel pressured to constantly keep busy and productive but these are impossible standards to be keeping up with. Renée illuminates that we need to reframe what being productive means: we are not only being productive when we’re cleaning, running errands, or working but also when we are practicing self-care. At [11:45], Renée shares more about how you can feel productive by being intentional with whatever you’re doing.
Why Working Harder Doesn’t Equate To Success
In today’s society, working hard and long hours has become our way of measuring success and productivity. At [17:00], Renée shows us that we need to restructure and rethink our unhealthy work and productivity habits. It takes time and effort to change these instilled habits but with self-care and self-reflection we can learn to change the way we work and set boundaries with others and also ourselves.
Renée’s 5 Productivity Tips To Help You Make The Most Out Of Your Time:
Tip 1) Learn to Manage and Assess Your Time
At [38:00], Renée shares 3 time management tools with us: she suggests using a paper planner, the Pomodoro timer technique, and time blocking. These tools will help you define and assess where you want to spend your time, and ultimately, be more intentional with your time.
Renée also shares an extra tip about batching with us here: find out more about batching and time blocking at [49:00].
Tip 2) Automate Repetitive and Time-Consuming Tasks
Renée shares some of her favorite apps and tools with us to streamline any repetitive and tedious tasks. Whether it’s canned emails, newsletters, or social media posts, you can automate certain processes to free up your precious time. Hear more about Renées tips and app recommendations at [56:20].
Tip 3) Set Boundaries with Yourself and Others
Creating habits where you prioritize yourself will ultimately help you be productive. Renée shares 3 techniques with us to be able to set boundaries: time blocking, roleplay, and prioritizing self-care! These techniques will teach you to say no and have difficult conversations when you need to. Tune in for more at [1:00:00].
Tip 4) Create a Plan of Action.
Reframe the idea of project management by retaking this concept for yourself and your own goals: create your plan of action! Be intentional with your time to achieve manageable and clear goals. Renée teaches us how to set quarterly goals by using the SMART technique, setting clear milestones, and creating time blocks dedicated to these goals. Learn more at [1:06:50].
Tip 5) Hire People to Help You.
At [1:10:50], Renée emphasizes the importance of delegating and hiring help. Whether you’re a parent, a small business owner, or an entrepreneur, hiring people to free up valuable time can make a world of a difference. Renée teaches us how to assess where we need help, how to delegate tasks efficiently, and how to re-examine our funds to see how much help we can afford.
One of Your Biggest Lessons So Far
There’s no such thing as failure. There’s mindful pivoting, in any moment, for whatever you want to do at any point in time.
Nugget of wisdom
What is one nugget of wisdom that you would share with fellow seekers who are on this journey of growth and transformation?
You are worthy. Your life is meant to be the way you want to live it and you can start anytime! Put yourself as priority on your list and see what changes.
Key Nuggets:
[10:05] The Difference Between Being Busy and Being Productive.
[11:50] How to Be Intentional About Your Productivity.
[17:00] Change the Way We Work - Working Harder Is Not Equal To Success.
[26:40] Understanding Your Emotions with the Window of Tolerance.
[38:00] Renée’s 5 Productivity Tips.
[38:00] Tip 1: Learn to Manage and Assess Your Time.
[56:20] Tip 2: Automate Repetitive and Time-Consuming Tasks.
[1:00:00] Tip 3: Set Boundaries with Yourself and Others.
[1:06:50] Tip 4: Create a Plan of Action.
[1:10:50] Tip 5: Hire People to Help You.
Resources:
“How Boredom Can Lead to Your Most Brilliant Idea.” Ted Talk by Manoush Zomorodi
Connect with Renee:
Website: renee-clair.com
Instagram: @theproductivewp
Quotes:
“Busy means to be mindless . . . whereas productivity is that awareness and being in the present moment.” - Renée Clair [10:20]
“Taking a nap when you feel tired is productive.” - Renée Clair [14:43]
“Check in with your intuition and your inner guide and say ‘What do I need more of today?’”- Renée Clair [16:13]
“Your life is meant to be the way you want to live it. You can start anytime.” - Renée Clair [1:18:47]
Partners:
This episode is brought to you by The Offering Tree. The Offering Tree is an easy all-in-one platform to run your business so that you don't have spend extra time trying to figure out all the tech stuff. Offering Tree let’s you build you website, scheduling calendar, class offerings, online store, email marketing, membership site and online courses all in one place!
They’re a heart centered company that truly believes in the power of community and genuinely wants to support wellness entrepreneurs to do what they’re meant to do.
The best part is that because you’re a member of the Curious Monki community, you get an awesome discount! Find out more here.
