Find What Works For You – There’s No Single Path

When reading about productivity and habits on the internet, I find some content creators take a very dogmatic approach. You have to do this. You have to do that to be productive.

This is an unhealthy and unrealistic approach, especially for those starting out on this journey. Imagine you decide you want to start taking your habits and productivity more seriously, and you decide to research how to begin. You go on YouTube, X, Instagram, or some blog, and you find some creators giving you the ’10 commandments’ of productivity. Wake up at 3 am, delete TikTok, take cold showers, restore the Roman Empire in 48 hours, read 300 books a week, and so on. Sounds familiar, right? It’s enough to make anyone throw in the towel before even starting.

Obviously, what I listed is an exaggeration, but you get the point. Am I saying those principles are wrong? Not at all. Many of those are based on science, and they are objectively positive. In fact, I’ve taken advice on many of those (although I’m struggling with the Roman Empire one). I’ve been giving much more priority to my sleep, making an effort to keep a consistent sleeping schedule. I haven’t used TikTok for at least 1 one year, although I will probably start to create some content there to try and get people out of there. I’ve started reading much more, and I’m incredibly grateful for it. There are many other stereotypical productivity ‘hacks’ that I’ve implemented and that have produced great results for me, and there are a lot more out there that I should probably adopt. 

So, instead of trying to fit into someone else’s mold of productivity, why not make your own path? Hate the idea of waking up at the crack of dawn? Then don’t force yourself to do it. Maybe you’re a night owl who thrives after midnight—own it! If so, ignore the ‘wake up early’ advice, not before giving it a try for at least a couple of weeks.

What I often see is that many go to bed at a standard time but then spend 2 hours on their phone before going to sleep, and then they wake up late, but they have wasted that time instead of doing something that contributes to their well-being.

Again, don’t dismiss new ideas outright just because they challenge your existing habits or self-imposed tags. Approach them with an open mind, asking yourself, “Could this work for me?” It’s all about being open to possibilities and willing to adapt.

And remember, change takes time. Give yourself a couple of weeks to test out a new habit, journaling along the way to track your progress and reflections. You might be surprised by what you discover about yourself in the process.

So, the next time a productivity “guru” tells you to overhaul your life, take a moment to pause, reflect, and think critically. Ultimately, the journey to productivity is a personal one—one that’s defined by finding what works best for you.

I hope you enjoyed this post! I’d love to hear about what you think about this approach. I’d also love for you to tell me which habits have worked for you and which haven’t!

See you later!