This Productivity Advice Sounds Crazy... But It Works
Hey,
Are you right in the thick of building your thing, and feeling like you're constantly adding more to your plate?
Trying to optimize every minute, pack in more tasks, and generally just DO more, more, more?
And yet… are you truly feeling more productive?
Or does it feel more like you're just running faster on a hamster wheel, always busy but not making the kind of focused progress you know you're capable of?
If you're being honest, does the endless pursuit of "doing more" actually leave you feeling drained, scattered, and less effective than you could be?
It's a common trap, especially when you've got big ambitions.
You think the answer is always adding another tool, another tactic, another task.
But what if the real secret to higher productivity is actually doing less?
The conventional wisdom screams "Hustle harder! Do more!"
And yeah, effort is absolutely crucial.
But there's a point where "doing more" becomes counterproductive.
You hit a wall of decision fatigue, your focus gets fragmented, and that sharp edge you need for creative problem-solving and strategic thinking starts to dull.
We live in a world of constant stimulation – notifications pinging, endless scrolling, entertainment on demand.
Our brains are in overdrive, always reacting, rarely truly resting or just… being.
This constant input prevents the kind of deep processing and creative connections that lead to truly valuable output.
It’s like trying to listen to a faint signal on a radio while a million other stations are blasting.
But here’s where it gets interesting, and maybe a little uncomfortable.
Often, our most powerful insights and bursts of genuine productivity come not from adding more, but from subtracting the noise and even embracing something we actively avoid: boredom.
Think about those moments when you’re taking a shower, or going for a walk without your phone – suddenly, ideas pop into your head.
Those moments aren't random; they happen when your brain finally gets a break from the constant onslaught of external stimuli and has space to process, connect ideas, and wander.
Here's the powerful shift: instead of constantly filling every void with information or distractions, what if you intentionally carved out space for nothing?
What if you allowed yourself to be truly bored?
In a world obsessed with optimization and filling every second, intentionally doing nothing is a radical act of self-care and a powerful productivity strategy.
It allows your mind to declutter and make new connections, and recharge in a way that scrolling social media never will.
It’s in that stillness, that seemingly unproductive "doing nothing," that clarity emerges and genuinely productive energy is built.
It’s leaning into the discomfort of stillness to find a deeper well of focus and creativity.
So, how do you actually implement this counterintuitive strategy and leverage "doing nothing" for massive productivity gains?
It's not about meditating for hours (unless you're into that).
It's about creating tiny pockets of intentional stillness in your day.
Here are steps you can take, starting today, to integrate this powerful concept into your workflow:
Schedule Your "Nothing" Time: This might sound weird, but actually put 10-15 minutes on your calendar. This is sacred time. Don't fill it. Just sit. No agenda, no goals, no tasks.
Designate Your Low-Stimulus Zone: Find a place where you can do this comfortably. It could be a quiet corner of your home, a park bench, or even just sitting in your car for a few minutes before you go inside. Minimize external distractions. Dim the lights if you can.
Go Device-Free: This is crucial. Put your phone on airplane mode and out of sight. Seriously. The urge to grab it will be strong, acknowledge it, and let it pass. Resisting this default behavior is a key part of the practice.
Embrace the Boredom: It will likely feel uncomfortable at first. Your mind will race. You might feel antsy. This is normal. Don't judge it. Just observe. Let your thoughts wander without trying to control them. This is where the magic happens – where unexpected ideas and clarity can surface.
Start Small and Build: Ten minutes of true stillness might feel like an eternity initially. Start with 5 if you have to. The goal is consistency, not duration. Build up as you get more comfortable.
Briefly Reflect (Optional but Helpful): After your "nothing" time, take a moment to notice how you feel. Calmer? More focused? Did any insights or ideas pop up? You don't need a detailed journal entry, just a quick mental check-in.
Integrating these tiny moments of "doing nothing" isn't about being lazy.
It's about being strategic.
It's about giving your brain the space it needs to process, recover, and generate high-quality output.
Think of it as sharpening the saw – sometimes you need to stop cutting to make the cutting more effective.
By intentionally embracing stillness and even a little boredom, you're creating the conditions for genuine focus, creativity, and ultimately, more impactful productivity.
Stop adding more to your plate and start strategically subtracting the noise. Lean into the power of doing less to achieve more.
Give it a try today. Find 10 minutes to just be. See what happens.
Stay focused,
Brandon Rhee
