The paradox of busyness

Optimising something that you're not currently doing is just procrastination. It's a great feel-good excuse for researching or outlining a business plan or structure. It tells the world, "Hey, I'm doing the thing," when in reality, we aren't doing the things at all. Because we are scared, we want to put it off as long as possible until we get all our ducks in a row, and we know every conceivable possible outcome before it even happens. And you know what? We all do this to some extent.

Productivity tools are like self-help books; they make you feel good, but they don't solve the problem. Putting in the hours solves the problem; using what you have learned solves the problem. Getting the right notepad, pen, or software is just that, getting an item. It's not doing the thing.

If you're using busyness as a proxy for productivity, then these behaviours can seem crucial for convincing yourself and others that you're doing your job well.[^1]

Doing the work can suck; it can be hard work. When we focus our energy on working, allocating time, and large amounts of it so we can get into a state of flow, void of distractions and temptations, we end up enjoying ourselves. God forbid, we can even have fun doing the hard things for long periods of time.

“If I organize my life in such a way that I get lots of long, consecutive, uninterrupted time-chunks, I can write novels.”[^2]

This idea that doing something, anything, is productive is a lie. Constantly being busy is just being busy. I say to myself all the time when I see someone in a rush or walking fast or frantic at work, "Being busy is not the same as being productive." I also believe that doing it slowly over time and getting it done is better than doing it all at the last minute. "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."[^3]

The pursuit of productivity often involves a delicate balance between preparation and action. While optimising and planning have their merits, they can easily transform into forms of procrastination if they hinder actual execution. Productivity tools, do not substitute for hard work. Embracing the effort, allocating focused time, and immersing oneself in a state of flow leads to a sense of fulfilment and even enjoyment in the midst of challenges. The key lies in recognizing the difference between productive action and mere activity.

The true measure of work is the outcome of our efforts. As productivity guru David Allen puts it, "You can do anything, but not everything." Consistently making progress over time contribute to genuine productivity.

Footnotes
[^1:] Deep Work by Cal Newport
[^2:] Deep Work by Cal Newport
[^3:] Special Operations community