Stress-free productivity does exist

There’s a habit so widespread among people trying to get organized that almost no one questions it: when something comes up (a task, an idea, a pending call), they write it down directly on the list where they think it belongs. On the “calls” list, the “errands” list, or the list for the corresponding project. Or worse, on a single to-do list. Quick, clean, no middlemen.

In previous articles, we’ve talked about two of the three principles of Slow Productivity, a term used by Cal Newport in his book Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout to show that another kind of productivity, one that’s more in tune with human nature and less rushed, is possible.

Hello everyone!

After exploring doing fewer things, Cal Newport’s first principle of Slow Productivity, today we dive into the next one: working at a natural pace. This principle challenges one of the most deeply rooted beliefs in modern work culture: that more hours and constant intensity equal better results.

We live in an era where constant activity has become the visible symbol of productivity. Responding to emails at 11 p.m., being available on multiple communication channels, attending back-to-back meetings, and keeping dozens of projects going simultaneously is perceived as the mark of a committed and productive professional. However, Cal Newport claims (and I quite agree) in his book Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout that this culture of perpetual busyness is precisely what is destroying our ability to produce truly valuable work.