We’ve been talking a lot about “Wow Work” here at The Difference Lab. It’s the work that moves you and your organization forward. It’s what lights you up, inspires you to show up, and makes you proud of your contributions.
In our last issue of The Difference, Janet challenged us to make room for more Wow Work. No easy feat in an era where busywork dominates—not just at work, but in our personal lives too.
As Melissa Kirsch wrote in her New York Times article,“Satisfying vs. Productive,”the urge to make every moment productive can make guilt-free leisure a challenge.
Kirsch suggests a subtle but powerful reframe: Instead of asking, “What did I get done today?” ask, “What would make today more satisfying?”
I love how this shift prompts action. How do you want to feel at the end of the day? What plans do you need to make—or break—to get there?
As a recovering workaholic, my natural instinct is to tie satisfaction to productivity—to cross one more thing off the list. But, I’ve learned my to-do list will always be there, whereas the walk I take or memory I create today won’t.
Here are three takeaways to help you lean into satisfaction, at work and in life:
Redefine productivity: Swap “What did I do?” for “What made today satisfying?” Use that as a measure of your success.
Practice intentional subtraction: Say no to tasks or plans that feel like busywork in disguise. Clear the path for moments that matter.
Trust the power of pause: Give yourself permission to rest, recharge, and be “unproductive”—it’s often the fuel for your next big Wow moment. Check out this throwback to my newsletter onvacation-induced clarity.
This week, ask yourself: What would a satisfying day look like today?
You might find the answer is simpler—and more fulfilling—than you think.
ICYMI: Idleness Avoidance
So, why are we so addicted to getting stuff done?
It’s human nature. Research validates our tendency to “embrace busyness,” a phenomenon dubbed “idleness aversion” by University of Chicago psychologist Christopher Hsee. When given the choice, most people prefer busywork over waiting idly.
I thought perhaps my high school motto, Post Proelium Praemium (“After the struggle, the reward”) subconsciously influenced my habit of putting work before leisure, but apparently, I’m not alone. A study by other University of Chicago researchers found most people think leisure is better after work. Surprisingly, participants enjoyed leisure equally, whether it came before or after.
These insights, detailed inthis TED article, have profound implications for how we spend time. Leaders can embed the value of leisure within their organizations through initiatives like mandatory vacations or automated system shutdowns. Ultimately though, we must incentivize doing what’s right for both the business and for ourselves. With a little, ahem, intentional subtraction, our time and energy can be redirected to being truly productive, be it WOW work or leisure pursuits.
Subtraction Story
Amy Gallo, Co-host of Women at Work podcast, contributing editor at Harvard Business Review and best-selling author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People).
Amy and I struck up a virtual conversation after herpodcast episode on working while parenting a teen hit home with me. For the record, parenting a teen can, at times, be anything BUT leisurely and actually may be better classified as “wow is this hard-as-f*ck” work.
In the latest edition of her newsletter, Amy references my “World’s Okayest Mom” post and shares her intention to “be worse at her job” in the year ahead. Not worse in a way that will affect her performance. But to combat her inner perfectionist. She’s aiming to counter what she calls (and I love), “compound perfectionism: the quest to be perfect at not being perfect.”
Some food for thought: Is your work—and home—culture “healthy” according to Adam Grant’s definition below? If not, what could you do to make it healthier?
Thank you for reading!
I couldn’t end an edition about leisure without sharing a relatively recent pursuit that I find deeply satisfying: playing guitar. After years of arranging lessons for my husband and kids – whose enthusiasm was lukewarm, at best – I realized that instead of living vicariously through them, I should try my hand at playing.
So, with visions of leading campfire sing-songs and the help of a very patient teacher, I’ve been inching my way along in learning. I’m no Joni Mitchell, but the experience of learning a new skill is both satisfying and fun.
Are you curious about The Difference Lab programs? I'd love to hear from you! Email me: alaski@thedifferencelab.com.
