On Productivity

WRITTEN BY JASMIN GRAVES

In April of this year, as it became more apparent that we would be in a state of ‘unprecedented times’ indefinitely, my family purchased an empty garden bed, soil and vegetable seeds. The aim was not to produce enough vegetables for a six-person family so we would no longer need to venture to the store when the ‘impending apocalypse’ was upon us. Rather, the interest was in an investment of time in a non-economic venture in the pursuit of mindfulness.

To me, these images represent a rejection of the hegemony of capitalistic productivity and a step towards ‘eudaimonic well-being’ (EWB). EWB is characterised by “meaning in life,

feelings of vitality, personal flourishing, and social relations” (Hansen, 2014). These are things that many of us have found Western society has neglected in the pursuit of materialistic, quantifiable wealth. This view has been reflected in traditional economic theory where living standards have been measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, a purely financial measurement. Psychology and economic theory now recognise living standards as consisting of more than monetary wealth. Feelings of existential meaning and shared connection have been central to the mental awareness campaigns during the pandemic, suggesting greater attention is being paid to EWB.

The last few months have brought us homegrown tomatoes, eggplant, cabbage and kohlrabi. Benefits of the garden not only consisted of these vegetables but also the feeling of success and shared gratification from working together towards a common goal. These photos aim to capture these feelings in the hope of inspiring the viewer to be more mindful in their own lives so they too can celebrate greater wellbeing.