People don't work as much as they say (drmaciver.substack.com)

Article summary

The article discusses how people tend to overreport the amount of time they spend working, with actual productive work hours being significantly lower. Many commenters agree that they can only do a few hours of focused, concentrated work per day. The article's exact contents are not available, but the discussion reveals that meetings, communication, and other non-work tasks can greatly reduce productive work time. The concept of 'real work' and what constitutes it is also debated.

Main themes

• productivity
• work hours
• meetings
• communication
• deep work
• focus
• mental exhaustion

What commenters say

• Most people can only do 2-4 hours of focused, concentrated work per day, with the rest of the time spent on meetings, communication, and other tasks.
• Meetings and interruptions can greatly disrupt productivity and make it difficult to get back into a flow state.
• Some argue that time spent on meetings and communication is still 'work', even if it's not directly contributing to a tangible deliverable.
• Others believe that only time spent on tangible, productive tasks should be considered 'real work'.
• The amount of time spent on deep work can vary greatly depending on the individual, their experience, and their field of work.
• Some people feel that they are not truly 'working' unless they are producing something tangible, and that meetings and communication feel like 'cheating'.
• The concept of 'deep work' and its importance for productivity is highlighted, with some arguing that it's the most valuable and efficient way to work.
• There is a perceived difference in the way people work with their minds versus their bodies, with some arguing that mental work is more exhausting and requires more breaks.