Purposed Productivity and Meaningful Happiness

by Adrian Koh

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While the online productivity movement grew with unprecedented levels of activity over the last five years, it quickly became a victim of its own popularity. Blame the cult status of David Allen’s book, “Getting Things Done” and the blogosphere’s obsession over tinkering with “life hacks.” The result is that far too many blogs and forums have become repositories of unremarkable productivity tips, many rehashing tired ideas and concepts..

It was not too long before the members in the blogosphere responded with “anti-life hack” blogs. Purpose-driven productivity is beginning to find its way onto the internet.

Perhaps the strongest voice in the counter-life hack culture comes from Merlin Mann, himself a pioneer in “life hacking,” with his announcement on his famous 43folders blog. To quote Mann, “43folders is… about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.” Readers and discussion forum members gave Mann’s repurposed blog a resounding approval. Apparently, many readers have been searching for “a purposed productivity,” where a person’s work finds meaning in higher goals, rather than from being merely efficient.

In the same vein, a number of blogs also pondered the true meaning of happiness. They report that achieving happiness is more than seeking a pleasurable emotional state, but is in fact a process of creating inner contentment and meaning through one’s values and beliefs. Alex Shalman, a popular blogger, goes as far as to say that making happiness a goal may lead a person to hedonistic self-destruction.