9 productivity lies we believe.

And how to stop wasting your time.

We work hard. We optimize. We try to get more done in less time.

But what if everything we’ve been told about productivity is slowing us down?

These nine myths sound helpful - but they can steal our time.

1. "I should have been more productive today."

You finish your day. Look at your to-do list. Not enough checked boxes.

So, you tell yourself: I should have done more.

But here’s the catch - beating yourself up won’t make tomorrow better. It just drains your energy. Productivity isn’t about guilt. It’s about learning.

Instead of dwelling on what you didn’t do, ask:

What small thing can I improve tomorrow?

2. "Consistency is more important than intensity."

Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Not always. Some things require sprints.

You don’t learn to code by writing one line per day. You dive in, get obsessed, and push through the messy middle.

Consistency matters, but intensity builds breakthroughs. Use both.

3. "Motivation leads to action."

We wait until we feel motivated. We wait for inspiration.

But action creates motivation - not the other way around.

Start. Do something small. One commit. One email. One line of code. Suddenly, momentum kicks in.

Don’t wait to feel ready. Move first.

4. "Hustle culture is bad."

Burnout is real. Overwork can destroy us.

But here’s the truth no one wants to say: Big goals require big effort.

You don’t build a startup in 4-hour workweeks. You don’t level up your career by coasting.

Hustling all the time is dangerous. But avoiding hard work? Just as bad.

5. "Productivity and self-care are opposites."

We’re told: Take a break. Slow down. Prioritize rest.

Sounds great - except sometimes, the best self-care is getting things done.

Stress from unfinished work lingers. That task you keep putting off? It’s draining you.

Sometimes, closing the loop is better than "treating yourself."

6. "You can do everything if you're just efficient enough."

Your to-do list is endless. If only you were a little more disciplined, you’d finally get it all done.

Wrong. You will never finish everything.

Instead of doing more, choose less. Focus on what actually moves the needle.

7. "I don’t have time."

Too busy to work out. Too busy to write. Too busy to start that side project.

But time isn’t the issue. Priorities are.

If someone offered you $1M to work out every day, would you find the time?

You don’t lack time. You lack priorities.

8. "You need long, uninterrupted hours to do great work."

We tell ourselves: I’ll start when I have a full afternoon free.

But that perfect time never comes.

The best creators, writers, and engineers use scraps of time. Ten minutes here. Twenty there.

Progress isn’t about finding time - it’s about taking it.

9. "Your environment has to be perfect."

The right keyboard. The perfect setup. The ideal playlist.

Sounds nice. But work happens anywhere.

Great engineers ship code in bad lighting. Great writers draft in chaos. Great founders start in their bedrooms.

Remove your excuses. Start now.

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The truth about productivity

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters.

Stop waiting. Stop overthinking.

Take the first step. Momentum will handle the rest.