[mfn]

> Let me guess: most of your hard work came from doing something physical like ingesting drugs like caffeine, adderall, or LSD

I agree that our biology probably plays a much bigger part in determining how productive we are than any simple behavioral change, especially of the type you typically find in self-help books and articles on 'productivity tips'.

But this doesn't necessarily mean that these biological factors are mostly fixed at birth and can only be affected through the use of stimulants. For example, regular exercise, a healthy non-inflammatory diet, and adequate sleep all have the potential to significantly improve productivity.

And even if ultimately all of this is mostly fixed and genetic, and there's nothing we can do to become more productive, I feel that it's a far healthier attitude to at least keep trying than to resign completely. Simply believing that we have zero control over our ability to work hard can become a type of self fulfilling prophecy - believing it just drives productivity even lower.