How curiosity is the most overlooked productivity hack you can have this summer
If you're like most high-performers, you want to get your hands on as many productivity hacks as you can. Why? Because–more than–likely your days are stacked like a high school locker: overstuffed and messy, but necessary and very personal.
Your to-do list is very real and you’re the first person to feel the pressures of it. You have meetings, decisions, important calls, and that ridiculous floating red calendar task reminding you to prep for your board presentation.
It can be maddening; draining. And along the way, your spark - your lightness and your ability to bounce back – can easily get lost.
Maybe even your performance is slipping–and no one has the heart to tell you that. (Which, by the way, is one of the biggest reasons, you need a work bestie.)
You’re not alone in wanting (no, needing) more than one productivity hack to stay afloat
It’s not uncommon for me to hear from my clients that having the title, the pay and /or the benefits that come with being a manager, director, chief or president can some days feel more like a punishment than a privilege.
Some leaders say that about 75% of their day is taken up by meetings - planned and informal.
Executives attend an average of 17 meetings per week.
Two-thirds of leaders struggle with excessive workloads.
Nearly 60% of leaders report feeling exhausted at the end of each day.
Sound familiar? Then yes, friend, you need a fresh productivity hack or three.
Four Kinds of Productivity Hacks That Actually Work
One way to think of productivity hacks - that is, shortcuts and tools for getting more done despite the mayhem of your day - is to organize them into one of four categories:
Time management - Maximize what you can get done in limited time. An example is a productivity sprint.
Task management - Prioritize and “batch” tasks to reduce overwhelm and decision fatigue.
Focus & concentration - Eliminate distractions so you can stay in the zone.
Creativity as a productivity hack -Yep, you read that right.
While structure, scheduling, and color-coded calendars absolutely help (hello, dopamine hit from checking things off), they only take you so far.
When we shake up our routines—even in micro ways—we ignite curiosity, which fuels creativity, which fuels innovation, which fuels...yep, you guessed it: productivity. Creativity is the spark plug. And curiosity? That’s the jumper cable.
Creativity as a Productivity Hack: 3 Creative Micro-Boosters
The leaders I coach who intentionally shake up their routines—like walking a different route to the same Monday meeting or reading something wildly off-topic—report a clear shift in how they show up:
They're sharper. More agile.
Less likely to snap at their inbox.
More likely to have a breakthrough while making toast.
That’s not a coincidence. That’s what happens when we allow our brains to light up. We allow a neurochemical upgrade in action.
So reframe your thinking on creativity this summer:
Instead of grinding harder, wander smarter.
Instead of packing more into your day, poke holes in the routine.
Instead of telling yourself you don’t have time for creativity, ask yourself what it’s costing you not to make time.
Curiosity isn't fluff. It's fuel.
3 Summer Productivity Hacks You Haven’t Tried (Yet)
Try these this week:
The Two-Minute Wonder: Take 2 minutes today to Google something you don’t need to know for work. ("How do jellyfish sleep?" is a strong contender.)
Reverse the Routine: Switch up one habitual thing—your lunch spot, your podcast playlist, your opening line in meetings. Watch what happens.
Ask One Weird Question: In your next meeting, ask: “What’s the sentence we all want to be able to say at the end of this week?” Let the brainstorm begin.
If you want a new productivity edge this summer, don’t just look at your calendar. Look at what’s lighting you up. Curiosity won’t just help you feel more alive—it’ll help you get more done.
And that, my friend, is one productivity hack your boss–or board–likely won’t teach you.
