March 06, 2025

Productivity Blind Spot: What You're Not Seeing in Your Day

11 minutes

Ever reach the end of your day wondering where all your time went? In this eye-opening episode, Scott Smith introduces a powerful concept that explains why even the most organized people struggle to complete their daily tasks.

Scott shares his practical wisdom about "non-ops" (non-optionals) – those unavoidable life activities that consume significant portions of our day without us even realizing it. From morning routines to commute times to basic human needs, these hidden time-consumers operate whether we acknowledge them or not.

Discover how recognizing these non-optional activities can transform your productivity approach and free you from unnecessary frustration. Scott delivers this enlightening perspective with his trademark blend of straight talk and compassionate insight that might just revolutionize how you plan your day.

Featured Story:

Scott shares a revealing conversation with his 20-year-old son who, despite being exceptionally organized and productivity-focused, couldn't understand why he never had time for himself. Scott introduced him to the concept of "non-ops" (non-optionals) – the unavoidable activities and time commitments that exist in everyone's day but rarely get factored into our planning, helping his son finally understand why even perfect planning wasn't enough.

Key Takeaways:

"Non-ops" (non-optionals) are the unavoidable activities that consume significant portions of your day

Basic human needs (eating, sleeping, hygiene) are non-optional and require consistent time

Time itself is non-optional – commuting, waiting at stoplights, and routine tasks take predictable amounts of time

Most people never inventory these non-optional activities when planning their day

Emotional, spiritual, and physical needs are all non-optional for long-term wellbeing

The "system" of life operates according to certain rules whether we acknowledge them or not

Working 10-12 hours naturally limits what else is possible in your day – being "reasonable" with yourself is important

Awareness of these non-optionals is the first step to realistic planning and reduced frustration

Freedom comes not from eliminating non-ops but from building your life around them realistically

Many productivity struggles stem from failing to account for these unavoidable time commitments

Memorable Quotes:

"Real freedom in life is when you get to the point that you just don't worry about thinking about it. You just build everything around it, understanding that a good part of your day is just going to be taken up."

"Any reasonable person would expect you never to get everything done. You're going to get tired. Your body's going to wear out. So why don't you start being reasonable to yourself?"

"In life, there are certain things that are not optional. I don't care how smart you think you are, certain things are just going to be a certain way."

Scott's Three-Step Approach:

Conduct a Non-Ops Audit - Take inventory of all the non-optional activities in your day – from basic hygiene routines to commute times to essential interactions. Track how much time these truly require without trying to optimize them.

Accept the Reality of Time - Recognize that certain things simply take time and cannot be rushed or eliminated. Embrace the fact that a significant portion of your day is already committed to these non-optional activities.

Plan Around Your Non-Ops - Instead of fighting against these unavoidable time commitments, build your productivity system around them. Be reasonable with your expectations and stop feeling guilty about the natural limitations of being human.

Connect With Scott:

Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Email: [email protected]

Visit: https://www.faceyourpassion.com/

Learn More: https://www.9minuteclaritycode.com/

Visit: https://www.perfectweekplanner.com/

Learn More: https://www.dailyawarenessdiary.com/

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By Scott Smith - Motivation and Coaching

3.9

12761,276 ratings