Doing More, Achieving Less? Let’s Correct That...#76

The productivity trap.

It’s Monday morning, and your inbox is already flooded. Slack notifications are piling up, Jira tickets are overdue, and that critical update you were supposed to finish last week still isn’t done. You take a deep breath, open your task manager, and tell yourself that today will be different; today, you will be productive. You will power through your list, avoid distractions, and finally get ahead. But by the afternoon, unexpected meetings, last-minute bugs, and endless emails have derailed your plans. Once again, you feel like you’re failing despite working non-stop. Welcome to my world, most days.

If you’ve ever felt like you're one step behind; scrambling to catch up, convinced that just a bit more discipline or the right system will solve everything; you’re not alone. Many of us live on this treadmill of obsession with excellence, chasing an illusion of complete control over our time, only to end up exhausted and unfulfilled. But here’s the truth: You will never get on top of everything, and that is fantastic news.

The Myth of Perfect Productivity

We tend to think that if we could just organize our time better, if we could follow the ultimate morning routine or adopt the ideal task management system, then we would finally feel in control. But real life doesn’t work like that. No matter how well you plan, there will always be more to do, more emails to answer, more books to read, more ambitions to chase.

Think about it; have you ever finished everything on your to-do list? Probably not. And even if you did, wouldn’t you just fill it up again the next day? The pursuit of absolute efficiency can make life feel mechanical, stripping away the very spontaneity that makes it enjoyable. Instead of feeling accomplished, you feel like a machine stuck in an endless loop of tasks.

Letting Go of the Burden

Imagine carrying a heavy backpack everywhere you go. It’s filled with obligations, expectations, and self-imposed pressures. What if, instead of constantly adjusting the straps to make it more comfortable, you just put it down?

Steve Jobs once said, "Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do." Jobs was infamous for pushing his teams to focus on a few core ideas rather than spreading themselves too thin. He understood that trying to manage everything perfectly is not only exhausting but also counterproductive. Letting go of the unnecessary, the trivial, or even the merely "good" in favor of what truly matters is one of the most powerful choices you can make.

The lesson here is clear: The more you try to control everything, the more you risk losing sight of what actually moves the needle in your life and work. Instead of striving to do everything flawlessly, what if you simply chose to do fewer things well?

Redefining Productivity

Many of history’s greatest thinkers, artists, and writers had one thing in common: They dedicated only a few focused hours a day to their deepest work. The rest of their time? They spent it reflecting, walking, and engaging with loved ones.

Cal Newport, the author of Deep Work and Slow Productivity, argues that the obsession with fast, relentless productivity is a modern invention; and a deeply flawed one. In Slow Productivity, he suggests that sustainable, meaningful work requires three things:

1. Doing fewer things

2. Working at a natural pace

3. Obsessing over quality rather than quantity

Instead of trying to power through an endless list of tasks, Newport recommends dedicating concentrated effort to fewer, high-impact activities. This doesn’t just lead to better work; it prevents burnout, enhances creativity, and allows for a more fulfilling life.

What if the key to getting more done wasn’t about working harder, but about working slower and more intentionally?

The Power of the “Done” List

We often judge ourselves by what’s left undone rather than what we’ve accomplished. Instead of drowning in a sense of “productivity debt,” try keeping a Done List. Write down everything you complete; even small things like making coffee or answering an important email. Seeing what you have achieved shifts your perspective from scarcity to sufficiency.

Embracing Life’s Interruptions

Productivity advice often frames interruptions as enemies, things to be eliminated. But what if some of these “interruptions” are actually life’s best moments?

A child bursting into your office to share a story, a friend calling out of the blue, a spontaneous moment of laughter with a coworker; these are not distractions; they are the essence of a meaningful life. If your productivity system turns these into obstacles, is it really serving you?

Productivity as a Means, Not an End

You do not need to justify your existence by how much you accomplish. Work matters, but it is not the only thing that does. You are already enough. Instead of chasing the impossible dream of total control, focus on what truly counts. Let go of the impossible burden, embrace the interruptions, and create a life where productivity serves you; not the other way around.

So, the question is: What will you choose to let go of today?

Credit: DALL.E created by myself.

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