Want to be productive? Give up these 5 things
How entrepreneurs can boost their productivity without burning out
In addition to my usual topics on product building, I’m excited to introduce a new series called 'Work Smarter.' This series will focus on helping you improve productivity and well-being throughout your entrepreneurial journey.
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1. Juggling too many projects at once
As entrepreneurs, we often see new opportunities as chances to grow.
While having many projects or clients seems like a good way to grow, it can actually hurt your productivity.
Trying to do too many things at once can lead to lower-quality output:
Your focus gets split, making it hard to concentrate on any one task.
When you or your team are spread too thin, the quality of your work can suffer because you can’t give enough attention to each task.
Constantly switching between projects or clients can waste time and reduce efficiency.
Instead of making significant progress in one area, you may only make small advances in several areas.
Solution: Reduce your scope of focus
Here’s how to do it:
Choose the most important project you want to work on within a specific timeframe.
Narrow down to the most crucial element of that project. For instance, if you’re focusing on launching a product, decide whether the priority should be the product design, marketing, or sales strategy.
Concentrate on that one task and maximize your efforts to achieve the best results. If sales are your focus, spend your time identifying and reaching out to high-potential customers, refining your sales pitch, or enhancing your follow-up process to close deals faster.
2. Relying on consumption
It's hard to find an entrepreneur who isn’t constantly seeking new knowledge.
This can be reading books, listening to podcasts, attending webinars, or staying up-to-date with the latest trends.
But here’s where the problem lies…
Too much consumption can become a form of procrastination. You might feel productive, but in reality, you're not taking tangible steps toward your goals.
When you’re constantly absorbing new ideas and strategies, it becomes overwhelming to decide which one to implement.
It can become hard to tell if a new idea is genuinely valuable or just a distraction. This can cause you to impulsively jump from one idea to the next, losing sight of your original focus and goals.
And of course, the opposite is also true…
If you focus too much on producing and see learning as unimportant, you might limit your growth and creativity.
Without taking in new ideas or staying updated on trends, your work can become stale, and you may miss opportunities for innovation.
Solution: Balance consumption vs. production
Be selective about where you get your information. Focus on high-quality, relevant resource that supports your goals. For example, I personally prefer newsletters over social media because they offer valuable insights quickly, often in just 10 minutes.
Be action-oriented. If you read about a new marketing strategy, test it out the same day by applying it to your business. This way, you turn knowledge into results and avoid the trap of passive learning.
Create before consume. Start your day with deep work—before you dive into learning. This ensures that your day begins with productivity, not just preparation.
3. Everything is important
Just go through your to-do list or weekly planner, and you’ll see a long list of tasks that all seem urgent.
But in reality, only a few of these tasks are truly critical to your success.
When everything feels equally important, nothing really gets the attention it deserves.
You might struggle to decide where to invest your time and energy.
This can lead to scattered efforts and slower progress on critical tasks.
Solution: Rank the most important problems
Nothing in life is important by default. It only becomes important relative to the conditions that support its significance.
So, consider the conditions surrounding your tasks. This will help you determine what’s truly important at any given time. For example:
What’s the consequence of not solving X right now? If the consequences are significant, it’s likely a high-priority task.
Will working on X yield the highest impact? Prioritize tasks that have the potential to make a big difference and align with your goals.
4. Lack of structure
Think back to the last time you had a "busy" day, only to realize that despite all the activity, you didn’t make any real progress on what mattered most.
You were moving, but not necessarily moving forward.
Without structure, it’s easy to get caught up in tasks that keep you busy but don’t bring you closer to your goals.
Solution: Create your workflow
Structure isn’t just about having a to-do list; it’s about creating a well-organized workflow, establishing routines, and setting clear priorities.
Here’s what I do..
Theme your day by allocating specific times of the day or week, such as dedicating mornings or Mondays to creative tasks and reserving afternoons or the end of the week for administrative tasks.
Design a clear process for how specific tasks (e.g. writing newsletters, creating landing pages, designing websites) are completed from start to finish. Know the tools you'll use, the order of tasks, and the deadlines to meet.
Start your day by reviewing your goals and priorities. Block out time for deep, focused work, and include breaks to recharge.
5. Feeling like you can’t take a break
“Hustle culture” or “startup culture” has created the narrative that…
“If I don’t push through, people will think I’m lazy.”
“I won’t produce great results if I don’t work hard enough.”
“If I don’t work 18 hours a day, people won’t take me seriously.”
This mindset can make you feel like taking a break is a sign of weakness or laziness.
Imagine a candle burning in a strong wind versus a calm room. The candle in the wind burns out quickly, while the one in the calm room burns slowly and lasts much longer.
Your energy works the same way. If you keep pushing without taking breaks, it’s like the candle in the wind—you’ll burn out too fast.
Solution: Deep work, deep rest
Work intensely during times when you feel energized, and recharge when your energy is low.
Take regular breaks throughout the day, such as a 5-minute walk around the office or a quick stretch, to refresh your mind and body.
Take longer breaks, such as a weekend getaway or a full week off, to fully recharge if you’re close to burning out.
I'm procrastinating trading this article. 😉