In 1930, English economist and philosopher John Maynard Keynes predicted that by 2030, we'd be working 15-hour weeks. He thought technology would make us so efficient that we'd struggle to fill our free time. Today, his prediction seems almost laughable.
Instead of the leisure-filled future Keynes imagined, we find ourselves in a world of constant busyness. This busyness often happens because much of what we believe about productivity is based on outdated productivity myths.
Social pressure, corporate interests, and our own psychological biases have all played a role in keeping these myths alive. Our culture values hard work and hustle. We admire people who seem to be always busy and getting things done. This reinforces the idea that constant work equals success.
Ideas like "work harder, get more done" seem logical on the surface. They give us a sense of control — if we just push ourselves more, we'll succeed. Companies often promote these myths too. It's in their interest to have employees who work longer hours and take fewer breaks. They push ideas like multitasking or praise those who are always "on," even if it's not actually more productive.
In this blog, we're challenging 5 productivity myths. We'll break down why these ideas don't hold up and offer practical alternatives that actually work.
Myth 1: The more tasks you complete and the more hours you put in, the more productive you are.
This myth is deeply ingrained in many workplace cultures. It's the force behind the "hustle culture" that glorifies overwork and busyness. It's what makes people feel guilty for leaving work "early" even if they've completed their tasks for the day. This belief system equates productivity with constant activity and values the appearance of hard work over actual results.
It doesn't respect the natural ebb and flow of work. Some days you might have more to do, while others you might finish earlier. By forcing yourself to stay when you're done, you're not acknowledging this natural variation. It can lead to unnecessary busy work. When you've finished your important tasks but feel obligated to stay, you might find yourself doing low-value activities just to fill the time. This isn't an efficient use of your energy or time.
By sticking to an arbitrary end time rather than leaving when your work is done, you're potentially wasting time that could be better spent on personal pursuits, rest, or preparation for the next day's tasks which might need you to work slightly longer than usual hours.
What to do instead:
Instead of sticking around when you've finished your work, a better approach is to:
- Decide what you need to get done today. At the start of each day, identify your key tasks or priorities. Be realistic about what you can accomplish. Sunsama's daily planning feature can help with this process. You can see all your commitments, and tasks in one place to identify what is a priority.
- Focus on completing these important tasks efficiently. Give your full attention to your work, aiming for quality results.
- Once you've finished your set tasks for the day, wrap up and leave. Don't feel obligated to stay just because it's not yet the "official" end of the workday.
When you complete all your planned tasks for the day, Sunsama shows a 'Done for the day' screen. This acts as a clear signal that you've accomplished what you set out to do, giving you permission to wrap up guilt-free.
It keeps you focused during your actual work hours because you've got a clear finish line. You'll likely find yourself being more productive when you know you can leave once the important tasks are done. The best part is that it gives you back your time. When work is over, it's over. You can go live your life, recharge, or do whatever you want without that nagging feeling that you should still be at the office.
Myth 2: The right tool will solve all your productivity problems
This myth is appealing because it promises an easy fix — just find the right tool and everything will fall into place. We believe that productivity issues are primarily caused by inadequate tools, rather than habits, mindset, or approach to work. But constantly switching tools (or "tool hopping") is often a way of avoiding the real work of improving productivity. It's easier to blame the tool and look for a new one than to develop better work habits or dig deeper into using an existing tool effectively.
Think about it like this: giving someone who's never cooked before a top-of-the-line kitchen isn't suddenly going to turn them into a master chef. Good tools help, but they're not the whole solution.
What to do instead:
First off, accept that there's no such thing as a perfect tool. Every system, every app, every method — they all have their quirks and limitations. Once you understand that, you'll stop chasing after some mythical perfect solution and start working with what you have.
Whatever tool you're using, learn them well. Most people only scratch the surface of what their tools can do. They use maybe 20% of the features and then wonder why it's not working for them. Spend some time exploring, and experimenting.
Understand that productivity isn't solely determined by the tool itself. Your habits, consistency, and approach to work play crucial roles. A tool is merely an instrument; its effectiveness largely depends on how you implement and interact with it. So before considering a change, evaluate your current usage. Are you fully leveraging the tool's capabilities? Have you established consistent habits around its use? Often, the desire to switch tools masks other issues, such as procrastination or difficulty in prioritizing tasks.
Myth 3: Every moment must be productive or optimized for work to be successful
This myth suggests that any free time, including commute time, should be filled with tasks or activities aimed at increasing productivity. It's the idea that if you're not actively working or improving yourself, you're wasting time. The belief overlooks the importance of downtime and mental breaks in maintaining long-term productivity and well-being. It fails to recognize that constantly striving to be productive can lead to burnout and decreased effectiveness over time.
Think about your commute time. It's tempting to view those 35 minutes to an hour and a half as wasted if you're not actively working or learning something new. But not every moment needs to be optimized for productivity.
For example, your commute can serve a different purpose. It can be a buffer between work and home, a time to decompress or prepare for the day ahead. You can listen to a podcast, enjoy music, meditate, or simply observe your surroundings. These activities, while not traditionally "productive," can improve your mental state, reduce stress, and ultimately contribute to better performance when you do engage in work.
What to do instead:
Give yourself permission to have periods of rest and engagement in non-work activities. This might mean setting aside time for hobbies, spending quality time with family and friends, or simply allowing yourself to do nothing for a while. These moments of "unproductivity" are actually investing in your long-term success by recharging your mental and emotional batteries.
Creativity and problem-solving often happen when your mind is relaxed and not focused on work. By allowing yourself breaks and varied experiences, you're fostering an environment where new ideas can emerge.
You can make micro breaks a seamless part of your workday when you plan your day with Sunsama. If you've enabled break reminders, after you've been working for a while, you'll see a prompt in the focus bar to take a break. You can opt to take a break, snooze the break for 5 minutes, or skip the break.
Myth 4: Getting busywork out of the way will help you focus on deep work
Many people start their workday by "clearing the decks" — getting the little stuff out of the way, creating a clean slate for more important work later. They open their email, aiming for inbox zero, or tackle a list of small tasks. It's a common habit, and on the surface, it seems sensible. But in reality, this approach often leads to less productivity, not more.
This approach often leads to days filled with activity but there's no real progress on important goals. There's a never-ending stream of busy work that can consume hours without us noticing. By the time we finish these small tasks, our energy and focus for deep work have often faded. We end up using our best hours on less important things.
What to do instead:
A more effective approach is to flip this idea on its head.
Start your day with your most important, demanding work when your mind is fresh. Set aside solid blocks of time for deep focus, and treat them as appointments you can't break. This might feel uncomfortable at first if you're used to clearing your inbox before doing anything else. But it's a more productive use of your peak mental hours.
For the necessary busy work, try batching it into set periods later in the day. This could be an hour in the afternoon for emails and admin tasks. By containing it this way, you prevent it from taking over your whole schedule.
Regularly evaluate your tasks. Some busy work might be unnecessary or could be automated or delegated. Don't let small tasks crowd out your big goals just because they're easier to tick off a list.
Myth 5: The same routine every day make you more productivity
You've probably seen posts on Instagram or TikTok about famous CEOs and their daily routines. These posts might say things like "Apple's CEO Tim Cook wakes up at 3:45 AM every day" or "Elon Musk plans every five minutes of his day." When people see these posts, they often think, "Wow, if I follow a strict routine like that, I'll be successful too!" So they try to create their own perfect daily schedule, hoping it will make them more productive.
This idea is appealing because it seems simple. Just follow the routine, and you'll be super productive. But it doesn't work that way in real life.
Sticking to a rigid schedule often leads to feelings of guilt when things don't go as planned. Imagine oversleeping and waking up at 7 AM instead of your usual 5 AM. You might feel like you've already messed up your whole day before it even really starts.
A strict routine can also make you ignore your body's natural rhythms. Some days you might be full of energy in the morning, while on others you might be more alert in the afternoon. But a fixed schedule doesn't let you adjust to these natural changes.
Unexpected events can throw a wrench in the works of a fixed routine. If a family emergency comes up or you need to travel for work, your whole schedule falls apart. This can leave you feeling lost and unproductive, unsure of how to adapt.
What to do instead:
Instead of seeking the one perfect routine, we would do well to embrace a more flexible and adaptive approach to productivity. This doesn't mean abandoning structure entirely, but rather creating a framework that can bend and flex with our changing needs and circumstances.
Productivity isn't about following a strict schedule, it's about getting important things done. Some days you'll do more, some days less, and that's okay. Instead of planning every minute, focus on identifying 2-3 important tasks for each day. These are your "must-dos". How and when you do them can be flexible.
Learn to work with your energy, not against it. If you notice you're feeling creative, tackle a project that needs fresh ideas. Feeling focused? Do some deep work. Tired? Handle some easier, routine tasks. This approach is more effective than forcing yourself to do specific tasks at set times regardless of how you feel.
Always overestimate how long tasks will take. If you think something will take an hour, give yourself 90 minutes. This builds in buffer time for unexpected interruptions or tasks that run long, reducing stress and the feeling of "falling behind".
The goal is to consistently make progress toward your goals, and not to have picture-perfect days.
A tool to help you implement sustainable productivity
Breaking free from productivity myths isn't easy. It takes time to unlearn old habits and adopt new, more balanced approaches to work. But the payoff - less stress, more meaningful progress, and a healthier relationship with your work - is worth it.
As you start this journey, having the right support can make a big difference. That's where tools like Sunsama come in. Sunsama is designed to be flexible with your needs, helping you focus on what matters most each day.
Want to see how it works? Try out Sunsama for free (no credit card required). With Sunsama, you can forget about chasing unrealistic productivity standards.
