Think Freely and Boost Effectiveness
The 12th of October is National Freethought Day, and freeing up your thought can make you more effective in your daily life at work.
What even is freethinking, JJ?
In general, freethinkers try to look at real situations objectively, without biases, and live their lives according to principles as opposed to ancient texts. Usually the idea of freethought centers around a lack of belief in all deities and/or religions.
Why “free” thinkers? Many people here in the US believe in a Christian deity and/or belong to the Christian religion, with others following the Torah or Koran, or some other less-well known religion. Setting aside religious teachings to get at the truth is critical for freethinkers. Having said that, many freethinkers are atheists, but some belong to mainstream religions too.
Freethinkers are usually skeptical. You can tell a freethinker something, but you need to cite your sources. When there’s not enough evidence to persuade a freethinker either way, we usually stay skeptical.
You do have to be a bit of a rebel as a freethinker. You can’t confidently develop your own opinions and perspectives based on what other people are telling you, whether that’s a well-known person in your religion, your industry, your friend circle, or your culture.
As a freethinker, you look for evidence. Hard data, if you can find it – not all conundrums are so easily quantified! If all the available evidence from sources that are credible and knowledgeable tell you that Y is true, then you have to shift your worldview and adopt that Y is true, even if everyone you know is telling you X is true. That’s rebellion!
How freethought boosts your productivity improvement
Firstly: if you don’t want to burn out, and you want to accomplish your tasks each day and still have room for a life with loved ones and enjoyable non-work activities, you MUST rebel against common workplace culture.
Rebel against:
So-called productivity gurus who tell you to get up at 4 am even though you’re only conscious after 7 am
Hustle culture – the work will always be there but your friends, family, and even self might not be
The idea that being available means being available 24/7 to everyone you know
The idea that rest and sleep are unnecessary
The idea that you get more done the more hours you work
The idea that being busy is important
That means thinking freely about what you want your life to look like. Not what your parents, clients/supervisors/friends/children want. And thinking freely about how you get there: what boundaries to set, how to hold them, where you might need extra help, and so on.
I’m not saying you have to believe the same things I do (or disbelieve in them), but make the most of your ability to think critically and freely.
Consider the source, as my dad always said. And also, cui bono (who benefits.) Thinking freely also keeps your mind in good shape as you approach your older years.
Recap (tl;dr):
It’s sometimes a bit more effort to be a freethinker, but there are definitely benefits. If you’re curious about how being a rebel can make you more productive and effective, I’ve got the guide for you! Click here to buy The Rebel’s Guide to Getting $hit Done: Peak Productivity for Business Owners. I cite my credible sources!
Photo by Richard Hedrick on Unsplash.