Stop Trying to Be So Productive

Here’s a simpler blueprint you can follow

👋 Hey, it’s Zohvib. Welcome to my weekly newsletter where I share frameworks of proven ideas to become smarter and healthier. If you’re not a subscriber, here’s what you missed this month:

• The Psychology Behind Why We Delay — Procrastination

• How to Stop Taking Things Personally

• I’m a Productivity Expert — and I Still Struggle With Procrastination

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Do you ever find yourself sitting in front of your screen, fingers hovering over the keys, as your eyes dart from the time to your never-ending to-do list?

You’re in the hustle mode, maximizing every second, every minute, right?

But let me ask you: Has all that productivity jazz actually made you more creative? Has the ceaseless chase for efficiency brought you joy, inspiration, and — dare I say — better writing?

It’s time to flip the narrative. Here’s the thing, productivity, while practical, isn’t the end-all-be-all.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all caper, especially for us, the writers, the creatives, the daydreamers. Let’s break down why.

The Productivity Trap

“Write 2,000 words a day,” they say.

“Create content for all your social media platforms,” they urge.

“Update your portfolio, send out pitches, always be networking!” The list never ends.

And what happens? You squeeze your creativity into time blocks, suffocate it with deadlines, and leave no room for the spontaneity that often gives birth to your best ideas.

You see, creativity isn’t a well-oiled machine; it’s more like a wandering river — it needs room to flow, meander, and sometimes, simply be still.

Remember the last time you were stuck in traffic or aimlessly stirring your coffee? Wasn’t it then that an idea — an original one — popped into your head?

That’s what I call “unproductive productivity,” a space where your mind is free to wander.

You owe your best work to those moments, not to your jam-packed Google Calendar.

The Art of Slowing Down

Here’s a radical idea; Slow down. No, really, hear me out.

Take your foot off the pedal of ceaseless activity and make room for idleness, boredom, and reflection.

Think of it as marinating your creative juices, letting them blend and infuse for a richer, more nuanced flavor.

Slowing down doesn’t mean doing nothing; it means doing things with intent, savoring the process rather than rushing to the outcome.

Writing is as much about the words you leave on the page as the ones you decide to throw out.

It’s about the sentences you rewrite a dozen times and the themes you let simmer in your mind overnight, or even over a weekend.

Reframing Success

Who defines success, anyway? A published article? A thousand social media likes? A paycheck?

While all these markers have their place, they aren’t the only measures of a writer’s worth.

What about the joy of writing, the satisfaction of a well-crafted sentence, or the thrill of solving a narrative puzzle?

The pressure to produce, to publish, to promote — this perpetual grind can bury those intrinsic rewards. It’s time to reclaim them.

Your value as a writer isn’t solely tied to how much you produce; it’s also about the depth, insight, and artistry you bring to your work.

The Unseen Virtue of ‘Unproductivity’

So, what’s the game plan?

Well, give yourself permission to be “unproductive.”

Read something unrelated to your niche, scribble without purpose, get lost in your thoughts, or even in the streets.

These “inefficiencies” fuel your creative fire.

Take me for example. I once spent an afternoon just watching the clouds go by — no joke.

And guess what? By the evening, I’d conjured a blog post idea that was both refreshing and novel, all because I allowed myself the time and space to just be.

What would happen if you, too, allowed yourself the luxury of unfocused time?

Let’s buck the trend of 24/7 productivity.

Let’s cherish the pauses between the notes, the white spaces on our pages, and the unscheduled blocks on our calendars.

It’s time to stop trying to be so productive and start valuing the “unproductive” moments that make us better writers, thinkers, and creators.

After all, the goal isn’t to be busy; the goal is to make your words resonate.

And that, my friends, is a whole different kind of productivity — one that comes not from constant doing, but from meaningful being.

Thanks for reading! I hope you found this edition of my newsletter useful.

All the best.

-Zohvib