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You might be addicted to productivity
Here’s the first step to recovery
Hey there —
Is your phone a smorgasbord of productivity apps?
Have you been putting off a vacation because you’re “too busy”?
Are you ending your days unsatisfied even though you crossed everything off your to-do list?
Then you might be addicted to productivity. 🙇♂️
According to Dr. Sandra Chapman, chief director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas, the brain can become addicted to productivity just as it can to gambling, shopping, or drugs.
And it’s not hard to see why. It’s alluring to believe we’re only one app or mental model away from unlocking a superhuman self.

Paired with the fact that society’s conditioned us to believe the path to success is paved with sweat, hustle, and sacrifice, becoming addicted to this idolized lifestyle of “getting things done” is all too easy.
And like any addiction, it can have destructive consequences. Mathew Church, a self-proclaimed “recovering productivity junkie,” confesses:
“I was working up to 70 hours a week and booking my calendar in five-minute increments. During the only long-term relationship I had, I gave my partner access to my calendar and told her that she could use it to book time with me. We didn’t last very long after that.”
A productivity addict tends to not only neglect their own health or relationships in favor of completing tasks, but also (ironically) winds up diminishing their efficiency due to increased stress, exhaustion, and burnout.
So, how do you recover from the hyper-focused, always-on grind?
Instead of seeing productivity as a “lifestyle” where you optimize every minute of your day (an activity reserved for robots 🤖) see it as a tool to help you use your few key hours efficiently.
Because the truth is, research shows we can only concentrate on tasks for about five hours a day.
The purpose of productivity is to maximize those sacred hours — then set you free to spend the rest of your day on what matters most.
This means the first step to recovery is to reflect on your life outside of productivity.
What drives you?What do you value?On your deathbed, what would you wish you did more of?
(Posting carousels on LinkedIn probably doesn’t make the cut).
This exercise can help you curb the “one more task” compulsion — because once you identify what matters most to you, you’ll be less tempted to trade it for the momentary rush of ticking off a box from your to-do list.
While being productive is a gratifying feeling, remember productivity is a means to an end (not the end itself).
It’s to help you get the important things done, so you can then focus on your real priorities — the ones your 99-year-old self will be proud of. 🧓


Brought to you by Slow Growth
Take control of your life with Simple Habits
Hey, Matt here! I’m no psychic, but I’m guessing that at some point in the past you’ve tried to build a habit. And…things didn’t exactly go as planned. 😬
📺 FOMO said you had to binge the latest Netflix series ― so you skipped your nightly meditation.
💸 You were too busy to meal prep ― so you destroyed your budget Door Dashing lunch all week.
🩼 You twisted your ankle — so there went your new gym routine.
Look, we’ve all been there. These “failures” are a necessary part of the process! But after helping 1000+ students build their habits, I know it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Which is why I created Simple Habits. It’s got everything you need to successfully build a habit — no matter what life throws your way.
Here are some of the insights and strategies you’ll find inside the course:
Habits matter. what we repeatedly do, we become. By making new choices and implementing new habits, you could build an entirely new life and identity for yourself.
Not all habits are created equal. By choosing a “Domino Habit,” one small behavior change can lead to a positive chain reaction in other areas of your life.
Your “why” is the key to motivation. It’s not enough to want to introduce a new habit just because you think it might be cool or that you “should.” Uncover your inner desires to find your true drive.
Get back on track quickly with the Two Day Rule. No more total derailments when unforeseen circumstances arise or you need to take a mental health day.
If you’re ready to step into the driver’s seat of your own life (instead of being steamrolled by external circumstances), sign up for Simple Habits today.
Enrollment ends March 10th at 11 p.m. ET! ⏳


In defense of the unoptimized life
by Evan Armstrong
Still battling the “must do more” mindset? This essay by Evan Armstrong will help adjust your perspective.
Armstrong suggests striving for an “unoptimized life,” where you ditch all the productive things you’re “supposed to do” (ice baths and getting up at 5 a.m., etc.) in exchange for mental space.
It turns out pockets of idleness not only generate creative “eureka” moments, but also slow you down, letting you enjoy your work on a deeper level — no snorting kale juice required. 🥬

Why we all need subtitles now
by Vox
Whether you’re watching the latest Marvel movie or The Bachelor (hey, we don’t judge) you might find yourself constantly doing this one thing: turning on subtitles.
There’s a good reason why you’re not hearing dialogue clearly, and it’s a more complex problem than you’d think.
In this video, Vox explains this phenomenon with the help of a dialogue editor. The good news is that you’re not going deaf. 😅

How to make Google Docs a zen experience
by Nate Kadlac
Using Google Docs can be a hair-pulling experience. The bright white pages are jarring and the page breaks are frustrating (if you’ve ever tried inserting an image, you can relate).
But what if you could transform a Google Doc into a zen zone? 🧘♂️
That’s what Nate Kadlac teaches you in this how-to guide. By the end, you’ll have a Google Doc that’s easy on the eyes and delightful to use — instead of it driving you bananas.


"We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive."
― C. S. Lewis

Written by Alice Lemée
Edited by Matt D'Avella & Ashley Martin