We all have bad habits—but some of them quietly sabotage our productivity. I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 10 years, and along the way I realized that certain routines were draining my focus, time, and energy.
Once I cut these habits out, everything changed. I was able to be more productive, less stressed, and more in control of my day.
Here are the 5 habits I had to kill to be more productive—and the lessons I learned from each.
1. I stopped checking my email first thing in the morning
For years, I thought opening my inbox the second I woke up gave me a head start. In reality, it just let other people’s priorities dictate my day.
When I started my mornings in my inbox, I spent the rest of the day reacting instead of creating. Worse, I felt stressed before I even finished my coffee.
Now, I spend the first 60–90 minutes on my most important work—writing, strategy, or deep creative work. Once I’ve made real progress, then I check my email. This single change boosted my productivity more than I expected.
2. I stopped allowing push notifications on my phone
Every ding, buzz, and alert pulled me out of focus. I’d be halfway through a project, then a notification would send me down a rabbit hole of distractions.
So I turned them off. Today, I only allow calls and texts. Everything else—social media, emails, app updates—can wait.
The result? I reclaimed hours of deep focus each week, which made me instantly be more productive.
3. I stopped saying “yes” to everything
This one was tough. I’ve always loved helping people, but saying yes to every request left me drained and overwhelmed. Every “yes” meant saying “no” to something else—usually my own priorities.
Now, I’m intentional about what I commit to. If something doesn’t align with my goals or energy, I politely decline. Protecting my time has been one of the most powerful ways I’ve learned to be more productive.
4. I stopped multi-tasking
I used to pride myself on being a multitasker. In reality, I was just doing a lot of things poorly. Constantly switching tasks made me slower and scattered.
These days, I batch similar tasks and dedicate time blocks to each. Meetings get one day, writing gets another, admin tasks get grouped together. Focusing on one thing at a time makes me faster, sharper, and much more effective.
5. I stopped working late into the night
For years, I stayed up until 2 or 3 a.m., convinced I was maximizing my time. In reality, I was sabotaging my mornings, wrecking my sleep, and procrastinating on tasks I didn’t want to face.
Now, I set a hard cutoff for work. I wind down with reading or light activities, then get a full night’s sleep. With rest on my side, I get more done in fewer hours—and I feel healthier too.
Final Thoughts
Breaking these habits wasn’t easy, but the payoff has been massive. I feel more focused, less overwhelmed, and far more effective. If you want to be more productive, start by identifying which of your habits are quietly holding you back.
Remember: productivity isn’t about cramming more into your day—it’s about removing what slows you down.
So tell me—what habits have you had to kill to be more productive? Drop yours in the comments!
Further Reading: Balancing Health and Wealth: Thrive Financially & Stress-Free
