Why We Mistake Busyness for Productivity (And How to Break the Cycle)

In today’s hyper-connected world, urgency is often mistaken for effectiveness. The constant pressure to react, respond, and stay “busy” has become a cultural default—but it’s quietly sabotaging meaningful work and clear-headed leadership.

This urgency culture isn’t just a time management problem; it’s a values problem. And it’s one that leaders, business owners, and high-performers must address if they want to create lasting impact.

In a recent episode of The Remarkable Leadership Podcast, host Kevin Eikenberry speaks with Ryan Matt Reynolds—CEO of Barbell Logic—about how to push back against the urgency trap and reclaim time for what matters most.

Here’s an overview of the key topics they cover:

1. The Addiction to Busyness

Many professionals aren’t addicted to progress—they’re addicted to motion. The need to constantly check boxes and stay occupied creates a false sense of productivity. Reynolds explains how this reactive mindset keeps people from engaging in the focused, strategic work that actually drives results.

2. Aligning Calendars with Core Values

Reynolds emphasizes the importance of letting values—not urgency—drive the schedule. When a calendar is filled with tasks that don’t reflect one’s long-term priorities, burnout and dissatisfaction follow. The antidote? Intentionally designing days around what actually matters.

3. Creating Margin for Better Decision-Making

Leaders often overlook the power of margin. Building in space to think, rest, and reflect isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for better decisions and deeper work. Reynolds offers actionable advice for creating more breathing room in a world that demands constant acceleration.

For those interested in digging deeper into how urgency culture affects leadership and what to do about it, this episode is a must-listen.

The episode is packed with practical insights and mindset shifts that can help professionals at any level escape the cycle of reactive busyness and step into a more intentional, purpose-driven approach to work.