Productivity. What is it?

I don't know, but I sort of like John Green's answer on how to be productive a recent vlogbrothers' video:

“Q: Do you have any productivity tips?

A: Yeah, so first procrastinate for a while longer. Loonger. Wait until you feel like that sour panic adrenaline in the back of your throat and then GO GO GO GO GO GO GO!!!!”

Productivity is a concept I struggle with, in part because what we decide to be productive about seems to change the nature of the word. There are probably activities that everyone would count as being productive to a certain extent. Finishing chores that have piled up, doing homework or paperwork for your job, volunteering to better your community, etc. Then there are things that would be called productive by some and not others. For instances, hobbies. But even those are tiered by society. For instance, is writing a book productive? I think most people would say so. Is practicing an instrument? Sure. But, what if I’m playing a game, like League of Legends? On the one hand, it’s an activity I can get better at, and in some groups being good at League is just as impressive as being able to play piano, or draw. On the other, it’s not a hobby that society has really accepted.

And then, once I’ve decided that something is productive, how do I decide what action is more productive than another? Obviously, finding a job is a productive thing to do, but what if it is a fast food job? Is working fast food more productive than being unemployed, but producing art?

Or, what if the activity I’ve decided to work at is one that no one will ever see? Is writing on this blog productive if I never publish anything?

Is productivity important? It seems to be a buzz word, but is it more than that? I’ve heard that working towards a goal and feeling productive and important is vital to the mental health of the individual. Having been unemployed, I’d have to agree that having no schedule or concrete goals can do terrible things to your self-worth and mood in general. But who knows if that is a thing built into people, or a reaction to societal pressures and expectations.

So, what is productivity? A whole lot of worry that I hope pays off for most of us. Other than that, no good answers from this corner of the blag-o-sphere. 

A bit off-topic, but here is the Libby version of catloaf.
What kind of dog sits like this?