🪴 Life, productivity, and the illusion of shortcuts

Some days make me pause and think about shortcuts, ways to be productive and improve the quality of life. At first glance, the easiest shortcut seems to be faking or pretending.

But is being fake really a way to live a dream life?

The truth is, being fake can never be permanent. It’s like a bubble, shiny on the outside but ready to burst, often leaving behind a heavy impact on real life.

Shortcuts of any kind are always temporary. They may bring quick results, but they rarely sustain the journey toward something meaningful.

Life is meant to be lived in the real world, not in a pretentious bubble filled with false hopes. Making smart choices matters. Practicing rational thinking over purely emotional decisions can make a big difference. But these are not shortcuts. Shortcuts are more like giving up too early, depending too much on others, or chasing easy gains at the expense of real effort.

So, are shortcuts to productivity just a gimmick?

In some ways, yes. Productivity improves with practice, and there is no way around that. Planning better and using proven techniques can certainly help us improve the quality of life. But these are not shortcuts. They are deliberate practices that require patience, effort, and discipline.

They are not gimmicks but carefully developed approaches that have been tested and refined over time. And not every method works for everyone. It depends on the kind of life you are living, the life you want to live, and the life you have already experienced.

Shortcut philosophies usually appeal to those seeking a quick escape or temporary relief. But lasting productivity, and a truly fulfilling life, come from taking the harder path—living fully and standing firmly by the values that matter.

Because in the end, shortcuts might save time, but they never build a life worth living.

---

This post is inspired by Robert Birming’s essay “No Shortcuts to Wonder.” I wanted to reflect on his ideas and share my own thoughts on shortcuts, productivity, and living life fully.