I’ve long been fascinated by what sets highly productive people apart from the rest of us. After all, we all have the same number of hours in a day. Yet, some people seem to breeze through life achieving so much, while others struggle to make a dent in their to-do lists.
What I’ve discovered over the years—both in my career and as a single mom—is that it all comes down to energy management. When your mental energy is scattered across too many unproductive worries, it becomes impossible to focus on what truly matters.
And as a writer who juggles life in London, raising a son, and meeting deadlines, I know a thing or two about needing to protect what’s left of my headspace at the end of a busy day.
So, if you’ve ever caught yourself wondering where all your mental stamina goes before you even start that important project, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re diving into seven things productive people simply refuse to waste mental energy on—and what they choose to prioritize instead.
Let’s get started.
1. Perfectionism
I once spent hours tweaking the font size on a presentation when I worked in digital communications—only to realize later that nobody noticed. And guess what? It didn’t make the final outcome any better. That’s when I started to recognize that perfectionism is a mental drain with minimal payoff.
Don’t get me wrong; I believe in doing things well. But there’s a big gap between striving for excellence and obsessing over every detail until you’re too exhausted to move on.
Productive people avoid perfectionism because they know there’s a point of diminishing returns. When you fixate on making something “perfect,” you often stall on new ideas or tasks.
Instead, they focus on getting the job done to a high standard while leaving room for imperfection. Sheryl Sandberg once famously said, “Done is better than perfect.” It’s a mantra that pushes me to complete tasks efficiently, rather than spending hours polishing something that’s already good enough.
2. Worrying About Other People’s Opinions
Ever found yourself mentally rewriting an email or social media post, thinking, “What will my boss, colleagues, or friends think?” We’ve all been there. However, productive individuals know that agonizing over how others perceive you is a one-way ticket to procrastination station.
Sure, seeking feedback is helpful. But if you spend too much time seeking external validation or worrying about potential criticism, you end up paralyzed by indecision. You also give power to people who may not even be paying attention in the first place.
Instead, productive people maintain a healthy sense of self-assurance. They recognize the difference between constructive criticism and unhelpful chatter. When they need input, they ask for it from people they trust—then they move forward confidently.
Not everyone will applaud your moves, and that’s okay. Real growth happens when you commit to doing what’s meaningful, not just what’s popular.
3. Overthinking mistakes
“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” as Stephen Covey noted. It sounds almost too simple, but it’s a phrase that reminds me to shift my energy toward what truly matters instead of mulling over slip-ups from the past.
Being a single mom, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes—whether it’s forgetting a school detail for my son or missing a personal writing deadline. Early on, I would replay my errors in my mind for days. But after a while, I noticed that the only thing this mental movie achieved was to drain my motivation.
Productive people understand that mistakes are part of the journey, not the end of it. They extract the lesson—maybe it’s better scheduling, clearer communication, or setting more realistic goals—then they pivot and keep going.
Instead of wallowing in regret, they channel that energy into solutions, so they don’t stumble the same way next time.
4. Constantly rehashing old regrets
I get it—life is messy, and sometimes we look back and wish we could rewrite certain chapters. I remember, years ago, staying up late thinking about decisions I made in a relationship or opportunities I didn’t jump on. But the harsh truth is, no amount of mental gymnastics can change what happened.
You might have read my post on breaking free from limiting beliefs, where I touched on the concept of releasing old narratives that keep you stuck. It applies here, too. Constantly revisiting past regrets takes up prime real estate in your mind.
Instead, productive people acknowledge those regrets and treat them like signposts. They look at what could be done better, then move forward with renewed perspective.
Research from the American Psychological Association has shown that rumination—excessively dwelling on negative thoughts—leads to higher stress levels and lower productivity. So do yourself a favor: learn from yesterday, and invest your energy in building a stronger tomorrow.
5. Trying to do everything themselves
Do you ever feel that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself? That was my default thinking for a long time, particularly when I started freelancing as a writer. The result? I was stretched so thin, I wasn’t doing anything particularly well.
But highly productive people don’t hoard all the tasks. They delegate whenever possible. Whether it’s outsourcing a graphic design project, hiring a virtual assistant, or even asking a neighbor to watch the kids for an hour, productive folks know that it’s impossible to excel at everything.
For them, the real focus is on how they can best use their unique skills. They’ll devote their time to tasks where they add the most value and bring in help where they don’t. So if you’re overwhelmed, it might be time to ask yourself: which tasks can I let go of so I can pour more of my energy into what truly matters?
6. Dwelling in negativity
A while back, I went through a challenging period juggling work deadlines, single parenthood, and the emotional fallout of a divorce. I noticed that when I allowed negativity to take over—be it through complaining, self-pity, or constant worst-case-scenario thinking—I had zero energy left for progress.
Productive people don’t ignore life’s challenges. But they don’t linger in negativity, either. They’re quick to seek solutions, reach out for help, or shift to a proactive mindset. John C. Maxwell once remarked, “You don’t overcome challenges by making them smaller but by making yourself bigger.” Isn’t that powerful?
Focusing on growth rather than defeat is what keeps mental stamina high. Here at DM News, we often highlight strategies for building resilience—like practicing gratitude, turning to supportive friends, and setting realistic goals.
All of those keep your mind tuned into possibilities rather than pitfalls. After all, negativity is like an energy vampire—if you let it hang around too long, it’ll drain you dry.
7. Last but definitely not least, overcommitting to non-essentials
Have you ever said “yes” to something on a whim, only to regret it later? Maybe it was volunteering for a project you had no real passion for or accepting a social invitation you felt obligated to attend. I’ve been guilty of both—especially when I was trying to keep up appearances or not disappoint anyone.
The thing is, every time you take on another obligation that doesn’t align with your goals or values, you pay for it with your mental energy. So while it might feel good to be agreeable, constantly overcommitting leaves you depleted for the tasks that truly matter.
Productive people have a clear sense of what’s essential. They use their time and headspace intentionally, focusing on priorities that move them closer to their personal or professional targets.
That doesn’t mean they’re anti-social or unhelpful; they simply learn to discern between genuine opportunities and needless obligations. It’s an art, and like any art, it takes practice to learn how to politely but firmly decline what doesn’t serve you.
Wrapping up
There you have it—seven things productive individuals simply refuse to invest their mental energy in. By steering clear of perfectionism, letting go of old regrets, and avoiding negativity, they make space for what truly drives them forward.
They delegate instead of doing it all themselves, keep an eye on the essential tasks, and don’t allow fear of judgment to paralyze them.
If you see yourself reflected in any of these seven habits, remember that awareness is the first step toward change. Productivity isn’t about being busy every hour of the day—it’s about consistently directing your finite mental energy to the things that matter most.
As you might know, here at DM News, we’re all about helping you live more intentionally. If something here resonated, why not pick just one of these habits to work on this week? Small shifts can lead to massive payoffs over time.
Thank you for joining me on this deep dive into mental energy management. Until next time, remember to protect your headspace like the valuable resource it is. Your goals—and your well-being—deserve nothing less.
