"Concentrez-vous sur la productivité plutôt que sur l'occupation"

When it comes to getting things done, it’s easy to fall into the trap of just filling your day with tasks. But there’s a big difference between being productive and just being busy. Being productive means you’re actually moving towards your goals and making meaningful progress. Busywork, on the other hand, is just activity without much impact.

This idea really hit home back in the early 2000s when the whole world seemed to be caught up in the hustle culture. Everyone was talking about how many hours they worked or how packed their schedules were. But some smart folks started to notice that a lot of this hustle wasn’t really getting them anywhere. It’s like they were running on a treadmill—lots of effort but no forward movement.

Let me give you a concrete example. Think of a student preparing for an exam. There are two approaches here. One student spends hours highlighting textbooks, rewriting notes, and organizing their study space. Another student spends less time but focuses on understanding key concepts, doing practice problems, and actively engaging with the material. The first student is busy, the second one is productive. Guess who’s more likely to ace the exam? Yep, it’s the productive one.

So how can you apply this wisdom? Start by identifying your key goals. What’s most important for you to achieve? Once you’ve got that figured out, break it down into actionable steps. And here’s a trick—use the Eisenhower Matrix. It’s a tool that helps you sort tasks by urgency and importance, so you can focus on what really matters and not get bogged down by trivial stuff.

Now let’s imagine something we can all relate to. Picture you’ve got a big project at work. There are endless emails, meetings, and a ton of small tasks. It’s like a whirlwind. How do you stay productive? First, pinpoint the main objective of the project. What’s the end goal? Then, list out the steps that directly contribute to that goal. Maybe it’s drafting the main proposal or setting up key meetings with stakeholders. The little tasks can wait or be delegated. The point is, don’t let the whirlwind distract you from the core tasks that will actually push your project forward.

Think about it like cleaning your house. You can spend hours rearranging books on the shelf or you can tackle the messy kitchen that actually needs to be cleaned. One looks nice but doesn’t really change much. The other makes a real difference in your living space.

In our everyday lives, it’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness trap. Social media, endless to-do lists, constant notifications—they all vie for our attention. But if you focus on being productive, you’ll find you’re less stressed and more accomplished. It’s about working smarter, not harder. So next time you’re swamped, take a step back and ask yourself, "Is this just busywork, or is it truly productive?" Trust me, it’s a game-changer.