7 Surprising Proofs That You’re Not Even Close to Peak Productivity
7 Surprising Proofs That You’re Not Even Close to Peak Productivity
You’re More Productive Than You Think (And I Can Prove It)
Let’s play a little game.
Think back to the day before your last vacation.
You suddenly became a task-slaying, inbox-zeroing, decision-making machine.
That sermon you’d been procrastinating for 10 days? Done in 45 minutes.
That pile of unread emails? You blitzed through them like a holy tornado.
You even remembered to cancel your Ministry Coffee of the Month subscription (because you were finally honest with yourself: it’s just Folgers in a hipster bag).
So what happened?
Did the Holy Spirit give you a supernatural download of productivity?
Maybe.
But more likely: you finally stopped playing games with your time.
The Myth of “I Don’t Have Time”
Pastor, let’s be real.
We say, “I just don’t have time right now,”
…but then suddenly we have time when a friend wants to golf.
…or when a deacon sends a YouTube conspiracy rabbit trail at 11:32pm.
…or when a Netflix docuseries "accidentally" rolls into episode four.
We don’t have a time problem.
We have an intention problem.
Your Hidden Gears
Here’s what I’ve noticed about high-output pastors (the ones who seem to get 3x the ministry done and still make it home for dinner):
They’ve learned to tap into what I call their hidden gears.
You know, that part of you that shows up when:
- The guest speaker cancels last minute and you suddenly have to preach and lead worship.
- A major crisis hits and you somehow rearrange your week in 10 minutes.
- You remember at 10:17pm on Saturday that it’s your turn for the Sunday kids’ devotion.
When pressure rises, your clarity sharpens.
Your priorities snap into place.
You become... dangerous (in the best way).
Now imagine if that wasn’t an accident. Imagine if you could train yourself to tap into that zone on command.
7 Proofs You Have More Capacity Than You Think
Let’s break it down:
1. Parkinson’s Law is Real
Work expands to fill the time you give it.
Give yourself 20 hours to write a sermon and it’ll take 20.
Give yourself 90 minutes and a timer for 3 sessions? Boom—done.
Tighten the window, raise the standard.
2. Emergency Efficiency Mode Exists
When the youth pastor breaks his ankle right before camp?
You cancel lunch, shuffle three appointments, and show up driving the church van like it was Plan A.
You didn’t "get more time"—you just focused.
That means the margin exists… it’s just buried under indecision.
3. The Side Hustle Secret
Know anyone who started a podcast, wrote a book, launched a YouTube channel while pastoring full-time?
They didn’t find an extra day in the week.
They used the evenings most people waste.
If you had to, you’d find the time. Which means—you can.
4. Your Phone Is Robbing You
The average adult checks their phone 96 times a day.
For pastors, it might be higher because… well, group texts.
Turn off non-essential notifications and reclaim 1–2 hours/day.
That’s not a productivity hack—that’s revival math.
5. You Perform Better With Constraints
Most pastors try to “keep the schedule open” in case ministry happens.
But wide-open weeks lead to scattered focus and low output.
Constraints create clarity.
Structure your week like your sermon: clear goal, time limit, hard stop.
6. Stress Reveals Strength
Remember your first funeral?
You didn’t feel ready. You still led.
Capacity often shows up after the discomfort.
Growth isn’t just stretching—it’s stepping in when you don’t feel ready… and realizing you were.
7. The Old-School Comparison Test
Spurgeon wrote 150+ books, pastored 4,000 people, and didn’t own a laptop.
We have apps for everything—and still feel behind.
The issue isn’t tools.
It’s habits.
Your capacity is fine.
Your focus might be fried.
So What Do You Do With This?
Here’s the simple reframe:
You don’t need to find more time. You need to activate the better version of you that already knows how to use it.
Start small:
- Set a “pre-vacation day” once a week.
- Put constraints on your tasks (like timers or limited work windows).
- Block notifications. (Heaven will survive if you don't respond to a text for 45 minutes.)
You're not out of time.
You're like that dusty DeLorean in the garage.
You were made not just to go fast—but to hit 88 mph and find time you didn't know you had.
Now go flux that capacitor, Doc.
More Resources To Help You Optimize
🥤Momentum Shake: The Complete Longevity Shake for Optimal Health
🎥 Sermon Shots: Repurpose Sermons Into Clips & Other Engaging Content in Minutes
💊 My (Scott's) full supplement regimen
