The Myth of Doing It All: Why Pseudo Productivity Is Holding You Back
You can’t do it all—and that’s okay. In fact, you really shouldn’t try.
Everywhere online, people are telling you that you just need the right routine, the perfect system, or the best Notion template to be super productive and get everything done.
But that’s a lie.
Not because you aren’t competent. You are probably more competent than you give yourself credit for. The truth is, “doing it all” isn’t feasible, and it’s definitely not healthy.
Today I want to talk about why—and the problem with pseudo productivity.
The Problem With Productivity for Productivity’s Sake
I was reading Slow Productivity by Cal Newport recently, and it sparked this reflection.
The biggest problem with modern work is that we don’t actually know how to measure productivity.
Most of us aren’t on factory floors producing units anymore—we’re knowledge workers. We create reports, videos, therapy sessions, consultations, or lessons. Our work is harder to quantify.
Instead of finding new ways to measure value, companies fall back on outdated industrial-age measures: time at your desk and tasks completed. In other words, inputs and outputs.
That means if you’re sitting at your desk, you look “productive.” If you work longer hours, even better—for some reason.
But we all know this isn’t real productivity. A lot of office time is spent hanging around door frames, chatting at the water cooler, or doing small tasks that don’t actually move the needle.
What Is Pseudo Productivity?
Pseudo productivity is when you look busy without actually making meaningful progress.
Some examples:
Answering emails the second they come in
Staying “active” on Slack by wiggling your cursor
Sitting through endless meetings
Tweaking small, unimportant details
These things create the illusion of being hardworking, but they don’t produce depth or impact.
I’ve been there—caught up in the busywork and thinking, Wow, I’m such a hard worker. But in reality, I was exhausting myself without creating true value.
The Double Standard of Work
Here’s the trap: many workplaces measure you by pseudo productivity (number of reports, number of clients seen, hours logged), while also expecting you to deliver deep, meaningful work.
You’re supposed to do both.
See as many clients as possible and go above and beyond for each one. Write reports at lightning speed and produce work of incredible quality.
Add to that the endless meetings, committees, trainings, and Slack messages—you’re suddenly doing the work of two or three people within a single job description.
And when you inevitably can’t keep up? You’re told you need to “manage your time better.”
I internalized that for years, believing I wasn’t good enough. The truth? The expectations were impossible.
Why the System, Not You, Is the Problem
I want you to hear this clearly: the problem isn’t you.
If you feel like you can’t keep up, it’s not because you’re lazy, weak, or disorganized. It’s because the system itself is flawed.
Companies pile on expectations, measure the wrong things, and guilt employees into working evenings and weekends. And then when you burn out, it’s framed as a personal failing.
But it’s not.
What Really Matters in Productivity
When I left organizational work in 2024, I thought I’d finally escape the mindset. But even as a business owner, I catch myself measuring my worth by time spent instead of value created.
The truth is, real productivity isn’t about hours at your desk or the length of your to-do list. It’s about the depth of work—the quality, care, and meaning you bring to what matters most.
For me, that looks like:
Truly connecting with my clients
Delivering thoughtful, high-quality service
Creating content that resonates with you
Even if I only see three clients in a day, that’s deep, demanding work. And it counts.
What You Can Do (Whether or Not You Have Control at Work)
Depending on your situation, you may have more control than you realize.
If You’re an Entrepreneur or Have Autonomy at Work
Be mindful of how you measure productivity.
Ask yourself: am I using shallow measures (time, tasks completed), or am I focusing on depth?
Simplify. Strip away the busywork and focus on what truly matters.
If You Feel Like You Have No Control
Sometimes we think we’re powerless when really we’re afraid to set boundaries. Ask yourself:
Is this truly out of my control, or is fear holding me back from pushing back?
What boundaries could I set without everything falling apart?
If You’re in a Highly Structured Job (like admin roles)
Start by honoring the boundaries you do have: your schedule, breaks, vacation.
If your day ends at 5, leave at 5.
Respecting your own boundaries teaches others to respect them too.
As one colleague once told me: If you don’t answer the email tonight, you’ll answer it tomorrow. And if it’s Friday, you’ll answer it Monday.
You Can’t Do It All (And That’s a Good Thing)
At the end of the day, the only way to “do it all” is to have less to do.
That means prioritizing, simplifying, and recognizing that your worth isn’t tied to how many hours you work or how many boxes you tick.
You are enough, no matter what your productivity looks like.
A Reflection for You
Where are you holding yourself to impossible standards?
Where might you let go of pseudo productivity and focus on what truly matters?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—share them in the comments, or take a quiet moment today to reflect on what real productivity means for you.
Watch the full video version of this blog here: You Can't Do It All—Stop Trying!