I feel guilty when I’m not constantly productive. How can I journal with this quote to make peace with “wasting hours” and still do better research or creative work?

Try a short, structured reflection: 1) Permission slip: “Today I allow 30–60 minutes of unstructured time because curiosity needs space.” 2) Open question list: Write 1–3 questions you’re genuinely curious about, not tasks. 3) Idle block: Spend time wandering—reading, sketching ideas, walking—without a goal. 4) Harvest: Journal what surfaced—connections, hypotheses, or patterns. 5) Reframe: Finish with “Why this ‘wasted’ hour mattered,” even if the answer is simply “I feel calmer and more curious.” Using the Stoic app as your daily companion, capture the permission, questions, and harvest in a quick entry. Over days, you’ll see that ease often precedes insight.

I’m overwhelmed at work and over-scheduling my day. How do I apply this quote in a daily journal to reduce stress and leave room for thinking?

Use a three-line daily practice: 1) What can be left undone? Write one task you’ll intentionally not do today to create space. 2) Thinking time intent: Name one theme you’ll meander on (e.g., “Why are users dropping off after step 2?”). 3) Evidence log: At day’s end, note any small idea, calmer mood, or clarity that came from the space you created. This reframes unstructured time as part of doing good work, not avoiding it. You can keep these three lines in your Stoic journal each morning and evening to gently protect thinking time without adding pressure.

I’m afraid of falling behind if I don’t fill every hour. How can I use journaling in Stoic to see the value of unscheduled time?

Run a one-week experiment: 1) Baseline note (Day 0): “What does ‘falling behind’ mean to me? What am I afraid will happen?” 2) Daily check-in (Days 1–7): a) Minutes of unstructured time, b) Mood before/after (a few words), c) One idea/insight or a calm moment noticed, d) One next small step inspired by it. 3) Review (Day 7): “What changed in my stress, ideas, or decision-making? What surprised me?” Logging this in the Stoic app keeps the focus on reflection, not output. You’ll likely notice that a little ‘underemployment’ doesn’t slow you—it helps you choose better work.

QUOTE

The secret to doing good research is always to be a little underemployed. You waste years by not being able to waste hours.

Published on

May 10, 2024

Written by

Amos Tversky

Journal in Stoic

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QUOTE

The secret to doing good research is always to be a little underemployed. You waste years by not being able to waste hours.

QUOTE

The secret to doing good research is always to be a little underemployed. You waste years by not being able to waste hours.

QUOTE

The secret to doing good research is always to be a little underemployed. You waste years by not being able to waste hours.

The secret to doing good research is always to be a little underemployed. You waste years by not being able to waste hours.

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