The productivity paradox: 3 reasons why you’re busy but not productive
Always tired. Always on-the-go. Yet at the end of the day, the list of things to do doesn’t seem to end. Welcome to the productivity paradox: being constantly busy without making meaningful progress.
We asked Ms. April Salonga, subject matter expert of Inquirer Academy on leadership, agility and productivity, about her thoughts on this.
Here are three hidden culprits behind the whirlwind of unending tasks:
1. Perfectionism: The disguised delay
Perfectionism wears the mask of high standards, but it often hides fear: fear of criticism, failure or not being “good enough.”
You always find yourself overanalyzing and spending 45 minutes polishing a paragraph that only needed five. The pursuit of perfection becomes the enemy of done.
Productive people understand that excellence comes from iteration, not hesitation. So if you find yourself in a cycle of trying to be perfect, remember that progress beats perfection every time.
2. Procrastination: The illusion of later
Procrastination isn’t laziness. It’s the avoidance of something that stresses us.
When a task feels overwhelming, your brain naturally seeks relief. You check messages. You reorganize files. You suddenly feel compelled to clean your desk.
These activities create the comforting illusion of productivity while the real priority waits.
The solution isn’t more motivation. The solution is momentum. The key is to start now and start small.
Once you get your rhythm, resistance fades into the background.
3. Poorly set goals: Motion without direction
If your goals are vague, like “grow the business,” or “be more organized,” your efforts scatter.
Without clear targets, you default to reactive work. The “urgent” almost always dictates your agenda.
Productive people define specific, measurable outcomes to determine daily, weekly and monthly priorities. It starts with the most important and impactful tasks and does not get distracted with urgent and unimportant tasks. Clarity of goals creates traction.
Being busy does not always mean being productive. Being productive requires intention and attention. Audit your standards, confront avoidance, and sharpen your goals. When you do, you’ll stop feeling tired and stressed. You will start feeling calm, grounded and in control.
Salonga will facilitate a course on Productivity at Work: Reducing Stress, Improving Focus, Delivering Results on April 28.
For your employees’ learning and development, Inquirer Academy can help you in designing and facilitating a training program. For more information, write to ask@ inquireracademy.com, or send an SMS to 0919-3428667 and 0998-9641731.
Glenn San Luis is the executive director of Inquirer Academy.
