Being Busy is Not the Same as Being Productive
Being busy is not the same as being productive.
Cal Newport uses the term pseudo-productivity to describe "the use of visible activity as the primary means of approximating actual productive effort".
That’s what "busyness" often is: work that looks productive but doesn’t move anything forward. Meetings, messages, jumping between tasks... it feels like progress, but often it’s just noise.
It's no surprise we fall into this trap.
Urgency gets mistaken for importance, leading us to prioritise the loudest voice, not the most important work. And, often, our responsiveness gets rewarded, which makes it harder to do things differently.
Your time and energy are being spent reacting to whatever lands in your inbox, while the work that really matters gets left behind.
Breaking the cycle starts with clarity: What are your real priorities? What delivers value in your role, for your team, and your organisation?
Focus there, even if no one’s shouting for it.
Are you being busy right now, or are you being productive?
