Productively Unproductive

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be productively unproductive.

On the surface, it sounds like an excuse to procrastinate—or at least that’s how I used to see it. But I’m realizing the very things that feel like a “waste of time” on a busy day are often the things that keep me going. They’re the things that quietly carry me toward being my most productive self, most of the time.

For me, it starts in the morning. I’m learning to give myself routines that aren’t about hustling but about grounding. A slow breakfast. Gentle movement. A stretch. A little bit of self-care that tells me: I matter. That’s not wasted time. That’s fuel.

Sometimes it’s going for a long walk, soaking in as much sunshine as I can—whether I’m lost in a podcast, vibing to a playlist, or just walking in complete silence. Sometimes it’s calling a friend or my sister, hearing about their lives, and remembering that work is not the only thing that matters. In fact, it’s usually not what matters most.

Here’s the truth: the things that look unproductive from the outside are often the very things that protect us from burning out, from spiraling, from forgetting who we are. They’re the things we do all the other things for.

I’m getting better at being productively unproductive. And honestly? It feels like progress.