3 Productivity Zapping Habits 9/10 People Ignore Daily
Factors that often go unnoticed in the grand scheme of things
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The number one question I ask myself these days is:
“Why should I care about wasting time?”
I used to answer like most people:
To use that time to read books
Learn a skill
Socialize to connect and build meaningful relationships
Explore the world
Meditate
Nothing is wrong with all these answers, but journaling for over 5 years made me realize that, “Time is energy.”
The more you waste it, the weaker you feel.
Why?
That’s when the anxiety, uneasiness, guilt, and all those nasty thoughts creep in. And when that happens, it’s hard to pinpoint its root cause. i.e., “wasting time.”
I am lagging behind my life goals.
This effect has made me realize that when you waste time, you’re not just wasting minutes and hours.
You’re wasting energy in the form of:
Your ability to think clearly
Focus
Motivation
Productivity
Passion
Each of these ingredients gives meaning to life.
And when they go out of balance, what little time you have often becomes a burden rather than something to enjoy.
So, from experience, I say that time spent on screens isn’t the only factor zapping your productivity.
It’s the subtle daily time-draining habits that go unnoticed.
#1. The Empty Social Event
I found myself at an office event I didn’t want to attend.
It was supposed to be a fun gathering — one of those parties where everyone relaxes and enjoys themselves.
But oh, was I wrong!
I walked in. All excited.
But as soon as I stepped inside, my smile faded.
The music was just a bunch of beeps and boops and the conversations?
So dull!
I tried to blend in. “Nice party, huh?” I said to a colleague, trying to sound cheerful.
He just shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess. I’m just here for the free food.”
I wandered around, hoping it would get better. “Hey, are you enjoying the party?” another colleague asked me.
I forced a smile. “Oh yeah, totally,” I lied.
Inside, I was screaming to leave.
I even tried talking to my boss. “Interesting choice of music, isn’t it?”He just nodded, looking as bored as I felt. “It’s… different,” he said.
I felt trapped.
I wanted to leave, but that would be rude. So I stayed, smiling on the outside but feeling like a robot.
Finally, when I got home, I was so mentally drained.
I kept thinking, “Why did I even go?” It zapped all my energy, not just at the party, but even after.
I spend days cursing myself for not saying NO.
And that affected my work, mood, and even conversations with people.
Now, I straight away say NO to gatherings, as I don’t eat outside food.
If it’s a business event, I go with a plan.
Ask questions, tell stories, and get to know what’s going on. Not spending more than 45 minutes.
“You will have to say no to things to say yes to your work. It will be worth it.”
― Lin-Manuel Miranda
It’s just one thought/action that can help you preserve your mental drainage.
#2. The Wasted Time Auctioneer — Comparison Shopping
I got lost in the Amazon jungle.
No, not the rainforest. Amazon dot com — the shopping site.
My mission?
To find the perfect headphones.
It started out fun, like a treasure hunt. I clicked on one, then another, and another.
Before I knew it, I was deep in the woods of Comparison Shopping.
I became a detective, inspecting every detail.
This one had noise cancellation, but that one had an IP7 waterproof rating. This one was cheaper, but that one had better reviews.
I was spinning in a whirlwind of options.
An hour passed. Then two.
My eyes flickered between screens, comparing prices, features, reviews — the list went on.
My friend called. “Hey, are we still up for the movie tonight?”
I glanced at the clock. Where did the time go? “Sorry, I lost track of time. Can we reschedule?”
“Postponing plans had become a habit. All because of your weekend shopping shenanigans. All I give you now is 30 minutes. Get your sh*t together and be here. I am not canceling the plan,” he said in a stern voice.
I set a 30-minute timer, made a decision, and clicked ‘Buy’.
The world didn’t end. I didn’t regret my choice.
Instead, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.
My learnings?
Always set a timer for shopping online.
Don’t let your emotions take over.
Ensure you stay focused on what you need.
The reason is you’re not just spending money.
You’re spending time + mental energy.
#3. I Have To Be Right
I got into a silly argument with my friend Raj.
It was about something as simple as cats and dogs.
“I think dogs are way better than cats,” Raj said confidently, tossing a tennis ball up and down.
“No way! Cats are way cooler,” I insisted, crossing my arms.
We went back and forth like this for what seemed like hours. “Dogs are friendlier!” “But cats are smarter!”
The argument grew so heated that I forgot about my Aerodynamics project due the next day.
While rushing to finish my project that night, I realized something.
All that time arguing about cats and dogs was wasted.
I could have finished my project and even watched Friends.
I learned something important that day.
Sometimes, being right isn’t as important as moving forward.
From then on, I tried not to get too caught up in having the last word, especially over small things like whether cats or dogs are better or whether pineapples should go on a pizza.
It reminds me of a quote from Mark Manson:
“People who base their self-worth on being right about everything prevent themselves form learning from their mistakes.
They lack the ability to take on new perspectives and empathize with others.
They close themselves off to new and important information.
It’s far more helpful to assume that you’re ignorant and don’t know a whole lot.
This keeps you unattached to superstitious or poorly informed beliefs and promotes a constant state of learning and growth.”
The Titanic was built by professionals, the Ark by an amateur.
Like the Titanic, our ego might be grand and seemingly unsinkable, but it’s vulnerable to the icebergs of reality.
Being fixated on being right is like steering straight towards those icebergs, blinded by our own brilliance.
The next day, tired but wiser, I told Raj, “Dogs and cats are both cool in their own ways.”
He grinned and agreed.
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