Understanding Productivity in Work

We all adore productivity. However, striving for productivity can lead to job-related stress and burnout. The saying goes, “Rome was not built in one day”. Work is a never-ending process. We attach and detach ourselves from this process day in and day out.

So, instead of focusing on productivity, let us learn to be fruitful and recognize that we are more like fruit trees than machines.

Much like a fruit tree that takes time to break a bud, flower, pollinate and develop fruit, and mature to become ripe for harvest, we also have our seasons in work. This correlation of fruit-bearing is useful when we feel stressed about being non-productive on a particular day of work.

Not bearing fruit is the more serious concern, where a worker gives less value but consumes the same resources as others and may have a negative impact on the other workers.