Stop Trying to “Fix” Your Productivity — Try This Instead
Here’s a wild idea:
You’re not broken. Your system is.
Most people approach productivity like a personal flaw to correct:
“If I just had more discipline…”
“If I could just get organized…”
“If I weren’t such a procrastinator…”
But what if the real issue isn’t you — it’s the shape of your work?
Because when your system asks you to do too much, too fast, with too little clarity…
Even the most motivated person will stall.
🧠 Overwhelm Is a Design Problem
If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by a project you actually want to do, it’s not about willpower.
It’s about architecture.
Your brain wants clarity.
It wants simplicity.
It wants quick wins that stack into momentum.
When you build a system that gives you that — even in 5-minute bursts — everything changes.
🔄 Rethink the Narrative: You Don’t Need a Hustle Makeover
You don’t need a new planner.
You don’t need a color-coded Notion dashboard (unless that brings you joy).
You don’t need to wake up at 5AM and drink productivity smoothies.
You need one thing:
A clear next step you actually have the energy to take.
Then another one.
Then another.
🧰 Try This Micro Reframe
Next time your to-do list looks like a panic attack in bullet points, ask this:
“If I only had 15 minutes of focus today… what would I do first?”
That question does two things:
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It bypasses the overwhelm.
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It forces your brain to identify what actually matters.
🤖 Bonus: Let AI Shrink the Stress
You can even outsource the reframe:
“Take this overwhelming list and turn it into three simple, energy-friendly actions I can take today.”
AI isn’t magic. But used right, it’s a shortcut to mental relief.
Because the goal isn’t to do more things — it’s to do the right things with less resistance.
🧠 The Real Mindshift
Overwhelm isn’t solved by heroic effort.
It’s solved by strategic shrinking — of tasks, of expectations, of pressure.
You don’t need a better version of yourself.
You need a better system that doesn’t fight the brain you’ve got.
Start smaller.
Start simpler.
Start now.
Bill McMenamin
I’m a longtime HR leader, seasoned communicator, and someone who’s sat through enough workplace meetings to know exactly when a calendar invite is a cry for help.
The Midweek Mindshift was born from a simple idea: professionals need a smarter kind of break. One that’s short, sharp, and actually helps reset your brain without demanding another productivity app download or a motivational quote on a coffee mug.
Each episode is designed to:
• Deliver a bite of insight (with a side of sarcasm)
• Share a real-world habit or mindset shift you can use today
• Introduce tools and tech — like AI — in ways that don’t require a computer science degree
• The podcast is for people balancing big goals, tight deadlines, and the occasional existential crisis in a Zoom window.
A Few Fast Facts:
• Based in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region
• Voice-first storyteller and early-stage voiceover artist
• Passionate about helping professionals find focus, purpose, and a little breathing room
• Fuel source of choice: Extra Strength 5-Hour Energy and stronger one-liners.
If this podcast helps you shift your mindset, sharpen your edge, or just laugh a little harder at the chaos of corporate life — I’m glad you’re here.
The Myth of the Morning Person — and What to Do Instead
