Crippled CEO Blog #186:
I had something important to do today. It was on my to-do list. It was actually the only thing on my to-do list. I made sure that was the case so I wouldn’t get distracted by other nonsense. Today, I was going to do the thing.
And instead, I spent an hour scrolling through Instagram Reels. Then I went down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the history of ice cubes. Then I watched a 25-minute video on YouTube about why the McDonald’s ice cream machines are always broken (spoiler: it’s a conspiracy).
And by the time I looked up, it was almost dinner, and I hadn’t done the thing.
Oops.
We all have these days. The ones where we get nothing done. The days where we look back at bedtime and think, “What did I even do today?” and the answer is basically vibe in various locations.
And then, inevitably, the guilt creeps in. Because we have this deeply ingrained belief that wasting time is bad. That productivity is the ultimate goal. That every second should be spent working towards something. That if we’re not checking boxes, we’re failing.
I call bullshit.
The “Wasted” Time Wasn’t Wasted
Look, I’m not saying you should abandon all responsibilities, quit your job, and dedicate yourself full-time to mastering obscure facts about 18th-century shipbuilding techniques (although, honestly, sounds kind of fun). But the time you spent doing “nothing”? It wasn’t nothing.
Maybe your brain needed the break. Maybe you were absorbing ideas in the background. Maybe you were processing something. Or maybe—just maybe—rest is actually a requirement for doing good work and not just some optional side quest for the weak-willed.
And sure, if you spend every single day procrastinating, that’s a different conversation. But one “unproductive” day? That’s just life. Even machines need downtime, and you’re (probably) not a machine.
Productivity Is Overrated
Here’s the real kicker: the most productive people I know are the ones who aren’t grinding every second of every day. They take breaks. They mess around. They understand that inspiration isn’t something you can brute force.
I don’t know a single successful entrepreneur who schedules every second of their life in some military-grade productivity system and actually sticks to it. You know who does do that? People who are perpetually on the edge of burnout.
Sometimes, the best ideas come when you’re not trying. Ever had a brilliant thought in the shower? Or right before falling asleep? Or while aimlessly staring out a window like you’re in a moody indie film? Exactly.
The Secret Is Intentional “Wasting”
The key isn’t to eliminate “wasted” time. It’s to own it. Instead of feeling guilty about it, build it in. Let yourself have days where nothing gets done and know that’s part of the process, not a failure of it.
And if you really want to be sneaky about it, just redefine productivity. If you call lying on the couch watching a seven-part documentary on medieval bread-making “expanding your historical knowledge base,” suddenly you’re a scholar. You’re learning.
So the next time you “waste” a day, don’t beat yourself up. Maybe that day wasn’t wasted. Maybe it was just refueling. And if not, at least now you know way more about McDonald’s ice cream machines than you did before.
(Do you know who definitely didn’t waste her time last night? Your mom. Your mom also gets a text from me every Sunday with a link to the latest blog post. Send a text to 561-726-1567 with the word CRIP as the message to get a link to the blog as soon as it’s up.
Did you know that I have a YouTube channel now? I do! I am putting up two videos every single week. Go search for Crippled CEO and you’ll find me. I would appreciate it if you subscribed.)
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