Redefining productivity

This Creative Life #02: navigating business + motherhood through a more thoughtful + caring lens

Welcome back to This Creative Life for the second post in this series, where I consider my relationship with productivity and invite

Lauren Barber

to share her own reflections.

Recently,

Russell Nohelty

summarised Cal Newport’s new book, Slow Productivity, on Notes. Six words stood out—fewer things, higher quality, natural pace. Why? Because these are principles I live and work by when I’m attuned to my own rhythm.

For me, productivity is important. Not in the busy, faster, harder sense. But I like to be moving forward in some way, and the summary of the book spoke to the small (but loud) part of me that’s been clinging to the notion I must achieve all I set out to in this season of business and motherhood. My last post about respecting our energy, embracing seasonality and supporting our capacity was as much of a note to self as anyone else.

“I have goals! I have plans!” shouts my head. “I need calm. I need rest.” pleads my heart. I had a vision of what spring would look and feel like. But, sometimes, we need to let go of our imagined future to tend to ourselves in the here and now.

Honouring our creative rhythms

I am reminded that I thrive when I focus on one thing. Juggler, I am not. If I carry too much, things inevitably fall to the ground or get left behind.

The image of the multitasking mother-bearer feels like the stuff of myth and legend, and navigating the complexities of business and motherhood has led me to look more closely at my lifeload, and notice how my body responds to the things I choose (or refuse) to take on.

My internal compass spins if I force myself into action, and with a tiny one, this is still a time for loving—not pushing—my nervous system. So letting go of the need for productivity (and perhaps even success) to look a certain way is vital, which is why I am welcoming today’s piece from

Lauren Barber

who helps us consider placing our energy before our productivity.

“We make the mistake of labeling ourselves as nouns, when we are really verbs – we are not a runner, but rather a person who runs; we’re not a writer, but a person who writes. Our sense of self doesn’t have to be bundled up with whether we did the thing today – because we are not the things we do.”

―

Madeleine Dore

Measuring beyond the surface of productivity 
with Lauren Barber

“While I have probably ‘produced’ less this year than I have in years - my inner world has drastically transformed - beyond recognition in fact. Sometimes I have to simply spend my day reacquainting myself with MY SELF.”

I wrote these words at the end of 2022 as my youngest daughter turned 1. While on the outside my ‘achievements’ were minimal – as measured by overculture – internally, I had lived probably one of the most transformative years of my life.

Shifting from one child to two, and with a little being with very different needs to her older sister – I simply could not show up to my creative business in the same way I had always managed to. I had to let a form of my identity crumble away – the one that had been celebrated for over 30 years based on ‘excellent output’.

It was excruciatingly uncomfortable, yet utterly essential to my wellbeing for many reasons.

Valuing myself based on my work achievements is something I have been unravelling for over a decade. I was praised as a young woman for my work ethic. As someone who didn’t see herself as overly skilled in one certain area – getting sh*t done became my USP, and I willingly clung to the kudos that it earned me. 

Perhaps it was motherhood, or perhaps it was reaching 40 spins around the sun in 2023, or perhaps it is simply the journey that life has taken me on – whatever the catalyst(s) – over the past few years I have had to re-address what ‘success’ looks like to me on many different levels. 

Instead of measuring how efficient and worthy I am as a human based on the amount of work I have produced, I have been slowly learning to see that true richness – the kind that makes you feel ‘all the way alive’ – comes in other forms. 

Measuring my days differently

It is a conscious choice to look at life through a different lens, one that values intangible things over the ‘doing’. These are some of the ways I approach it:

Redefining what it means to thrive

When I look at my values and remember to keep them at the core of my actions, it shows me that many of the things society suggests should be important to me are not really aligned with my own, true personal beliefs.

When I live my days anchored to my values, I feel a lot more at ease and at peace - and that, to me, is conducive to thriving. 

What does thriving mean to you? Are your personal values matching your actions?

Seeing my energy as my compass

My aliveness, my sparkle and my brightness, my enthusiasm to do daily tasks, and my ability to be present with my children - these are all signs to me that I am living successfully.

This is energy beyond sleep, (because in all honesty after the past year of sleeplessness, I have had to adjust my expectations of sleep) it is an emotional/soulful energy. If that tank feels low, if I feel heavy and depleted, instead of forcing my way through things to match the expectation of productivity that I have placed upon myself (fuelled by outside sources) I now look at what I can remove.

What is essential? What can wait? By letting go of things I can make space to re-prioritise nourishment in the form of nutrition, rest and slowing my pace. These have become my non-negotiables. 

How bright is your inner sparkle right now? What can you tweak to turn it up a notch?

Leaning into gratitude as a guide

The simplicity of this practice has always astounded me. Every night before bed I write a list of all the things I am grateful for and it allows me to sink into my slumber with a full heart.

Gratitude has re-trained me to see the many micro gifts that I receive through the day and measure my day based on all the little moments of magic and mystery that have occurred instead of the metrics.

What little gifts are you grateful for today? How can you honour where you are at right now?

Trusting my season without comparison

Currently, I am in the early years of motherhood, which I feel is similar to the energy of winter – occasionally a little spring – and as the girls get older I can see a few more glimmers of the emergence. I simply cannot measure my work output in this phase to the work of others, and more importantly to the output of my past self.

Gently does it. I think it is important to note that this needs to be a gentle journey, there are parts of us likely to be very tightly gripping certain narratives as a way to keep us ‘safe’ and ‘valued’ in this world. It is a quiet act of rebellion to start unpicking these storylines – but not one that happens overnight.

What inner season are you currently in? Are you looking at your achievements through a lens of comparison?

Lauren writes at

Held. By Lauren Barber

and is a true multi-passionate, thriving across various facets of holistic business and creativity. As a Sacred Business Mentor, Heart Centred Coach and Soulful Branding & Website Designer, she dedicates her skills to supporting others in bringing their creative visions to life.

Her work also extends into the realms of motherhood, where she embraces her role as a mother of two daughters and a Sacred Space Holder, Writer, Speaker, Human Design Guide, Yoga & Meditation Teacher and all-round Creator. Learn more about Lauren or connect with her on Instagram.

I love how Lauren refers to phases of motherhood as seasons, and I’m straddling winter and spring alongside her. We’ll be touching on this in a conversation about motherhood and business and all its wonderful messiness for her Unravelling podcast, so stay tuned for that. Meanwhile, you might like to lean into this restorative Yoga Nidra practice, created by Lauren to celebrate the magic of the current season.

A Yoga Nidra journey through the Bluebell Woods...

Lauren’s words have inspired me to think more carefully about what I can adjust to lift my energy, especially when I’m feeling out of alignment. What will they awaken in you?

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