Want to Be More Productive? Try This Time Management Formula

I have a bone to pick with productivity, time management, and all the other buzzwords out there.

There’s a belief I see everywhere - & maybe you’ve felt too - that the harder we work, the more we produce, the more items we cross off our to-do list…the more worthy we are.

It’s this sneaky formula we’ve absorbed (thanks capitalism):

The more I do = the worthier I am.

But here’s the truth: productivity and worth have nothing to do with each other.

Did you know this connection between productivity and self-worth really only took hold during the Industrial Revolution? Oliver Burkeman writes about this in his book 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. (Highly recommend, btw). Before that, humans weren’t attaching their value as people to how many widgets they could churn out in a day.

And another fun fact: the chances of you being here are 1 in 4 trillion. 

So you’re already valuable. Just by being you. Just in your existence. 

So let’s rewrite the equation:

You’re already valuable. Nothing you produce can make you more worthy than you already are.

Cool, so then what? Stick with me ;)

A New Way to Think About Time Management

If we stop tying our worth to how much we get done, what actually helps us manage our time and energy?

Here’s the formula I’ve found works in real life:

1. Identify your true priorities.
   That means what actually matters most to you - not your boss, your family, or the black hole of the internet.
   

2. Set boundaries to protect those priorities.
   Boundaries are how you hold space for what matters, instead of letting everything else swallow your time.
   

3. Give yourself grace for letting the rest go.
   This is the hardest part, AND it’s also where freedom lives. At least in my experience.
   

That’s it. Three steps.

It sounds simple, and learning to practice it takes time. (It did for me, too. And if I’m being honest, it’s in progress for me, not perfected.) And on the other side? You’ll realize just how good it can get.

For My Fellow People-Pleasers

We can’t be everything to everyone. We literally can’t do it all.

So we have to choose what matters, communicate it clearly, and then layer on self-compassion knowing we’re doing our best.

There might even be a fourth step: stop caring so much about what other people think.

I know that sounds scary, especially for people pleasers. But here’s the truth: the person most hurt by your lack of prioritization and self-compassion isn’t everyone else… It’s you. Cue #TSwift here. 

You’re the one living with that frustration and depletion every day.

And the good news is: You don’t have to any longer. 

So go ahead—disappoint as many people as you need to. Protecting your energy and priorities feels better than people pleasing. Don’t knock it ‘till you try it.

Your Turn

What do you think? Have you ever considered that you’re not the problem in this time management puzzle?

Maybe the real problem is the outdated belief that worth = productivity.

I’d love to hear your thoughts - share in the comments or send me a note.

And if you’re tired of carrying the weight of “never enough” or “always behind” just know that you aren’t alone. This is exactly what I get to support my clients in working through.

Together, we untangle productivity from self-worth and create space for what truly matters. Book a free call with me here. 

Hey, I’m Caitlin! I’m a certified health coach and life coach and I’m here to bring sustainable change into your day so that you have the time and energy you need for the things that matter most. 

Want more support? Check out my other posts, learn more about coaching here or book a call with me here. You can always sign up for my newsletter, below, to receive these posts straight to your inbox, too!

You get feel like this, no matter where you are ;)