Productivity is a very personal thing. On a surface level, that means that what works for me—or anyone else, for that matter—might not work for you. That’s why you’ll rarely see me give a tip on the hottest productivity app or system or whatever.

But on a deeper level, productivity is tied to our beliefs about success and self-worth. Productivity is also a product of how we deal with our emotions.

Therefore, I approach the productivity question not from the angle of tactics, but from strategy. What are we trying to achieve, and more importantly, why are we trying to achieve it? These questions have wide practical implications. See below.