Productivity vs Busyness

I was reading an article that was discussing this issue. I know it is an age old truth. But I thought of bringing it up so that we can all reflect on this issue. So really... Are we being productive or being busy? What defines productivity anyways?

Work smart not hard.

One can be busy without being productive. To be productive involves a product. I produce a product. My coworker is busy sitting staring at her computer screen. She has perfected the art of sleeping with her eyes open.

I used to do that! Why? Finished my work for the day and had free time to nap! That's productivity! I worked and produced time for a nap

Was anyone a fan of the tv show Seinfeld? George Costanza would only look like he was busy:

You seem to be taking amusement in my situation. I not only do my own work, but I am being forced to do my co-worker's work while she literally sits on her rump staring at her computer screen doing nothing (because she is asleep or in a trance or something with her eyes open). This is when she bothers to show up for work at all. Right now she is getting about 2 days a week off per week. And forget the fact that she is allowed to come in at 12:30-1:30-2:30 in the afternoon. And she leaves early on Fridays. Not only do I do my co-worker's work because my boss forces me to do it, she forces me to do it while my co-worker sits on her rear end (when she bothers to show up at all) and then on top of that my boss complains because MY own work is undone and tells me to do it. So when do I do my work? When my coworker is off on one of her many days off, when the boss is out of the room, or gone home early or also enjoying one of her many days off, or if I come in early and do my work in a hurry before the boss comes in and orders me to do her lazy friend's job. I do two people's jobs every single day -- and did I mention that my job is actually already two jobs rolled into one without counting my lazy sleeping coworker's tasks I am forced to do? I can't afford to quit my job, or to sleep on the job. I NEED a job and the health insurance benefit. I've noticed a few people have come on this website lately whose sole purpose seems to be to make fun of others. I'm not cool with that.

i think productiveness is where you actually get something done. business is just staying active and doing "something" but not getting anything accomplished

The reality is the old standard for the 40 hour work week has hit the technology wall. Thanks to computers and programs like excel (who uses a calculator anymore?) macros, etc... we can accomplish more task than ever in a much shorter time. We still feel as if we have not earned our pay so we look like we are busy while flipping over to the gossip page at EW to see what the Khardasians are up to.

I work in a somewhat seasonal positions, from March through June we are slammed and all of us are putting in overtime hours, then the rest of the year is much slower. Still it pays to check around and see if we can be of help to others and even do some training with them to learn other roles.

Whoa, don't be so sensitive. My ability to finish my work and slack off at my last job has nothing to do with you nor should you be internalizing it and taking it personally.

On that note, why are you so concerned with what the coworker is doing?

Just go in, work. Do your tasks and continue to search for new employment.