Productivity: Efficiency, Effectiveness, and the Right Balance

Productivity is a challenge that many of us face daily. It’s not just about completing as many tasks as possible but about the smart management of our time and energy. Jay Shetty teaches that there is a difference between efficiency and effectiveness — and that both are essential for a balanced, fulfilling life.

These days are characterized by a packed schedule, countless completed tasks, and a constant feeling of “action.” You feel busy, but focus and purpose often fall by the wayside. In these days, quantity of activities is what matters most.

Here, a single, highly important task takes center stage — the one that makes a significant difference and promotes progress. It’s about quality and strategic results — less about volume, more about impact.

1. Define Your Goals: Understand what really matters and what overarching goals you are pursuing.

2. Recognize Both Types of Days: Both efficient and effective days are necessary — for well-being and progress.

3. Use the Eisenhower Matrix: A tool to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, helping to delegate effectively.

4. Prioritize Effectively: Identify the most important task each day and work on it, rather than getting lost in the mass of tasks.

5. Delegate and Eliminate: Assign tasks that do not require your specific skills and consistently cut out unimportant activities.

6. Avoid Judgment: Don’t judge yourself or hold resentment if a day was more about efficiency or effectiveness.

7. Reflect and Recharge: Intentionally schedule time for reflection and rest during the day or weekend to sharpen focus and effectiveness.

Productivity is a delicate balancing act. Feeling like a slave to your work, constantly working without fun or rest, risks burnout. But being too lax causes lost overview and minimal progress.

Both efficiency and effectiveness are necessary — in the right measure. The goal is a long-term sustainable balance.

Many people tend to compare themselves to others and believe they are only “truly” productive if they are constantly busy. The reality is much simpler: everyone has their own rhythms and ways.

For example, I was a night owl for years, working best after midnight. Today, I am most productive in the mornings. There’s no “right” or “wrong” — only what works for you. The most important thing is to understand your own psychology, clarify your values, and draw motivation from them.

When you know what you’re working for every day, starting becomes easier. And if you align your work with your values, your motivation will stay intact.

Instead of constantly working at high speed, I advocate for an approach based on deep focus, high quality, and human-paced work. Less, but done with greater intention. This leads to meaningful work, satisfaction, and protection against burnout — even in times of digital overload and the so-called “hustle culture.”

Instead of tackling everything at once, your goal should be to deliver your best work during the few hours when you're truly productive. Quality is much more sustainable than quantity.

And it helps to consistently eliminate distractions. The so-called “attention economy” — consciously managing your attention — is becoming increasingly important. Intentionally enjoy long, analog, or profound content instead of constantly being distracted by short, emotionally charged social media clips.

Additional hours do not necessarily lead to more results. After a certain amount of work, productivity declines because overworking and exhaustion diminish quality. It’s more important to give your best during the few hours when you are genuinely efficient and creative. Use this time consciously and allow yourself sufficient breaks to stay motivated and capable over the long term.

A key factor for sustainable productivity is the ability to minimize distractions. The modern “attention economy” — managing our attention through social media, quick messages, and ever-available entertainment — is in direct contrast to deep, focused work.

Productivity doesn’t mean working nonstop. On the contrary, deliberate breaks and periods of light entertainment are essential for fueling creativity and refreshing the mind.

Regularly schedule “goofing-off” times, such as intentionally disconnecting from screens, playing games, going for walks, or simply doing nothing. This, in turn, boosts your productivity because you approach your tasks with more energy, clarity, and motivation. The key: when you plan these times consciously, you stay in control — and avoid the feeling of needing to constantly “push through” everything. It creates a healthy balance between work, rest, and personal time.

An interesting concept that helps understand productivity barriers is Manson’s Law of Avoidance: It states that the more a task threatens our self-perception, the more we tend to avoid it. In other words, things that question our self-image are often delayed or completely avoided.

For example: If writing an important project threatens our image as a creative, competent person, we might keep postponing it. Similarly, we might avoid difficult conversations because they challenge our perception as a kind, understanding individual.

This law applies both to negative and positive changes. Success can also threaten our self-image—for example, a career promotion might trigger doubts about our identity. Therefore, fears of change are often deeply rooted in our need for security in self-perception.

Understanding why we procrastinate on certain tasks is an important insight to actively address it. By becoming aware of our beliefs, we can develop neutral perspectives and gradually overcome the blocks that hinder us from achieving our goals.

Productivity doesn’t mean being constantly busy, but acting wisely and thoughtfully. It’s about focusing on quality rather than quantity, listening to our own rhythms, and making conscious choices. Tools like the Eisenhower Matrix, understanding our values, and awareness of inner blocks like Manson’s Law of Avoidance all support this approach. In the long run, this leads to more satisfaction, less stress, and better results — both professionally and personally. The most important goal is to find a balance that allows you to fulfill your tasks joyfully and effortlessly, leaving room for the things that truly matter to you.