Feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck in your business, even though you’re doing all the things? In today’s episode, I’m sharing the 3 productivity traps that myself and other business owners commonly fall into. If you’re feeling more busy than productive and unsure how to get out of it, this episode is for you.
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Search for episode 157 of Called to Both on your favorite podcast player!
The Productivity Trap No One Talks About: Busyness ≠ Progress
Let’s call this out: Just because you’re doing a lot doesn’t mean you’re doing what actually matters. Many creatives confuse activity with progress.
What This Looks Like:
- Endless to-do lists that never shrink
- Constant task-switching without completing anything
- Feeling exhausted but no closer to your goals
- “Squirrel brain” moments where the business runs you, not the other way around
Sound familiar? You’re not lazy: you’re simply operating without clarity and it’s costing you.
How to Fix It:
First, you’ll focus on “high-impact tasks” that move the needle. Here’s where the magic of the 80/20 principle comes in. Look at your current task list and your business metrics. Where are clients actually coming from? What tasks actually produce revenue or growth? Focus on what’s working. Cut the rest.
Practical tip: Schedule one “deep work” block daily and protect it from distractions. One of my clients tried this and walked away with six weeks of planned content, renewed clarity, and zero stress. All it took was two focused hours.
The Perfection Paralysis Trap
If you’re sitting on half-finished content, offers, emails, or blog posts because you’re waiting for them to be “perfect,” most entrepreneurs know the feeling.
What This Looks Like:
- Fear of launching or putting ideas out there
- Over-editing or tweaking endlessly
- Sitting on content for weeks without publishing
- Constantly reworking tools, platforms, or systems instead of using them
How to Fix It:
Perfection is an illusion and a delay strategy. Honestly, it’s costing you time, money, and momentum. At the end of the year, the only things that matter are the things you actually published, launched, created, or sold.
My advice to overcome the perfection paralysis trap is to set mini-deadlines, set a timer cube, limit how long a task can take, and commit to pressing publish. The more you act, the more confident you’ll feel. Readiness is a result of momentum, not a prerequisite.
The Over-Researcher/Scroller Trap
I love learning. Podcasts, books, courses—you name it. But too much consumption becomes a problem when it starts to feel productive while keeping you from actually doing.
What This Looks Like:
- Constantly “preparing” but never launching
- Watching reels for inspiration that turns into comparison
- Feeling more overwhelmed after researching
- Jumping between tools, systems, and strategies without ever implementing
How to Fix It:
Boundaries are so key in overcoming this productivity trap. Consider setting research limits, choosing one focus (course, mentor, or approach), and stop collecting more info until you’ve implemented what you already know.
You can also give yourself decision deadlines. Tell yourself, “By Friday, I will choose a platform and start building. Period.”
Additionally, consume a little less by curate your content, following fewer people, and turning off the algorithm for a bit.
Your business doesn’t need more knowledge, it needs more action.
The Truth About Productivity
Productivity isn’t about speed or hustle. It’s not about checking off more boxes or posting seven days a week. It’s about doing fewer things, but better. It’s about choosing what matters and letting go of what doesn’t. It’s about becoming the kind of business owner who acts, not just dreams, scrolls, or plans.
If you can identify even one of these traps in your current season, I challenge you to pick one fix this week. Write it down and keep it somewhere you’ll see. Then ask a friend to check in with you for accountability.
Find It Quickly
3:24 – The busyness equals productivity trap
10:02 – The perfection paralysis trap
14:58 – The over-researcher and scroller trap
20:31 – The 3 productivity traps and fixes summary
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