“things that I expect I will be glad I did once I’ve done them”
I like this definition because it allows 2 different routes toward improvement, which you’ll probably need to mix to get the best results:
Increase time spent on the activities which are already on your “productive things” list. Taking this to the extreme would likely eliminate load-bearing forms of rest, and drastically increase burnout risks.
Improve recovery activities to bring them from “unproductive” to “productive”. You hint at this with reading a good book making the “productive” list but reading a disappointing book falling into “unproductive”.
The lowest-hanging fruit for me tend to be in (2): When I’m able to give myself an alternative activity that’s equally easy but less regrettable compared to an “unproductive” habit, and notice when to do it, I can often get equivalent results for the function that the bad habit was serving.
I like this definition because it allows 2 different routes toward improvement, which you’ll probably need to mix to get the best results:
Increase time spent on the activities which are already on your “productive things” list. Taking this to the extreme would likely eliminate load-bearing forms of rest, and drastically increase burnout risks.
Improve recovery activities to bring them from “unproductive” to “productive”. You hint at this with reading a good book making the “productive” list but reading a disappointing book falling into “unproductive”.
The lowest-hanging fruit for me tend to be in (2): When I’m able to give myself an alternative activity that’s equally easy but less regrettable compared to an “unproductive” habit, and notice when to do it, I can often get equivalent results for the function that the bad habit was serving.