The Productivity Paradox:Why Planning Can Be Your Worst Enemy

If you’re anything like me — a recovering perfectionist with a side of executive dysfunction — the word "productivity" probably makes you sigh.

You’ve likely tried every app and planner on the market, only to find yourself right back where you started: spending ages deciding what to do, how much time to spend, and whether the time you’ve blocked is "perfect." The existing tools are often overwhelming, demanding too much cognitive energy just to organize your day.

We get stuck in the planning loop, paralyzed by the fear that we haven’t assigned the exact right amount of time for a task, or that we're prioritizing incorrectly. Sound familiar? This planning paralysis prevents us from doing the one thing we actually need to do: start the task.

I’ve struggled with this for years. The constant overthinking and decision fatigue were real barriers to getting meaningful work done. Over time, I’ve figured out a crucial secret: we don't need to finish every task on the same day.

In fact, working on tasks in small, spaced intervals often leads to better results, higher standards, and less burnout. If you’re a perfectionist, the only thing you truly need is a gentle nudge to start — not another complex system to master.

A Different Way to Work

My new tool tackles planning paralysis head-on. It’s designed to eliminate decision fatigue and give you immediate permission to focus on the work, not the logistics. Here’s how it works:

1. Dump everything in: write down all your tasks and to-do lists into the system.
2. Let the app do the heavy lifting: based on a priority score and the average time needed for that job, the tool instantly generates a structured schedule for your day.
3. Specific time blocks: you decide your total working hours for the day, and the tool intelligently blocks time for tasks based on their importance.

We often overestimate how much time we need for a task. We leave ourselves huge time blocks, but we don't actually spend that entire time working; we get distracted or lose interest. If we commit to dedicated, focused time blocks, we get a lot more done.

The priority system helps tremendously with making sure the important stuff gets scheduled first. You can tweak the schedule if you want, but the true power comes from accepting the generated plan and attacking it with action. Get your work done, and then reclaim the rest of your day for hobbies, leisure, and a life outside of work.

Not the "Perfect" Solution (And That's the Point)

This tool may not be a perfect solution — no tool is. But it is a powerful step in the right direction. It helps you bypass the overthinking loop and actually get work done.

I built this because I needed it myself. My hope is that it can help you, too. Try the tool at todolistblocker.de and see if it helps you take action.

I’d genuinely love your feedback — please feel free to send me your thoughts, and I will try my best to improve it and make it useful for all of us still figuring out this productivity thing.

Thank you for reading and using the tool!