Hey,
I need to tell you something that might sting a little:
If you're watching productivity videos, you're probably not being productive.
Take a look at your YouTube homepage right now. I bet it's flooded with thumbnails screaming at you:
"These 59 seconds will change your life!"
"GET SH*T DONE (even if you lack discipline)"
"This trick will save you YEARS"
"Lock in 2.0"
"5 secrets to work less and earn more"
Sound familiar? Here's the brutal truth: You're being played.
The Great Productivity Scam
These videos have exploded over the past 18 months, racking up millions of views by promising the impossible. But here's what they're actually selling you:
The same 5 recycled tips wrapped in flashy thumbnails:
Start with the hardest task first
Turn off your phone while working
Delete social media apps
Time-block your calendar
Use the Pomodoro technique
Wait... haven't you heard this before? Of course you have.
Because that's literally the same advice repackaged by dozens of creators, each claiming they've discovered some revolutionary "system."
The Real Problem
Here's what's actually happening: While you're consuming content about productivity, you're avoiding the one thing that would actually make you productive—doing the work.
It's like watching cooking shows instead of cooking dinner.
You feel like you're learning, but you're still hungry.
Why We're Addicted to Productivity P*orn
These videos hit our psychological sweet spots:
They make us feel like we're taking action (we're not)
They promise easy solutions to hard problems
They feed our planning addiction while avoiding execution
They give us the dopamine hit of "learning" without the effort of applying
The harsh reality: Planning feels productive, but it's not production.
Watching productivity tips feels like progress, but it's procrastination in disguise.
The Creators Aren't Evil
The problem isn’t the creators.
Some of them are brilliant. I love Alex Hormozi for his marketing insights.
Ali Abdaal was one of the first who inspired me.
But the system rewards repetition, not originality. Creators recycle the same tips because that’s what gets millions of views.
And we fall for it. Again and again.
Hoping the next video holds the “secret” we’ve been missing.
But the secret isn’t in the video.
The secret is in doing the work.
The Simple Truth About Getting Things Done
Want to know the real secret to productivity? There isn't one.
Getting things done is beautifully simple:
Decide what needs to be done
Start doing it
Finish it
Repeat
The magic happens when you experience the joy of crossing tasks off your list.
Once you feel that satisfaction—that dopamine hit from actual completion—you become addicted to finishing, not planning.
Break the Cycle
Here's your intervention plan:
Week 1: Install a YouTube extension that removes recommended videos. Use YouTube only for specific searches.
Week 2: Track your "productivity video" watching time. You'll be shocked at the hours you're burning.
Week 3: Replace one hour of video watching with one hour of actual work on your most important project.
Week 4: Notice how much better you feel when you're creating instead of consuming.
So,
You don’t need another video. You don’t need another hack.
You need to start.
And if you struggle to start, build a system that makes starting easy.
That’s what my Second Brain 6.0 is designed for — not to give you more tips, but to trick your brain into loving the act of doing.
Once you get into motion, everything changes.
👉 Second Brain 6.0 (only for you)
So here’s the challenge:
The next time you’re tempted to click on one of those “5 Secrets” videos, don’t.
Open your task list.
Do one thing.
Then another.
That’s how you move your life forward.
See you in the next one,
Osama aka Ols ;)
P.S. - Yes, I'm aware of the irony of writing about productivity instead of just being productive. The difference? This newsletter exists to help you stop consuming and start creating. Use it, then delete it from your brain and go build something amazing.
