5 Bad Habits That Are Killing Your Productivity
Surprisingly, much of what the Stoics preached centuries ago still applies to today’s productivity challenges. In fact, some of your biggest roadblocks might not be your workload, Wi-Fi speed, or even your manager—they might just be habits of the mind.
Here are 5 bad habits, inspired by Stoic thought, that might be quietly sabotaging your productivity:
1. You Don’t Wake Up Early
“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work—as a human being… What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for?’” — Marcus Aurelius
While waking up early is often touted as a modern productivity cliché, the Stoics believed it to be a deeper moral responsibility. For Marcus Aurelius, rising early wasn’t just about discipline—it was about honouring your purpose.
Why it kills productivity:
Late starts disrupt your rhythm, trigger guilt, and often shorten your most focused, undistracted hours. When your day begins in haste, it rarely ends in peace.
Stoic fix:
Remind yourself each morning: "This is what I was made for—to act, to live, to contribute." Reframe waking up as a duty, not a chore.
2. You Focus on What’s Outside Your Control
“The chief task in life is to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control.” — Epictetus
Sound familiar? Worrying about the algorithm, office politics, or the economy? Epictetus would remind you that anxiety is often misplaced effort.
Why it kills productivity:
Mental energy spent obsessing over outcomes, approval, or external validation is energy stolen from meaningful work. You feel busy, but stay stuck.
Stoic fix:
Every time stress hits, ask: “Is this within my control?” If not—drop it. If yes—act. That clarity alone can unlock immense focus.
3. You’re in the Wrong Crowd
“Associate with people who are likely to improve you. Welcome those whom you are capable of improving. The process is a mutual one: men learn as they teach.” — Seneca
Your social circle silently shapes your habits, priorities, and mindset. Seneca saw friendships not just as comfort zones but as growth zones.
Why it kills productivity:
Being around people who normalize procrastination, cynicism, or chaos can derail your focus and ambitions. We mirror what surrounds us.
Stoic fix:
Seek conversations that challenge you. Find peers who value progress over gossip. And when possible, be the person who uplifts others by example.
4. You Don’t Know How to Say “No”
“No person hands out their money to passers-by, but to how many do each of us hand out our lives!... We think too little of wasting time, the one thing about which we should all be the toughest misers.” — Seneca
We protect our wallets more fiercely than our calendars—but time, not money, is your true wealth.
Why it kills productivity:
Saying yes to every meeting, favour, or social obligation leaves you fragmented. Your to-do list grows, but your energy shrinks.
Stoic fix:
Guard your time like gold. Practice saying no—politely but firmly. Remember, every "yes" is a "no" to something else that might matter more.
5. You Think You’ll Live Forever
“This is our big mistake: to think we look forward toward death. Most of death is already gone. Whatever time has passed is owned by death.” — Seneca
A brutal truth from Stoicism: life is finite, and procrastination is a silent thief.
Why it kills productivity:
We delay our dreams, avoid hard tasks, and scroll endlessly—because we falsely believe there’s always more time. This illusion of permanence kills urgency.
Stoic fix:
Practice memento mori—remember death. Not to be morbid, but to stay motivated. Start what matters now. Because one day, there won’t be a “later.”
The Stoics didn’t have smartphones, Slack notifications, or Monday deadlines—but their advice resonates deeper than ever. Productivity, in the Stoic sense, isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what truly matters, with focus, discipline, and intention.
