About Antiproductivity

We all have to work. Most of us aren’t that happy about that. I’m suspicious of those who are.

A lot of time is spent thinking about how we work. What tools we use. How can we do it more effectively. What’s missing in our routine.

I used to think that spending too much time thinking about it, even as an office supply geek lover, was actually a form of procrastination. Why actually get stuff done when you can polish your GTD System to a blinding gloss?

But, I have come to realize that obsessing about how-to-work is, in its own way, a interest, passion, or hobby. Talking about it is expanding it, sharing frustrations, and trying to find joy in how we work.

Instead of feeling guilty, let’s lean in: let’s geek out about work tools, office supplies, time management systems, and desk setups. Join me, and avoid work by talking about work!

Antiproductivity Manifesto

The overall goal of Antiproductivity is to try to find joy in how one accomplishes things. It’s to merge productivity system obsessives, stationary lovers, and other folks who want to think about the systems and tools they use to get through their day.

The key parts of this

  1. Embrace the Analog!
  2. Use your stash–the only way you disrespect or waste tools is to leave them on the shelf.
    • Can’t use it? Don’t want to use it? Share it!
  3. Your system should reduce friction in your day, not create it
  4. The tools and systems you choose should not just improve your work, but make you happy.
  5. Perfection is the enemy of good
  6. “Fit to purpose” is the ideal
  7. Delivery what you agreed to: no less, and especially no more.
  8. There is no correct number of tools, notebooks, or systems. What works for you matters.

Guiding Principles

In terms of the style of posts you’ll see at Antiproductivity, there are some guiding principles that will be used regardless of the topic at hand:

  1. Exude Positivity It may be fair to point out flaws in something. However, this should be a positive space overall. “Here are the flaws in this product/appraoch/process” is appropriate. “This product/approach/process sucks and everyone who uses it is an idiot” is not.
  2. Reviews Do Not Have to be on Pristine Examples It’s better to have something “lived in” rather than either wait to have a fresh one, or review something without experience. *This may mean some privacy blockers, blurring, etc., will be used.
  3. No Scamming It’s OK to highlight serivces and accomodations offered by businesses. But it’s not OK to abuse those accommodations.
  4. Relentless Transparency It should be posts are the writer’s own opinions and not sponsored by any particular company or organization. If something is sponsored, the sponsorship and an overview of the terms will be disclosed.
    • Links should not be assumed to be endorsements, just examples. That said, I won’t link to a company I would be reluctant to do business with without some commentary (either it will be obviuos from the tone of the post or reference, or some note along the lines of “I can’t endorse the company, but they have the only/best pic I could find”)