We’ve all heard the advice: “Don’t multitask. Focus on one thing at a time.” And sure, the research backs that up — constant task-switching hurts productivity. Even a three-second distraction can derail our focus, as a 2014 study revealed.
But I want to challenge the way we think about “multitasking.” I’m not talking about frantically switching tabs every five minutes or trying to write emails while on Zoom calls. I’m talking about something more intentional — what I call productive diversification: the idea of having one major project you’re deeply committed to, while also maintaining side goals across different areas or fields that you can shift your energy toward when you feel stuck.
🤝 Written by a human with thoughts, frustration, and coffee — polished with the help of an AI with unlimited patience and vocabulary (ChatGPT).
The Problem With Over-Focus
If you’ve ever worked on a big project — whether it’s writing a thesis, launching a startup, or learning a complex skill — you’ve probably hit that wall. You stare at the screen, stuck. Progress feels impossible. And that’s where frustration builds, often turning into procrastination or burnout.
That’s where productive diversification can help.
Productivity Diversity as a System of Systems
In nature and in engineering, diversity isn’t a distraction — it’s resilience. The same can apply to how we structure our work.
When I talk about productive diversification, I’m really describing what systems theorists call a System of Systems (SoS): multiple independent systems that work together, each with their own purpose, but connected through a larger objective. These systems can operate independently, but when integrated, they provide robustness, flexibility, and emergent capabilities that no single system could achieve alone.
Let’s bring this idea into productivity with some examples:
Example 1: The Researcher with Creative Outlets
- Primary system: Writing a scientific paper.
- Supportive systems: Playing an instrument, sketching ideas, running a blog.
These creative outlets keep cognitive flow alive. While seemingly unrelated, they help rewire the brain when technical thinking stalls. Creativity feeds problem-solving.
Example 2: The Software Engineer with Physical Hobbies
- Primary system: Building backend infrastructure.
- Supportive systems: Woodworking, biking, learning photography.
When code stops compiling and burnout looms, shifting to a physical task activates a different mental model — and restores a sense of progress.
Example 3: The Student with Cross-Disciplinary Curiosity
- Primary system: Studying for a law degree.
- Supportive systems: Reading sci-fi, taking online courses in philosophy or economics.
This creates a cognitive portfolio. When legal studies feel overwhelming, alternate intellectual challenges provide motivation while broadening understanding.
Example 4: The Builder-Maker Thinker
- Primary system: Developing a startup product.
- Supportive systems: Participating in hackathons, mentoring students, and journaling about ideas.
These systems feed into the main one by providing creative fuel, testing assumptions, and refining communication.
In Systems of Systems theory, this diversity is essential — not wasteful. If one subsystem fails or stalls, others compensate, providing continuity of progress. They may even stimulate innovation by generating unexpected connections.
In your productivity life, this translates to designing your workflow not as a single-threaded mission, but as a portfolio of loosely coupled but purposefully chosen tasks. Each system helps keep the whole resilient.
A Personal Example
Back in college, I remember going through intense weeks filled with overlapping deadlines, part-time research, student org responsibilities, and personal side projects. It was chaotic — but oddly energizing. I always had something on the horizon. If I hit a block in one task, I could pivot to another. And at the end of the day, even if my “main” task hadn’t moved much, I still felt productive because something got done.
That feeling of momentum is powerful. It fuels motivation. It builds confidence. It creates the sense that you’re moving forward — even when your primary path is temporarily blocked.
What Productive Diversification Looks Like
🧠 Your Main Project: This is your anchor. It gets the majority of your focus.
🌱 Side Goals (Other Fields/Areas): These are small, intentional tasks from different domains, e.g., writing, coding, reading, design, organizing your desk, exercising, or even something unrelated but skill-building.
🧘♂️ Micro-Goals & Breaks: Even 20 minutes of a structured break can be a goal. Reading a chapter of a book, stretching, meditating, or going for a walk — these count.
It’s not about being “busy” — it’s about staying in motion, mentally and emotionally.
Why This Works
✅ It Reduces Frustration: When one path is blocked, you pivot — not quit.
✅ It Fosters Serendipity: New ideas often come when you’re focused on something unrelated.
✅ It Preserves Motivation: Small wins compound and keep you emotionally invested.
✅ It Trains Resilience: You learn to bounce back instead of burning out.
A Strategy for Every Day
At the end of the day, my strategy is simple:
- Reflect: What did I try? Where did I get stuck?
- Redirect: What else could I work on that feels meaningful or energizing?
- Recognize: What small goal did I accomplish today?
Even if it wasn’t what I planned to do, it’s still progress.
In Closing
We don’t have to choose between deep focus and flexibility. In fact, when used wisely, having parallel side goals can enhance our ability to return to our main project with more energy, insight, and confidence.
So next time you feel stuck, don’t just stare at the wall (or worse, get lost scrolling through social media). Pick up one of your other goals, and keep moving.
By Felipe on August 6, 2025.
Exported from Medium on March 9, 2026.
0 Comments