<p><span><b>If you were to do everything you’re advised to do to have a perfect, productive life, you’d basically have no time to just be alive, no matter how efficiently executed. </b></span></p><p>Separate the nice-to-have from the essential. Most advice is nice-to-have—it helps, but only a little. If you can focus on the essential things that matter for your few goals, then you can stop feeling guilty about everything else.</p><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div><h3></h3>

The Flaw Of Perfection

<blockquote><b>It’s the constant nagging feeling that you should be doing more.</b> And if you’re not doing everything, then you’re a lazy slacker who will never reach your goals. -- Scott H. Young</blockquote><p>That’s simply not true. Even small efforts have a cumulative effect.<br></p>

Productivity guilt

<p><span><b>No one is perfect—not even the people you admire most. The reality is we can’t realistically implement every life hack out there. </b></span></p><p><span>Do not worry if something falls by the wayside. Pick it up again if you think it worked. Doing it a little is better than not doing it.</span></p>

Be Imperfect

<p>The question is never, “<i>What should I do, ideally, to solve this problem?</i>” Instead it’s always, <i>“</i><b><i>How could I do things a little differently than last time for a little better results?</i>”</b></p><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div><p>The only thing you need to do is take one step: that’s productive enough. </p><div></div><div><div><div></div></div></div>

Start Where You’re At

As a Lifehacker reader, you probably spend some portion of your life actively trying to live better. That can look like a lot of things, but it usually includes trying to be as productive as possible. Constantly pushing yourself to be productive, however, can get pretty stressful.

Start Where You’re At

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