How I rejected the "Sisyphus trap"

#3 Anti productivity. Stop putting in 100% effort for 0% progress

In ancient Greek mythology, there was once a clever king named Sisyphus.

He wasn’t a hero, but he was bold.

Bold enough to deceive the gods.

Sisyphus outsmarted Zeus, cheated Thanatos, the god of death, and escaped the underworld, all to cling to his life as king.

But for all his cunning, he couldn’t escape the ultimate punishment.

100% effort for 0% progress.

Zeus condemned him to push a massive boulder up a mountain, only for it to roll back down every time he neared the top.

An endless cycle of exertion, frustration, and futility.

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I share this story because it is often exactly how it feels to write.

You pour your heart and soul into a piece of creative work.

The very process involves many trips up the mountain only to land right back down at the foot of it.

And then you finally build up the courage to hit post and there’s silence.

Nothing. No resonance. No views. No comments. Zero.

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In 2022 I started a YouTube channel.

Initially I approached it with a forced energy.

I saw each video as my boulder that needed to be pushed out.

I set myself the goal of publishing twice a week.

I stuck to it. But it soon began to feel like I had been condemned by Zeus.

An endless feeling of scrambling to keep up.

That is until something clicked.

I had a eureka moment: “I don’t have to stick to a schedule”.

This is the one piece of advice that gets repeated every day on every platform but so what?!

That doesn’t make it true.

After having this realisation I took a step back and decided to only publish videos when I felt like it.

When I had something to say and when I felt like the video was good enough to release.

This turned out to be once or twice a month.

The videos I post now get more views, more engagement and more interest from potential sponsors. But most importantly, I feel better about the whole process.

Through this realisation I became aware of the “Sisyphus trap” and how to avoid it.

I have used this approach from the start with my Substack newsletters.

If you plan to publish videos or articles for a long time then you need to find a pace that feels effortless for you.

Building a writing habit when you already have “a life”.

For a lot of people, developing a regular creative habit is the *first boulder” that keeps slipping.

I’m not here to tell what to do or how to “build atomic habits”.

That’s something you will have to come up with on your own through trial and error.

Everyone is different. What works for one person will not work for another.

All I can say is that time is not the issue.

This isn’t about time—it’s about energy, focus, and the challenge of carving out space in an already full life.

If you’re balancing a 9-to-5 and are in a relationship it can be tough.

It’s not just about setting aside an hour; it’s about bringing your best self to that hour, ready to pour energy into it. And that’s where the real struggle lies.

After a long day, how do you summon the energy, the focus, the drive to write with intention and passion?

Well, you don’t. You have to start out on the right foot.

My best hours are my first hours, that’s why I take advantage of them.

The Shift: how I broke free from the “Sisyphus Trap”

If you are struggling to push your boulder up the mountain and get it to the top the default strategy is to think: I just need to push harder.

Pushing hard can actually feel really good. That’s why it’s so seductive.

It feels like you’re making progress, paying your dues and earning success.

However, if you are not finding success then all this hard work is merely to satisfy a bruised ego.

This is all about energy management and idea prioritisation.

The irony is that you will actually make more progress by doing less, not more.

It’s about a perspective shift and a different approach.

Here’s how I publish 1-2 videos a month, 1 article a week across 2 newsletters and countless notes a day without feeling overwhelmed.

Maybe this will help you too.

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If you can spare 5 seconds, I’d love for you to answer this Poll :)

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1. Focus on ideas first

I realised that good writing starts with strong ideas, not just with hours at the keyboard.

As soon as I have an idea I take a note of it.

I now capture ideas the moment they strike.

How you do this is not important.

I use notion and apple notes but it really doesn’t matter.

Doing this means that you never have to stare at a blank page.

If you feel stuck there’s always a few notes to jog your memory.

You start with inspiration already in hand.

2. Build daily, bit by bit

Instead of trying to grind out a newsletter or an article in one sitting, I add to an article a little each day.

Everyone is different, however my best hours are my first hours (and I think this is true for the majority).

That’s why I dedicate the first hour of the day to writing while my head is still clear and my thoughts are fresh.

I build this newsletter throughout the week.

I jot down notes and gradually refine them over time.

At the end of the week I have a complete article and it doesn’t even feel like work.

By breaking it into small, manageable pieces, I make progress without the pressure of a “marathon session.”

This approach has been crucial for me. There is zero grind.

It lets me work naturally without exhaustion and makes the whole writing process effortless.

3. Batch tasks to conserve energy

I’m still working on this one but ideally you want your newsletters to naturally flow like chapters of a book.

It can be difficult to conceptualise weeks or months of work ahead of time.

When planning out my writing I always try to plan letters in groups of at least three.

This adds a more cohesive thought-out texture to my overall blog.

My idea for an anti-productivity series came on one of my walks to work, which I probably would have forgotten had I not made a note of it on my phone.

It’s also a good idea to batch tasks.

I have brainstorming sessions where I plan rough outlines of my work.

This way, I don’t have to constantly switch gears, which conservs my focus and energy.

By batching tasks, I can work more efficiently and with less mental strain.

4. Create a flexible content calendar

I have a loose calendar, not a strict schedule.

I plan ideas for the next few weeks, but I give myself the flexibility to shift things around as needed.

This approach lets me stay consistent without feeling trapped by deadlines.

It also gives me the freedom to work at my own pace, which makes the process far more enjoyable.

5. Set small, achievable goals

Instead of focusing on big milestones, I focus on small wins—100 words a day, five new ideas a week.

These small, regular achievements kept my momentum going and help me see steady progress, even when my time is limited.

My goal is one hour a day for writing and one hour for other activities which I will cover in a future letter.

But I don’t always achieve this. It’s a rule of thumb.

Sometimes I'll write for 4 hours at the weekend and sometimes I’ll take a day off during the week.

Sticking to schedules is only important if your problem is following through.

Once you’ve solved that continuing to stick to a rigid schedule will become your next problem.

Embracing your own pace

You don’t need to burn yourself out to succeed.

You don’t need to constantly churn out content to grow.

You can make an impact with the time you have.

2hours a day, an hour a day, even just thirty minutes—as long as you’re focusing on what really matters: your craft, your voice, and the value you bring.

Imagine a version of your creative journey where you’re not constantly scrambling to keep up.

Instead, you’re setting achievable goals, building consistency in a way that feels good, and connecting with your audience authentically.

You’re creating not out of pressure, but out of a genuine love for your work.

I don’t know about you but that sounds like something I can keep doing for many years to come.

All the best

Benjamin