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Transcript

Stop Trying to Be Productive · The Daily Writer

• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Daily Writer, where we share a lesson each day to help you cultivate the habits for writing success.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Most people listening to this podcast are located in the United States, so let me focus on that crowd for just a second.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Part of our culture here in the United States is what we call the Protestant work ethic.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: And even though not everybody is religious or even Protestant for that matter, we still abide by this standard today most of the time.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: The Protestant work ethic basically says that we believe the way to a more fulfilled and God-honoring life is by working ourselves to death.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: You know, Americans love, love, love to work.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: And while many other countries take a more balanced approach to life, Americans measure themselves by how much they work and achieve.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: And it's true that in many other parts of the world as well, people love to work, but it's especially prominent here in the U.S.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: This attitude carries over to our writing as well.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: We feel a tremendous sense of guilt if we're not creating or producing on the level that we feel we should.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: But is the solution to being more effective and creative just working more?
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Or is there another way?
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: Is there a better way?
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: Well, the author Anne Lamont said, almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: Man, what great advice.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: If you're feeling burned out or tired, don't try writing more.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Just try taking a nap or unwinding.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: Do something to reset your physical, mental, and emotional thermostat.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: As they say, sometimes less is more.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: There's no glory and honor in working yourself to death.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: Just unplug for a while.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: That might be the very best use of your time right now.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: Here's your daily question If you're feeling burned out, what is a way you can unplug in the next 24 hours?
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for listening to today's episode.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: For more, you can visit us at dailywriterlife.com.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks, and I'll see you tomorrow.