Hello Reader,

Lately I’ve been noticing how easy it is to look like you’re working without actually working. The little signals we send — green dots, busy calendars, quick replies, bodies in rooms — can all stand in for real engagement. It’s productivity as performance, a kind of low-grade theatre we’ve all learned to act in.

But when the performance starts replacing the purpose, something slips. The day fills up while the work stays empty. The hours become louder, but not clearer.

That’s why I keep returning to productiveness — not as output, but as a state. A steadier pulse, not a series of peaks and valleys. The kind of work that isn’t about appearing present, but being present. The kind that doesn’t need to be announced or displayed.

It’s quieter. Less impressive from the outside. Far more honest on the inside.

And maybe that’s the work worth protecting right now: the work that doesn’t need an audience, only attention.

Look

There’s a scene in Office Space where Peter sits across from the two Bobs and casually dismantles the entire logic of performative work. It’s funny, yes — but it also exposes something real: how easy it is to mistake the appearance of effort for actual contribution, and how often systems reward the wrong thing. It’s a mirror we still need. Watch the clip here.​

Listen

Tim Ferriss once shared an audio essay called Lazy: A Manifesto, written by Tim Kreider. It’s sharp, subversive, and unexpectedly grounding — a nudge away from the constant push to optimize and toward a more honest relationship with our energy, our limits, and our lives. It’s not about doing less. It’s about seeing more clearly why we do anything at all. If you’ve been feeling the pull toward stillness or the pressure to perform, this one lands. Listen to it here.​

Learn

If you want to dig deeper into the idea behind this week’s reflection, I wrote a new piece about the research on “lounger ants” and what they reveal about busyness, margin, and the difference between looking active and truly contributing. Read it here.​

The Final Flicker

There’s a difference between looking busy and being devoted.
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One asks for your performance.
The other asks for your presence.

And if the world pulls you toward the first, don’t forget you still get to choose the second — quietly, consistently, and on your own terms.

See you later,
Mike

P.S. If you want to start the new year with a little more intention and a little less noise, The 12 Days of TimeCrafting is now available to order for just $12. It’s a simple way to spend the last stretch of December and the first days of January reconnecting with your time — not through pressure, but through small, thoughtful shifts. You can take a look here.​

Thanks for reading. Your time is valuable, and I don’t take it for granted. In a world pulling us in all directions, thanks for choosing The Lantern.

Productivityist Productivity Services Inc. | 1411 Haultain Street, Victoria, BC V8R 2J6
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