How I ditched all "productivity" apps and became more productive.

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Written by Upasna Gautam: A Senior Product Management Leader at CNN, Chair of the Board of Directors at the News Product Alliance, angel investor, meditation practitioner, writer, new mother, and daughter of Indian immigrants.

I wear a lot of different hats: Remote worker, senior IC product manager, Chair of the Board of Directors, angel investor, consultant, speaker, writer, content creator, wife and mom. As I've added more hats to my collection, I also discovered that true productivity doesn't come from the latest app or hack - it is lifestyle. And that lifestyle starts from within. Cheesy, I know. But hear me out.

In a world where the buzz of productivity apps and the never-ending quest for efficiency can often lead to more stress than success, I've found a different path that has been working wonders for me. It's practical, it's simple, and it doesn't require me to be on my phone. I call my practice mindful productivity.

Here are the 4 steps I take to make it work for me:

1. Intentional Time Blocks Create Focus, Not Frenzy

On Mondays and Fridays, my calendar is very protected....sacred, if you will. I carve out four hours for deep, heads-down work. These blocks are my fortress against the siege of distractions and the pull of multitasking that used to fragment my focus. On Tuesdays through Thursdays, I condense these blocks to 1-2 hours, respecting the natural flow of my week and leaving room for meetings. This isn't just about doing work; it's about engaging in each interaction with intention. The key here is to communicate and protect. I put up an away message on Slack and I communicate to my team ahead of going "heads down." Remember: If you don't respect your time, other people won't either.

2. The Power of Planning: A Ritual for Closure

I anchor the end of my day with a simple yet powerful ritual: planning the next day. This isn't about drafting an exhaustive list - it's about identifying 3 top priority tasks that will be my focus for the next day. This act doesn't just signal the end of work - it's a transition, a mental stepping stone from one state of being to another. It's my switch from "work" to "home." I use a good old pen and paper to jot this down on my notebook (or sometimes on a sticky note) and leave it on my desk so it's the first thing I see the next morning.

3. Prioritization: The Heartbeat of Productivity

Each morning, I don't just dive into my work; I first ensure my top 3 priorities are scheduled into my calendar. This is my way of forcing prioritization and making sure that what needs to get done, gets done efficiently. It's a daily practice of acknowledging that while I can do anything, I can't do everything (at least not all at once). The real hack here is using your calendar as your to-do list. If it doesn't fit into your calendar, it's not getting done.

4. Weekly Planning: Clear Mind, Clear Path

Every Friday before I log off for the weekend, I plan the next week. It's a quiet moment of reflection and foresight, identifying my top 3 priorities and setting the stage for a week where I can hit the ground running. This allows me to go into the weekend with a clear mind, knowing that I'm prepared for what's ahead. This simple practice has totally eradicated the Sunday Scaries.

Mindful productivity isn't about squeezing every second out of your day - it's about being fully present and intentional with the time you have. It's about creating a harmony that doesn't just make you more productive but also more at peace

So, to everyone feeling overwhelmed by the chase for efficiency and the allure of productivity apps, I offer this alternative path: mindful productivity. It's not just a way to work - it's a way to live.

Remember: The goal isn't to get MORE done.

The goal is to get shit done so that you can effortlessly turn off your work appetite, pay attention to your surroundings, and be as emotionally present in off-work times as you are during work hours.

I'd love to hear more about your own productivity rituals, challenges and/or insights! What has worked well for you and what has not worked well? Let me know in the comments!

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