My Biggest Productivity Mistakes and How I Fixed Them
Written by Michelle Ong | February 13, 2025
I used to think I was “pretty productive”—until I realised I was making mistakes that were quietly draining my energy and slowing my growth.
We all have those days when productivity slips and self-doubt creeps in.
These are the five mistakes I kept repeating—and the small shifts that finally helped me work with more clarity and intention.
If you’re building better habits and want to be more intentional in your career and life, this might help.
1. Aiming to Do More Instead of Doing What Matters
“The productivity trap: The more you do, the more you feel you have to do. Focus on what matters.”
I used to measure my productivity by how busy I looked.
If my to-do list wasn’t overflowing, I felt guilty.
But the harder I chased “doing more,” the more unfocused I became.
The turning point was learning the 80/20 rule:
20% of what you do drives 80% of your results.
When I focused on the few things that actually moved the needle, everything felt lighter—my work, my days, my mind.
💡Unsure if you’re burnt out? Read this.
2. Winging It Without a System
For the longest time, my planning “system” was… vibes.
Everything lived in my head, which meant everything was also easy to lose track of.
Then I read Tiago Forte’s Building a Second Brain and discovered the CODE method:
Capture (write down) what matters.
Organise what you capture.
Distill it into something clear.
Execute without overthinking.
That’s when it clicked:
My brain isn’t meant to store everything—it’s meant to decide.
And having a system gives it space to breathe.
💡Here’s a blueprint to help you plan your life.
3. Avoiding Failure Like It Was Dangerous
I used to treat failure as a sign I wasn’t good enough.
If something wasn’t perfect, I’d take it personally.
Then I learned this: High performers fail about 16% of the time (The Coder’s Method).
Perfection isn’t the goal—learning is.
Now I give myself space to experiment, resize tasks if I’m overwhelmed, and treat failure as feedback, not a verdict.
4. Expecting Quick Wins Without the Long Game
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” — Robert Collier
I used to expect big results after doing something several times.
A run for a month or two and I thought I’d suddenly be fit.
A few productive weeks and I thought I’d transformed my habits.
But real change takes time.
What helped me reset my expectations was the Marginal Gains Theory—tiny 1% improvements, repeated consistently, lead to big results.
Success isn’t loud.
It’s small, steady, and built quietly.
5. Neglecting Rest
I used to power through aches, strain, fatigue because I am impatient and thought stopping made me “less productive.”
Then burnout hit.
Hard.
Now I take short breaks, use a Pomodoro timer, and step away whenever I feel my brain tightening.
A few mindful minutes make a huge difference in clarity and stamina.
Your brain isn’t a machine.
It needs rest to stay sharp.
💡Try these tips for unwinding after a long day.
Final Thoughts
Becoming more productive wasn’t about doing more.
It’s about noticing what slowed me down and choosing differently.
If you’re figuring out your own systems and rhythms, I hope this helps you skip a few years of trial and error.
Here’s to working smarter, with less stress and more intention.
💡Start here for a full habit reset.
🌱 Reader Reflection
Which productivity mistake feels most familiar to you—and what’s one small shift you want to try this week?
