It stands to reason that when you have the motivation to get out of bed in the morning and the gusto to push you through tough and challenging days, be it you work in Corporate America, you're a student, a stay at home Mom or Dad, whatever lifestyle you lead, you are more productive. It might seem unrealistic to someone who is admittedly unhappy because often times they do throw themselves into work in order to hide and they are very productive. It seems impossible that they could be happy and boost their productivity without sacrificing their vitality and life. I know, I've been there. But as a recovering pessimist and a renewed optimist I can honestly say that I am more productive now that I'm happy. And there is more of me to go around between working two to three jobs sometimes - freelance writers have to work hard for the money! - and training for my first marathon, fund-raising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and my family and all the obligations that come with being a sister, an aunt, a girlfriend and a daughter.
How is it possible that I can get all of these things done without sacrificing anything and still being productive? It's a simple shift in perspective. Let's look at two examples, and be honest in here in your assesment, after all you have nothing to lose, except maybe a grumpy or glum outlook - also known as the ball and chain of a workaholic.
Eample 1) Have you ever been stuck indoors on a rainy day and faced with the daunting task of cleaning and organizing your house? Also known as spring cleaning. If you go about this work - cause let's face it, that's what it is - in a glum disposition the day seems to drag on forever. Absolutely if you set your mind to it you will be productive, but will you tackle the projects that really need to be done with zest and vigor? Or will you go about your day with lack luster performance, a frown on your face because you would rather be doing something else and to top it off feel exhausted at the end of the day? Once your done with this chore and all that it entails, while you did it, now you have nothing left to give to yourself or others. Sound familiar? This is the life of a pessimist. Again, so as not to offend anyone, I know. I've been there.
Now lets look at example 2) This same person is stuck indoors on a rainy day with the daunting task of spring cleaning ahead of them. Instead of dreading the work they play mental games to spice things up and make it fun. When it comes to dusting they put on their favorite up tempo music and dance around the house using their duster as an accessory to choreograph their own dance masterpiece! When it comes to vacuuming they use it as an opportunity to get some strength training in - vacuums are heavy and with repetition can create some nice bicep toning, especially if you have to lug one up stairs. When it comes to folding those piles of laundry that have stacked up they sing along to their favorite songs, listen to a book on tape, something to multi task and distract them from the tediousness at hand. Then when it's all said and done, because they had a positive attitude and, oh, here it come, FUN doing house work, they have energy to spare. Maybe they'll go cook their husbands favorite loaf of bread before he get's home and set up a spicy evening of fun just for them.
Which one sounds like the better deal to you? Which one do you think got more done? Yes - that would be the happy person behind door number two! Because with a positive attitude you automatically tackle the projects that you might have put off until later. A cursory house cleaning with a bad attitude just morphed into a full on spring cleaning with energy to spare by simply turning that frown upside down. I know I sound like an annoyingly peppy person right now, I assure you I'm not. I'm just happy and that translates into all that I do. Try it some time, you might be surprised.