[namaria]

When you know what needs to be done, you don't need "productivity", you just need to work.

When you don't know what needs to be done, no amount of "productivity" will compensate for the fact that any work you do is meaningless and any result thereof accidental.

[viraptor]

That's simplifying things a bit too far. For a lot of people, the required productivity system is exactly what's needed to enable them to "just work". For example Pomodoro timer is in that category. Unfortunately conveying what's happening in your brain to other people is really tricky.

[bryancoxwell]

Figuring out what needs to be done is itself work though, and for many people it is the type of work that productivity tools can greatly help with.

[Ferret7446]

This is like saying writing out steps when doing math by hand is meaningless, "you should just know the answer".

The point of "productivity" is to "show the work" on figuring out what needs to be done and in what order. Yes, you need to plan a party, but what exactly does that mean? You need to write invitations, respond to questions, contact caterers, research venues, etc.

Maybe a genius like you can figure out all of that in your head instantly, but the rest of us benefit from "writing down the steps".

[llamaimperative]

That’s why most productivity “hacks” are prioritization systems…