The first time I really considered what it meant to be productive wasn’t during an inspired moment or after reading some brilliant insight—it was after a burnout. I was studying for one of the most important exams of my life, and I thought putting in more hours would directly translate to better results. But after dedicating countless hours, sacrificing nearly everything outside my studies, I found myself asking, If I’m putting in so much time, why don’t I see the success I expect?
That year, I poured myself into an exam prep routine inspired by someone who had passed the exam before me. Their advice was simple but relentless: “If you want to succeed, you need to breathe, eat, sleep, study, and repeat.” I took that message to heart, grinding away for a whole year. I studied every day while juggling a full-time job, convinced that if I put in the hours, success would follow. What I didn’t realize was that this mindset, despite its popularity, was fundamentally flawed.
As the weeks passed, I found myself sitting at my desk for hours, hoping the sheer time investment would pay off. By the sixth month, I was already on the edge of burnout. But I pushed forward, exhausted and far from motivated, hoping the outcome would justify the sacrifice.
Finally, exam day arrived. I felt “prepared” but oddly defeated. My anxiety showed up full force—I wasted time, transferring everything onto draft paper first, then rewriting neatly onto the main sheet. By the time I reached the last two math questions, I was out of time. I rushed through them, panicked, scribbling anything to fill the page. In the end, I fell short, missing the cut by just three spots. That stung. If only I had had more time, more energy, more anything.
But there was a silver lining. I would get another chance to take the exam the next year, so I told myself I’d try again, renewing my promise to sacrifice everything. Then, as if by pure chance, I stumbled across a YouTube video that changed everything. It was Professor Marty Lobdell’s Study Less, Study Smart video. Listening to him, I realized he was pinpointing everything I had done wrong that year. His insights, built on understanding efficiency over sheer effort, were eye-opening.
Professor Lobdell talked about the dangers of endless, unfocused study and explained how short bursts of deep, focused effort could be far more effective than the slogging sessions I’d been enduring. I started recognizing the concepts he mentioned—the importance of breaks, the power of focus—and as I dug further, I discovered actual names and frameworks for these methods: the Pomodoro Technique, time-blocking, strategic time management. These weren’t just abstract ideas; they were tools that could transform my approach.
I went into my second exam attempt armed with these insights, and what happened next was one of the proudest moments of my life. Not only did I pass the exam, but I earned a scholarship to study in the United States. And I wasn’t just successful in my studies—I was fit, happy, and healthier than I’d ever been. The change in my approach to productivity made all the difference, not just in my results but in my overall well-being.
Since then, I’ve continued this journey, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned over the years about productivity here on this blog. Check out the “My Journey” section for more on my personal story and this tab for all things productivity. Thank you for being here—I’m thrilled to have you along for the ride and hope that sharing my story might help and inspire you to find your own path to success, one that’s about efficiency, balance, and thriving—not just surviving.
Welcome to My Productivity Journey.