The Premise
Does my productivity improve when I follow my own deeply-held values?
Values-first Productivity might be better expressed as a philosophy than a system of practice. The essence of the idea is that living in accordance with my values signficantly reduces friction which leads to a natural increase in productivity.
Deeply-Held Values
Authenticity, transparency, and curiosity are the values I want to express as the truth of myself as a neurodivergent person. This is the way of Sri.
These values are not statements of noble aspiration, but are intimately tied to how I am wired.
From August 8, 2025 GHDR Report:
“I should note that these are not aspirations or lifestyle choices. These are the way I am wired to the core, and I have been miserable every time I’ve had to suppress them for the sake of other people’s comfort. That includes pushing them aside for the sake of achieving goals or getting things done.”
“Rather than pathologize them as inconvenient neurodivergent traits that need remedy, I declared that they are the foundation for not just my own needs, but also for any worthwhile community.”
Specifically, the core values are restatements of my neurodivergent traits:
- authenticity - to represent myself as I am, not through a mask for other people’s comfort at the expense of my own.
- transparency - to say what I mean and why, clearly articulating my thoughts and desires without guile.
- curiosity - to ask questions and understand without apology, facing difficulties head-on rather than hiding from them.
Systemization
Values-first productivity is an indirect approach, and systems tools developed to support it are a form of emotional regulation to maximize availble energyIt could be said that this is a way to preserve spoons as described by Spoon Theory. to perform work.
As the intent of values-first productivity is to reduce friction, the system methodology emphasizes emotional regulation and streamlined expectations:
- Meaningful conversations generate energy.
- Alignment with values conserves and extends energy.
- Reduced scope lowers chance of energy depletion.
- Monitoring ensures selected tasks are chosen based on energy level.
- Sharing helps create a virtuous cycle with the universe.
- Sentiment-first (aka 90S) communication sets expectations to reduce energy loss from mismatched conversational styles.
These are my hypothesized ideal operating conditions for emotional regulation. They are the foundation upon which I can layer countless other methodologies.
Takeaways
- Values-first productivity is how I moderate myself to stay in alignment with my neurodivergent cognitive traits. It is foundational mental architecture!
- Other productivity systems can be layered on top of the foundation, and will function so long as they don’t oppose the values-first layer.
References
- The 2025 Groundhog Day Resolutions is the first introduction of the hypothesis