The Science of Getting Things Done
New Science of Emotional Well-being Series: Part 2
There’s a curious paradox we keep seeing: while many leaders are anxious about sustainable productivity in today’s remote and hybrid workplaces, many people on their teams feel like they’re working harder than ever.
The truth is, major shifts in our emotional landscapes are triggering new challenges in how we focus and get things done. As it turns out, how we manage our emotions has everything to do with how we manage our time.
Why feelings shape our productivity
According to the latest brain science, there’s a strong and consistent relationship between how we do and how we feel. What we get done—and how easily we get it done—often mirrors our emotions. That’s not a coincidence. That’s how the brain is wired to work.
Beneath the surface, our brain is constantly running predictive simulations, generating feelings and emotions to help us make sense of each moment and prepare us for action. In this way, emotions are the brain’s best guess about what’s happening and what’s needed next.
Our brain energizes action based on those guesses. So if you're wondering why you can't muster the energy for that task—even if it's important—it might be because your emotional cues aren't giving you the green light.
What to do when you’re not “feeling it”
We all hit moments when we’re just not up to it—when we’re stressed, drained, or overwhelmed. In those moments, we can’t force motivation by sheer willpower or “shoulds.” But there’s good news: since we author our emotions, we can compose ones that help us take action anyway.
Just as the thought “I’m in a crappy mood” is an emotion, so is:
“Even though I don’t feel like it, I can do this now and enjoy the relief of having it done.”
That too is an emotion. And it's far more useful—because it's specific to the situation. It’s not vague or generic. It taps into something that’s immediately true and actionable.
By creating emotions with more situational precision, we make it easier to move forward. The brain responds to that clarity with energy and momentum.
Why granularity matters
Decades of research show that when we build emotional granularity—the ability to distinguish and name subtle emotions with specificity—we perform better across the board.
We communicate more effectively.
We make better decisions.
We’re more resilient.
We experience more well-being and less burnout.
Emotional well-being is not about always feeling good—it’s about being aware of how we feel, in detail, and knowing we can shift it. It's about seeing ourselves as the author of our emotional experience.
That’s the emotional foundation for getting things done.
This post includes excerpts from Jack Ricchiuto’s book, The Poetry of Human Emotion: A Science-based Guide to Emotional Well-being (2020, NuanceWorks).
