The Best Articles in Productivity
The most useful articles and videos in Productivity from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Productivity Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved in Productivity by Refind users in 2023 so far.
Videos
Watch a video to get a quick overview.
How to Get Ahead of 99% of People (Starting Today)
This is what nobody tells you about success.In this video, you’ll learn one trick that could make you more successful than 99% of people. It's not what you t...
The Planning Fallacy ⏳
🎙 If you liked this, you might like my weekly newsletter where I share actionable productivity tips, practical life advice, and high-quality insights from a...
How to enter flow state
Explore the defining features of being in a flow state, and get tips on how you can find flow in your daily life.--Flow is more than just concentrating or pa...
Dan Shipper: The unexpected key to boosting your productivity
Ever wished you could stop procrastinating and just be as efficient as a machine? Since you're a human, that's not going to happen -- but that's OK, says entrepreneur Dan Shipper. Here's how you can…
What is ...?
New to Productivity? These articles make an excellent introduction.
How to Learn Anything: A Beginner's Guide to Ultralearning
Learn how to learn anything using the Ultralearning method, and set yourself up for success with our Ultralearning Template for Notion.
«Feedback is simply the process of comparing your results with the desired results. It sounds easy in theory — but can actually be quite hard.»
What is underneath productivity?
I’ve been obsessing about productivity for a long time. I used to spend a lot of time thinking about tools for thought and second brains. But these days, I spend most of my time thinking about…
«When you go deeper into the stack you realize this: in order to be productive, you need to have an end toward which you are working. You also need to have a means or a strategy to get there.»
What Is Decision Fatigue And How To Combat It
Are you struggling to make good decisions? Adopt these strategies to overcome decision fatigue and start making the right choices.
«block scheduling is the practice of allocating large chunks of time to related tasks. For example, you might designate Mondays for meetings and Tuesdays for strategy.»
What Is Procrastination? How To Identify & Stop This Destructive Habit
Welcome to this procrastination guide. You'll learn what procrastination is. In this guide, I also share tested and proven ways to beat it.
How to ...?
How to conquer digital distractions
Digital distractions are all around us. Here's how to combat them so you can stay focused and productive at work.
«Users were gambling every time they shared a photo, web link, or status update,»
How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done
How do we get motivated? The latest research has secrets that can help us get going and get things done even when we don't feel like it...
How to Break the Perfectionism-Procrastination Loop
Are you dealing with problems related to procrastination and perfectionism? Learn about the perfectionism-procrastination loop and how to break it.
«I think you could substitute the word “unrealistic” for the word “vague,” and you’d have a more accurate assessment of the problem.»
How to Have a Powerfully Effective Day
By Leo Babauta A lot of people I talk to are unhappy with their ability to get stuff done in their lives. They feel they’re wasting a lot of time, never really getting anything important done. What I…
«Wonder — how can I see wonder in everythingCuriosity — how can I learn something from every moment?Love — how can I bring love into everything I do?Aliveness — how can I feel lit up about my life?»
How to switch from Notion to Obsidian
Are you thinking of switching from Notion to Obsidian? As a rule of thumb when choosing a note-taking app, Notion tends to better suit architects, while Obsidian suits gardeners better. If you feel…
Trending
These links are currently making the rounds in Productivity on Refind.
5 Top Strategies for Helping Time Blindness
Time blindness is a common trait of ADHD, but what exactly is it and how can you work with it? Here, we’re exploring the ins and outs of time blindness.
The wrong way to define productivity
Why trust is the most important overlooked driver.
«In a 2023 study, ic4p found that two-way trust in an organization was the biggest differentiator between high-performing organizations»
How I Get Things Done
By Leo Babauta People have often told me that they’re surprised by how much I get done during the week, from team members to clients. I’m not saying that to brag, but to relate that I forget how much…
9 subtle reasons you stop yourself from taking necessary daily action
ACTION is everything. (Especially consistent action) We can plan till the cows come home, but nothing happens until we ACT.
Personal Discipline: What Is It and How To Create One
Explore the concept of personal discipline and its significance in shaping a healthy daily routine. Learn from my personal setbacks and experience.
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles in Productivity—all under 10 minutes.
Intelligent vs. Smart
Here’s an important distinction to make in life. Some people are intelligent but don’t have a lick of smarts. Their ability to succeed in the world might surprise you on the downside. Others lack…
«writes, “If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings, nor lose the common touch,” you’re on your way to greatness»
Motivation vs. Discipline: Which Helps You Go Further?
Delve into the complex interplay of motivation vs. discipline in the pursuit of your goals. Learn how to harness both forces to create lasting change.
Interoception: The hidden ‘sixth sense’
Interoception is how we understand our body’s inner sensations. It’s our brain’s ability to sense what’s happening inside the body and adjust accordingly. And recent research suggests that this sixth…
«our brains didn’t evolve to merely react to the world around us, but rather to try to predict what will happen to us next based on both external and internal signals.»
231. The Mistaken Milestones in Life
Life is filled with milestones. Don't mistake them for the finish line.
«We lack self-love, so we constantly strive for perfection, hoping it will make us feel worthy.»
New Neuroscience Reveals How To Overcome Boredom, Frustration, And Impatience
How do we overcome boredom, frustration and impatience? Actually, we shouldn't. We just need to listen to what they're saying...
«Boredom makes us check we’re on the right path. Frustration drives us to accomplish and win. Impatience reminds us the future will be better»
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles in Productivity.
One Question to Ask Yourself to Know Your Future
The German writer and philosopher Goethe believed he could predict someone’s future based on one simple fact. “If I know how you spend your time,” he wrote, “then I know what might become of you.”…
«But here’s the thing: Your life in the future isn’t going to look the way you want it to unless you take control of your time and attention.»
Reconstructing Our Attention in the Era of Infinite Digital Rabbit Holes
I’m going to tell you a few things you already know. Every time you open your phone or your computer, your brain is walking onto a battleground. The aggressors are the architects of your digital wo…
You Don’t Have to Follow the Same Routines Forever
Numerous articles detail the routines of the most successful people in the world: Apple CEO Tim Cook wakes up at 3:45 a.m. and exercises. Actor and producer Reese Witherspoon eats the same healthy…
Why note-taking apps don’t make us smarter
Their big promise has fizzled out.
«I have so much information at hand that I feel paralyzed.»
Why Micro Habits Are Better Than Typical Habits
Unlike typical habits - the ones you start and abandon after a while. Micro habits have the potential to change your life for good. See how...
«In the age of consumerism. The default action of a person is to – wait for it – consume stuff. Not only new clothes. New tech stuff. But also content related to getting something new»
Thought Leaders
We monitor hundreds of thought leaders, influencers, and newsletters in Productivity, including:
Mark Manson
3x #1 NYTimes bestselling author of "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" and others. Giving life advice that doesn't suck since 2008.
Derek Sivers
See http://sive.rs for all about me. Newest book “HOW TO LIVE: 27 conflicting answers and one weird conclusion” at http://sive.rs/h
Tim Ferriss
Author of 5 #1 NYT/WSJ bestsellers, early-stage investor (http://angel.co/tim), Tim Ferriss Show podcast (900M+ downloads), founder of http://saiseifoundation.org
Leo Babauta
Creator of Zen Habits. Training in uncertainty. Zen student, vegan, dad, husband.
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