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What is productivity? It is the act of creating something. Every species on this planet has one unified instinct, and that is to create. Granted, most species' creation instincts are about reproduction, but this is only one of many ways to be productive. In what better way can we be truly happy than by satisfying our true lives' purpose, creation?

Have you ever noticed that after a painting a picture or cooking a meal you feel satisfied? When you are working on whatever creation project it is that you are doing, it can be frustrating, and difficult. If it is challenging you at a level slightly out of your skill level range, you may find yourself in what some psychologists call flow. This is a zone that can be reached when all cognitive resources are being used on a specific task. The task is challenging enough to keep the person fully involved and they may lose track of time. Now, this won't happen every time you make a bowl of cereal, but if you are preparing a dish that is very challenging to you, it may occur. Furthermore, if you are painting a picture that is helping you to increase your skill level for different stroke types or filling effects, this may occur.

What, then is the adaptive reason that humans have evolved this sensation of flow which can be experienced when advancing skill level? A loss of time and complete involvement in an activity can be very rewarding. Perhaps it is ingrained in our genetic code that we are suppose to learn concepts and improve abilities.

So, how does this pertain to happy people being productive people? Well, if you expand your definition of being productive to beyond the most common idea of productivity, it can include developing skills. And if we are genetically predisposed to experience flow, when we challenge ourselves to a certain level, it seems that we are genetically predisposed to be productive.

I have had stages in my life where I have not been productive at all. They are usually really boring to me. Sure, sensory gratification can be entertaining for a while. But time and again, after spending time doing nothing productive, I usually feel I have wasted my time. It is frustrating. After spending a lot of time working on a project, such as writing an essay for helium, I feel as though my time has been spent well. Sure, I just wrote an essay, that maybe one or two people will ever read, but even if no one read it, I put effort and worked to expand my skill level. The gratification from writing is not instant, as in playing video games, but it is my thorough and longer lasting. Furthermore, if instead of writing, I go sailing, or ride a motorcycle, or create electronic music, I still feel that sense of accomplishment.

There are some people that sit around doing nothing all day. Although some of these people may be happy, the overall rating of happiness for these people would not be as high as for people who are productive. If you consider what it means to be productive, it encompasses many more activities than just going to work or making money. I dare you to imagine a life where you could not do anything productive and tell me that you could be happy.

Learn more about this author, Alex Bond.
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