Why More Productivity Makes You Feel Worse and How to Escape the Trap
Busyness is everywhere—just ask anyone how they’re doing, and you’ll hear about their overloaded to-do list. You finish an email, and two more come in. Even with streamlined routines and the latest apps, the sense of pressure never seems to ease. Over time, you realize something is off; the more efficiently you try to work, the more demands show up, and you rarely feel ahead. You start to suspect: maybe the goalposts keep moving, not because you’re failing, but because the system is flawed.
This trap is called the 'efficiency trap.' Technologies and tricks free up time, but social expectations, economic incentives, and your habits just fill it again—often with even less meaningful activities. Like Sisyphus with his endlessly rolling boulder or the infinite email inbox, the harder you try to clear the decks, the more gets dumped in your lap. It’s an open secret: the world never runs out of things for you to do, but it does run out of things that matter.
The answer, surprising as it sounds, is to stop aiming for an empty list and choose what you put your time toward, even at the risk of leaving some stones unturned. When you accept that not all important tasks can be done, it gets easier to notice which ones deserve your best attention. After the initial discomfort of letting some balls drop, you discover time frees up for things that add real meaning and satisfaction. Behavioral science backs this up—deciding what not to do improves performance and well-being far more than never-ending multitasking.
Picture yourself, right now, letting go of the fantasy that you’ll someday be caught up—done, complete, fully on top of things. Take a breath, glance at your task list, and spot what actually matters to you today. Carve out a spot for your top priorities, even if it means letting some emails or chores wait. The world won’t grind to a halt if a few low-value items linger (trust me, I’ve watched them pile up and realized no disaster follows). Now, give yourself permission to leave some things unfinished, and use your reclaimed time for what’s truly important to you. Feel that? That’s freedom from the productivity trap. Try it for just one evening, and see what opens up.
What You'll Achieve
Internally, you'll feel relief from guilt and anxiety, as the burden of endless completion is lifted. Externally, you'll perform better and feel more satisfied by focusing energy where it really counts.
Quit Chasing the Illusion of Getting It All Done
Acknowledge you’ll never finish everything.
Reflect honestly on your to-do list. Notice how, no matter how much you accomplish, new tasks quickly appear. Allow yourself to accept that 'catching up' is impossible.
Pick a handful of important tasks to prioritize.
Rather than trying to address everything, select 3–5 priorities that genuinely matter to you or your goals. Let go of the expectation to tackle all demands at once.
Deliberately let some lesser tasks wait or go undone.
Consciously set aside less meaningful to-dos. If an item isn’t urgent or aligned with your values, consider skipping it. Notice any anxiety that arises and let yourself feel it, rather than reacting by working harder.
Resist using 'free time' solely to catch up on low-value chores.
Plan small pockets in your day for activities you love or for genuine relaxation, even if meaningless tasks remain on your list.
Reflection Questions
- What activities on your list could you safely let go or defer for now?
- How does it feel when you allow yourself to not finish everything?
- What priorities would make you feel satisfied if you did only those today?
- What stops you from letting some unimportant things go?
Personalization Tips
- A college student stops reworking her notes each night and instead focuses on one important subject each week.
- A busy parent lets the laundry pile up occasionally to spend time reading bedtime stories.
- A manager blocks off an hour for real project work instead of always responding to every email as it arrives.
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
Ready to Take Action?
Get the Mentorist app and turn insights like these into daily habits.