By Tyonne Boyd-Godfrey, Lifestyle Consultant
Listen, we need to have an honest conversation about productivity. As a consultant who’s spent the last decade helping high-achieving professionals get their lives together, I’ve noticed something: most of us are doing it all wrong. And I mean all wrong.
You’ve probably tried every productivity hack under the sun. The color-coded calendars, the time-blocking methods, and the fancy apps that promise to revolutionize your workflow. Maybe they worked for a week or two, but then life happened, and everything fell apart. I get it – I’ve been there too.
Here’s the truth that nobody’s talking about: productivity isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it’s definitely not about squeezing every minute out of your day until you’re running on fumes and cold brew coffee.
The Real Problem with Your Productivity System
Working with clients from Fortune 500 executives to fresh-out-of-divorce entrepreneurs, I’ve realized that most productivity systems fail for one simple reason: they don’t account for who you are as a person. Your energy cycles, your natural rhythms, your actual life circumstances – you know, the real stuff.
When Sarah, a tech executive and single mom, came to me stressed about falling behind at work, she had been trying to wake up at 5 AM because some productivity guru said it was the “secret to success.” But Sarah’s a night owl who does her best work after 8 PM when her kids are asleep. Fighting her natural rhythm was making her less productive, not more.
Building a System That Actually Works
Here’s what I tell my clients: Your productivity system should feel like your favorite pair of jeans – comfortable, reliable, and tailored specifically to you. Here’s how to create one:
1. Get Real About Your Energy
Track when you naturally feel most alert and focused. Don’t fight it – use it. Some of us are morning people, others come alive at midnight. Both are valid. Your peak hours are your money-making hours – protect them fiercely.
2. Define What Productivity Means to YOU
Being productive isn’t about checking off the most boxes – it’s about moving the needle on what matters. For some of my clients, that means closing big deals. For others, it’s having energy left to help their kids with homework. Get clear on your definition.
3. Build in Recovery Time
Y’all, burnout is real, and it’s expensive. I’ve seen too many brilliant people crash and burn because they treated themselves like machines. Your productivity system needs to include rest, just like your workout routine includes recovery days.
Making the Shift
Here’s the part that might be hard to hear: creating a sustainable productivity system takes time. It’s not about downloading another app or buying another planner. It’s about really understanding yourself and being honest about what works for you.
Start small. Pick one aspect of your current system that feels forced and adjust it to match your natural inclinations. For instance, if you hate traditional to-do lists, try voice notes or mind mapping. If morning meetings drain you, start blocking them for afternoons.
Remember, you’re not broken if the popular productivity methods don’t work for you. You’re just different, and different is where the magic happens.
The Bottom Line
As a lifestyle consultant, I’ve learned that the most productive people aren’t the ones following every trend – they’re the ones who’ve figured out their own rhythm and stuck to it. Your productivity system should empower you, not exhaust you.
So take a step back. Look at what’s really working (and what’s not) in your current approach. Be willing to experiment, adjust, and sometimes completely start over. Because at the end of the day, productivity isn’t about doing more – it’s about doing what matters, in a way that works for you.
And if anyone tries to tell you there’s only one way to be productive? Well, honey, they’re selling something you don’t need to buy.