This Is What Happened When We Stopped for an Hour Every Fortnight

It means recognizing that as addicted as we can become to the speed and intensity of our lives, we’re more creative and productive when we move intentionally between effort and renewal, action and reflection.

First, ask yourself what’s working: What about your daily work, your daily life, matters to you? Why are you doing it? What part of your life is a source of pride? What impact do you feel you’re having on people, ideas, or things that are important to you? Next, ask yourself what’s neutral: What are you spending your time on that you don’t particul

Activity: Pick one week from the past month. Chart the hours you spent to create a visual of your time in meetings. Reflect on the value of each meeting.

When you finish the deed, you move immediately back to the reflecting stage, perhaps with a formal postmortem. How well did it work out?

Your energy, executive function, and emotions are the three pillars of a fulfilling life—a life in which contributing to the wider world doesn’t come at the expense of your inner world. In summary, mindful productivity aims to answer three questions: Managing your energy: When is my magic window? Managing your executive function: What belongs in th