5 Productivity lies that are quietly sabotaging your success

The hard truth about why you’re stuck—and how to break free.

Done with spinning your wheels on productivity myths?
It’s time to cut through the noise and focus on what actually drives results.

Upgrade to a paid subscription for exclusive tools, deep-dive strategies, weekly reflection exercises, inspirational wallpapers, action guides and insights that help you reclaim time, energy, and leadership clarity—without the burnout.

---

You know that sinking feeling when you’ve been at your desk for hours but somehow… nothing meaningful got done?

Yeah. Same.

Productivity, as it’s sold to us, is often smoke and mirrors—a magic show of to-do lists and time-blocking hacks. And while some of it works, a lot of it doesn’t.

Worse, much of what you think is “good productivity advice” actually keeps you spinning your wheels.

I’ve fallen into almost every trap out there. And after working with creators and entrepreneurs for years, I can tell you—you probably have, too.

The solution isn’t to work harder or force motivation; it’s to stop believing the lies.

Let’s dig into the five biggest lies holding you back—and what moves the needle.

---

1. Lie: Waking Up Early is the Secret to Success

Reality: Morning routines are not one-size-fits-all—and forcing them can destroy your productivity.

There’s this weird obsession with the idea that “if you don’t wake up at 5 AM, you’ll never be successful.”

I get it—rising early sounds virtuous. But in reality?

Forcing an early start can backfire, especially if it doesn’t align with your body’s natural rhythms (a.k.a. your chronotype).

Science backs this up. Night owls, for example, are wired to perform better later in the day. Pushing against that biology often leads to sluggish mornings and half-baked work.

I once dragged myself out of bed at dawn for a month, chasing that “morning edge”—only to crash by noon and barely recover.

What to Do Instead:

• Discover Your Peak Hours. Track your energy for a week. When do you feel sharpest? Protect that time for deep work.

• Redefine Early. If 8 AM feels early for you, lean into that. Your productivity isn’t determined by the hour on the clock—it’s determined by the quality of focus you bring when you're naturally on.

Pro Tip: Energy beats time every time. Find your rhythm and own it unapologetically.

---

2. Lie: Multitasking Makes You Efficient

Reality: Multitasking isn’t just ineffective—it damages your brain’s ability to focus long term.

You’re not multitasking. You’re just task-switching—and your brain hates it.

Every switch burns cognitive fuel, increasing errors and slashing productivity by up to 40%. Over time, this fragmented attention reduces your brain’s gray matter in areas responsible for emotional regulation and focus.

I see it all the time—leaders and creators hopping between tabs, answering DMs while editing, bouncing between tasks. It feels productive but leaves you exhausted with little to show for it.

What to Do Instead:

• Adopt “Task Batching.” Group similar tasks together (emails, calls, writing) and tackle them in focused blocks.

• Protect “Focus Sprints.” Work in 90-minute chunks with zero interruptions. Silence your phone. Shut down notifications. (No, you won’t miss anything critical.)

• Create Sacred Spaces. Designate certain environments or times of day for deep work only. My writing spot? Coffee shop. Phone off. Headphones in.

Pro Tip: Think of multitasking like junk food—it feels good in the moment but drains you over time.

---

3. Lie: Productivity is About Doing More

Reality: True productivity is about doing less—but doing it better.

We idolize busyness like it’s a trophy. Long hours, packed schedules, 17 browser tabs open—these are worn like badges of honor.

But busyness is not productivity. It’s often just avoidance wrapped in the illusion of work.

There was a time I’d proudly say, “I worked 12 hours today.” But when I audited those hours, maybe three held real value. The rest? Fluff.

What to Do Instead:

• Apply the 80/20 Rule. 80% of your results come from 20% of your actions. Identify the few tasks that truly matter—and ruthlessly eliminate the rest.

• Adopt the “One Big Thing” Rule. Each day, pick one high-impact task. Not ten. Just one. Finish it, and your day is a win—even if nothing else gets done.

• Say No (A Lot). Productivity isn’t about saying yes to everything. It’s about protecting the few things that actually deserve your attention.

Pro Tip: The goal isn’t to do more—it’s to matter more.

---