I thought I would share with you something that I’ve been thinking about recently, mostly because I keep catching myself doing it.
Have you ever noticed that there are certain activities that give off a really strong “I’m being productive” energy, without ever actually producing very much at all?
Some of them may even involve lists, plans or reorganising, which all really help to sell the illusion of productivity.
Take rewriting that to-do list, for instance,
Not updating it, not crossing things off, just rewriting it “Neatly”, onto a fresh piece of paper, maybe rearranging it so it feels more achievable, even though it contains the exact same tasks as before.
We’ve all done it, right? I bet you’re even having a little chuckle to yourself right now at the memory of doing exactly this, and feeling oddly pleased about it at the time.
Nothing had changed, except the handwriting, and somehow, that still felt like progress.
Then there’s the weekly meal plan,
Carefully thought out, balanced, realistic and affordable.
Then Monday arrives, and for reasons that feel completely justified at the time, you end up cooking something entirely different. That’s it, the plan goes out the window. Tuesday dinner relied on Monday’s leftovers, and well, Wednesday was already a stretch, so by Thursday, the meal plan only exists as a faint memory pinned to the fridge.
And yet, while you were planning and writing it, it felt very organised, very capable, almost like this was the week it would all finally come together.
Another favourite of mine, much to my family’s annoyance, is reorganising things, like the cupboard you opened yesterday knowing exactly what was inside, or the drawer that has never once failed you when you needed something.
But still, something compels you to reorganise it, maybe even label it or creating sections. And as you do, you tell yourself, “This will definitely make life easier!”
You’re smiling now, aren’t you? Because you know full well that your future self totally ignored this new system, and either put things back wherever they landed, or spent ages searching for the thing you once knew exactly where to find.
Then there’s good old Google… Something most of us do at some point,
Looking up local gyms, reading reviews, comparing prices, Checking timetables.
You now know exactly which gym you “would” go to.
You’re not actually going to go, BUT if you did, then perfect you’ve already decided which one.
Most of us have done these things, and the research, and the intent, somehow feels energetic enough to count as effort, right?
The same applies to reading those endless articles you don’t act on like
“How to be more organised.”
“Easy ways to save money.”
“Simple routines for busy people.”
You read them thoughtfully, you find yourself nodding along, you may even bookmark one or share it, And there’s a quiet sense of achievement as you close that tab, as though just absorbing that information alone, deserves some kind of acknowledgement.
There’s also the planning things in great detail that may never actually happen, like those morning routines designed for a version of yourself who wakes up early, moves effortlessly throughout the day, and never forgets why they actually walked into the room.
That version of yourself is impressive! Damn, you’ve really got it together. But realistically, for most of us, it’s fictional.
Jokes aside, none of this feels like wasting time when we’re actually doing it. It feels intentional, sensible, responsible and productive. But maybe these things aren’t really about productivity at all?
Maybe rewriting that list, planning those meals, researching the gym and reading those articles is a way to stand close to change without fully stepping into it. A way of feeling prepared. A way of feeling like we’re trying, even on the days when energy, confidence or motivation might be in short supply.
Sometimes however, these things really are productive. There are moments when rewriting that list brings clarity, when planning those meals genuinely eases the mental load, when researching or reorganising can create a sense of safety, direction, or readiness. In those moments, these quieter tasks aren’t a waste of time, they’re groundwork. They help us to gather ourselves, reduce overwhelm, and gently prepare for the action that will come later.
Not everything productive looks like ticking something off or moving forward in visible ways. Some progress happens beneath the surface, quietly aligning things so that when the time is right, we’re not starting from nothing.
So, if you’ve ever felt oddly accomplished after a day where nothing measurable seems to have actually happened, you might have achieved more than you think.
We’re all busy, just maybe not always in the ways we think!
I would really love to hear about the things you do that feel productive, but may never quite lead anywhere?
Meal plans? Lists? Endless research? Reorganising the same space for the fifth time?
With warmth, love and light Xx