I read something yesterday that really kind of opened my eyes to an important understanding:
Feeling productive and being productive are two different things.
Emotions, after all, are based on relativity; what makes us happy might not do the same for others. If eating lobster is a treat for one person, and a typical Wedensday for another, then lobster will make one happy, and not really affect the emotions of the other.
So when you feel productive, you’re feeling that way because you have a greater sense of productivity than usual. That’s well and good, but it isn’t sustainable. If you only aim to feel productive, then most of the time, you won’t actually be productive–you’ll only be productive once in a while, when any kind of productivity is more than usual.
A good productive habit feels routine. It doesn’t fill you with joy and fulfillment; it just accomplishes your goals, and it’s those accomplishments that provide the fulfillment.
It’s been very liberating for me to have this realization as someone who frets over productivity a lot. It’s given me the breathing space to realize that what matters isn’t if I feel like every day was productive; what’s important is that I’m getting something done and building towards my goals on a daily basis. I think it’s going to really help me avoid burnout in the future.