The Productivity Paradox (And Why Doing More Gets You Nowhere)

Productivity culture isn't just making you busy – it's fundamentally broken, convincing you that your worth equals your output while destroying your ability to do anything meaningful.

In this episode, Hema and Mike expose how we've turned productivity into a cult where being busy is a moral virtue and rest is something you have to earn. You've been optimizing your morning routine, following productivity hacks, hustling through endless to-do lists, and glorifying exhaustion as a badge of honor. But here's the truth: the more you do, the less you actually accomplish. You're confusing motion with progress, and it's getting you nowhere.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why completing more tasks actually leads to less meaningful work • How "always on" culture destroys deep focus (it takes 23 minutes to refocus after each interruption) • The science behind why your brain can't handle 8+ hours of focused work • Why the greatest ideas come from doing nothing – showers, walks, boredom • How hustle culture benefits employers and capitalism, not you • The difference between being busy and being effective • Why the most productive people actually work fewer hours, not more

From checking emails 50 times a day to treating rest as a reward you haven't earned yet, we break down why productivity culture is a trap that measures activity instead of achievement, and why you'll never reach the bottom of your to-do list unless you stop adding to it.

Ready to disrupt the productivity default? Tune in now.

Perfect for: Anyone drowning in their to-do list, feeling guilty about rest, glorifying exhaustion, reaching for their phone 96 times a day, or wondering why endless busyness never feels like actual progress.