The Ultimate Productivity Guide isn’t what you think…

There is sooooooo much good productivity advice out there, and I’ve read through a ton of it only to realize that… there really is no “one-size-fits-all” productivity system. If you’ve been chasing the perfect morning routine or trying to copy someone else’s bulletproof schedule, you’re not alone — but you might be chasing something that doesn’t exist… a phantom… scary huh?

One of the biggest realizations I’ve had recently is that productivity isn’t about rigid templates. It’s about alignment. Alignment with how you work best, how your brain ticks, and what kind of energy you bring to different kinds of tasks.

Personally, I do a mix of creative work and the kind of logistical, nuts-and-bolts project work that keeps the wheels turning. These two types of work demand very different approaches.

When I’m doing creative work — writing, brainstorming, building new ideas — I need space. I need time to sit, think, and (hopefully) pull something meaningful out of the ether. Timers and structured blocks don’t help me here. If anything, they’re just road blocks to my creative process and flow.

But when I’m tackling project management tasks — scheduling, responding to emails, reviewing spreadsheets — that’s when structure is key. I need a plan, a checklist, maybe even a timer to push through the repetition and keep momentum.

And that’s the point: your productivity toolkit should match the task and the context. Morning focus sessions work best for me, so I plan my most important creative work when I’m freshest. I leave the admin-heavy tasks for later in the day when I don’t need deep focus — just discipline.

The real “ultimate” productivity guide? It’s the one you build for yourself. Not in a day, not all at once, but piece by piece through self-reflection and trial and error. The more you understand what doesn’t work for you, the closer you get to what does.

So if you’re feeling stuck or like you’re “doing it wrong,” take a step back. Ask yourself:

• What time of day do I actually focus best?
  
  

• What kinds of work drain me — and which flow easily?
  
  

• Do I need structure, or do I need freedom — or both, depending on the task?
  
  

Productivity isn’t about control. It’s about clarity. Build around who you are, not who someone else says you should be.