The hottest Productivity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Decoding Developer Productivity

Wisdom over Waves • 79 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Estimating software development work and productivity is tricky due to the unknowns and constant changes in the software development process.
  2. The desire to measure developer productivity stems from the human need for clarity in transactions, like buying software products, despite the complexities and uncertainties involved in software development.
  3. It's time to change the perception of software developers as mere code generators and start recognizing them as creative problem-solvers who bring unique value to the development process.

AI makes scientists more productive and less happy

Philosophy bear • 264 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. AI helps scientists work faster and discover more new materials, increasing their productivity significantly.
  2. However, many scientists feel less happy because they spend less time on creative idea generation, which they found enjoyable.
  3. The gap between top and bottom performers in science has widened, with skilled researchers benefiting more from AI, leading to concerns about inequality in the field.

Productivity boosters, 2x revenue, saying NO, engineering as marketing, writing 5 books.

Play Permissionless • 259 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Finding a productive work environment with like-minded individuals can significantly boost productivity and focus.
  2. Saying no to certain business opportunities is crucial for maintaining quality and ensuring sustainable growth.
  3. Engaging in deep, long-form writing like book projects can lead to clearer thinking, coherence, and nuanced understanding, even with just a small daily time commitment.

Will We Be More Productive in 2024?

The Intersection • 98 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Less tech can lead to more productivity. Sometimes simplicity is the key.
  2. Traditions like Kakizome in Japan emphasize the importance of setting goals and resolutions at the start of the year.
  3. Productivity tools can be overwhelming; sometimes, focusing on fewer, simpler tools can lead to better results.

Entropy is Easy

Polymathic Being • 83 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Improvement requires energy; everything naturally degrades without it. Just like a cup of coffee cools down without heat, our goals and processes need ongoing effort to stay effective.
  2. 80% of success comes from behavior and culture, while only 20% is about the visible processes. It's not just about having everything in order; it's about how people think and act daily.
  3. To overcome challenges at work and in life, focus on key habits and apply discipline. By actively managing tasks and accountability, growth becomes easier over time.
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The Cult of Productivity

The Intersection • 158 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Productivity
  1. Productivity is gaining more importance than creativity, with a focus on producing more content rather than emphasizing quality.
  2. Productivity tools may not necessarily make us smarter, as genuine thinking and insights happen internally and resist automation.
  3. Authenticity will ultimately prevail over chasing algorithms and shortcuts in creativity and content creation.

Joe's Nerdy Rants - #1

Joe Reis • 157 implied HN points • 20 May 23
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Joe Reis has started a weekend newsletter about data and tech.
  2. Newsletters are great for weekend reading when people have more time.
  3. The newsletter will feature tech or data-oriented rants from Joe, offering interesting insights.

To beat the empty page

The Leftovers • 59 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
📚 Literature Productivity
  1. Writer's block may not really exist and could just be about trying to write the wrong thing at the wrong time.
  2. Sometimes difficulties in writing can be attributed to starting from a wrong place rather than a complete inability to write.
  3. To overcome 'writer's block,' it may require changing approach or perspective rather than waiting for inspiration.

🐿️ The You Phone - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 3 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Be easily reachable by phone and encourage spontaneous calls, because quick, real-time advice at the moment it's needed often saves hours of follow-up work.
  2. Most people avoid ringing others and hide behind email and scheduling, but short phone calls can untangle complex issues far faster than long email threads or repeated meetings.
  3. Use voicemail and simple boundaries to protect deep work while staying available, and consider phone-first habits—like an All-Phone-Calls Day—to speed decisions and collaboration.

Why things just work around some EMs

Leading Developers • 65 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Proactive engineering managers don't wait for things to happen; they take action on their own. This means making decisions and driving changes even when it's not their direct responsibility.
  2. They ask themselves important questions about their role and the impact they have, such as whether they actively seek feedback and build relationships across the company.
  3. The best managers take ownership of their team's results and aim to improve the overall success of the company, not just focus on technical issues.

Productivity in Software Engineering: Beyond lines of code, the importance of experience in the development cycle

VTEX’s Tech Blog • 1 HN point • 18 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Productivity in software engineering is not just about how much code you write. It's more important to focus on code quality and how well the software works.
  2. At VTEX, they listen to developers to improve their work experience. This helps boost productivity by addressing the challenges developers face.
  3. Combining feedback from developers with quantitative data can help understand the impact of changes in tools and processes on productivity.

The Missing Ingredient in Your Ambitious Goals: Macro Focus

The Caring Techie Newsletter • 17 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Macro focus means choosing the right long-term battles and committing to them for months or years, so you manage your career trajectory instead of just your daily to-do list.
  2. Five common patterns stop people from achieving macro focus — unclear goals, juggling too many priorities, not doing enough, doubting the plan, and quitting too soon — and each has a clear fix like getting specific, picking one primary focus, scaling effort, trusting a documented plan, and setting realistic timelines.
  3. Macro focus is a skill you can build by defining what success looks like, making concrete weekly commitments, using checkpoints and external support, and then sticking with the plan long enough for results to compound.

Developer Experience: Cracking The Code For Peak Productivity

Wisdom over Waves • 39 implied HN points • 20 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Achieving a flow state is crucial for peak productivity. Minimizing interruptions like emails, popups and delays helps maintain focus and enhance performance.
  2. Reducing cognitive load is essential. Providing clear domain knowledge and simplifying technical aspects contribute to better understanding and productivity.
  3. Establishing a fast feedback loop is key. Faster identification of issues, learning from failures, and making data-driven decisions lead to better performance and quality.

Killing the tiny annoyances (in work and life)

Leading Developers • 98 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Small annoyances can waste a lot of time and energy. Fixing these little issues can boost your productivity and reduce stress.
  2. Organizing your tools and workspace can help you work more efficiently. Simple changes like better organization or updating old templates can save you time.
  3. Managing notifications and distractions, like Slack messages or email alerts, makes a big difference in focus. It’s worth taking time to set up systems that reduce interruptions.

You Don’t Work For Your Calendar

The Breaking Point • 199 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Your calendar reflects your values and priorities. Own it.
  2. Make three lists: things you love, hate, and neutral and prioritize them in your schedule.
  3. Reclaim your productivity by spending time on what you love, delegating what you hate, and leaving room for surprises.

Tips on Staying Active as a Busy Engineering Leader

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 59 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity
  1. It's important to stay active, especially if you have a busy job that requires a lot of sitting. Breaking up long periods of sitting can really boost your physical and mental health.
  2. Finding small moments to move during the day can make a big difference. Even a quick walk or stretching can improve your mood and energy levels.
  3. Using tools like standing desks or planning your workouts can help you stay on track. Plus, turning meetings into walking meetings is a fun way to stay active while working.

Introducing RunLLM: The first AI Support Engineer

Generating Conversation • 163 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. RunLLM is an AI designed to help support teams by managing technical questions and documentation, making the process easier for both support staff and customers.
  2. One challenge for support teams is that technical products often create complex questions that can overwhelm them. RunLLM helps lighten that load by providing quick and accurate answers.
  3. Instead of just answering questions, RunLLM engages with users, helping to boost their confidence in seeking help and improving overall customer satisfaction.

Peak Office

Workforce Futurist by Andy Spence • 537 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Office utilization in the US is only at 21%, half the level before the pandemic, showing a significant shift towards remote and hybrid work.
  2. Despite worker demand for remote jobs, there is a notable shortage of such positions compared to on-site and hybrid roles, potentially leading to workforce dissatisfaction.
  3. The return-to-office mandates are largely driven by the need for US-based employers to optimize investments in commercial property and uphold control over employees, rather than being solely productivity-driven.

I’ll get to it…in a bit

10x your mind • 139 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity
  1. Lack of clarity can lead to procrastination; seek clarity by breaking down the task into smaller steps.
  2. Lack of expertise can make us procrastinate; identify areas for improvement and take action to develop those skills.
  3. Fear of failure can lead to procrastination; set concrete goals or make public commitments to overcome this.

Workaholic, Skipping Dinner, 10x Brainstorm

Play Permissionless • 139 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Being a workaholic can have drawbacks, like diminishing returns and energy drain.
  2. Setting boundaries around work hours and prioritizing tasks can lead to better productivity and clarity of thought.
  3. Balancing work time between working on the business and working in the business can be key to business success and personal well-being.

Making time for inspiration

Erifili • 199 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Productivity
  1. Making time for inspiration is vital to feeling fulfilled and motivated in life.
  2. Engaging with inspiring content and pursuing it can lead to a sense of wonder and stimulation.
  3. Prioritizing passions and following where they lead can create a unique sense of fulfillment.

The Story of Us

The Weasel Speaks • 137 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Understanding your own strengths can be more beneficial than relying on personality assessments like MBTI.
  2. The Working Genius model by Patrick Lencioni highlights the importance of focusing on your strengths and collaborating with others.
  3. Identifying your working genius areas and frustrations can guide you on how to approach projects effectively and work with a team.

AI Will Bloom When the Grifters Leave

The Algorithmic Bridge • 222 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. AI will improve when people who care about technology and helping others take over, rather than those focused only on making money.
  2. As AI becomes more common, it will naturally integrate into our lives just like other everyday technologies have.
  3. For AI to succeed, people need to build trust, work together, and take action rather than just hoping for the best.

Stop managing AI. The case for proactive agents.

Kathy PM • 18 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Developers want tools that handle tasks proactively, instead of just reacting to commands. They don’t want to waste time managing tools; they want to focus on building.
  2. For AI tools to be useful, they need to understand the context of a project and work seamlessly with developers. This means recognizing patterns and anticipating needs before being asked.
  3. The future of coding tools should feel collaborative. We aim for AI that can act like a helpful teammate, reducing mental load and helping developers concentrate on creative problem-solving.

Design Better Products and Systems with Jugaad Innovation [Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 119 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Frugality: Jugaad Innovation emphasizes doing more with less and maximizing value with minimal resources. It's about resourcefulness, focusing on essential elements for real value and results.
  2. Flexibility: Being agile and adaptable is crucial in business. Jugaad Innovation highlights the importance of pivoting when needed and seizing new opportunities.
  3. Quick Feedback Iterations: Building systems with tight feedback loops allows for fast iteration and catching flaws early. Constant customer feedback helps reduce the costs related to pivoting.

Use it or lose it

The Engineering Manager • 13 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Skills fade when you stop using them, and offloading thinking to AI can speed that decline if you’re not careful.
  2. Stay close to the work with a minimum effective dose of coding, pair programming, and regular dives into PRs and architecture so you keep your technical edge.
  3. Use AI intentionally: experiment with tools yourself, offload only menial tasks, and always do a first-pass of thinking before prompting so AI augments rather than replaces your judgment.

For AI at work, start with something small

Technically • 16 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. It's best to start using AI by automating small, annoying tasks instead of trying to automate everything at once. Focusing on one specific issue can lead to better results.
  2. The 'messy middle' is where AI works best. It's about tasks that are time-consuming but not critical, like summarizing reports or sorting feedback.
  3. AI can help improve parts of your job, but don't expect it to replace everything overnight. It can assist in making repetitive tasks easier and faster.

AI made us faster. That’s not the same as better.

Brick by Brick • 9 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. AI coding tools have evolved into a diverse, faster set of assistants with different interaction styles, and engineers now choose which tool to use for each task.
  2. These tools speed up work but rarely produce code that’s clearly better — most AI-generated code still needs human review, polishing, or refactoring before it’s ship-ready.
  3. Engineers use AI selectively and responsibly: they get productivity and satisfaction gains while maintaining ownership of code quality and long-term maintenance.

The 20 Comet AI Browser Workflows That Will 10x Your Productivity (Copy/Paste Inside)

The Product Channel By Sid Saladi • 20 implied HN points • 16 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Using AI tools can save you a lot of time on research tasks. Instead of spending hours gathering information, the AI can do it for you and help you focus on the important stuff.
  2. Automating tasks like competitive analysis and trend monitoring can improve the quality of your work. You can get real-time data and insights without getting bogged down by manual processes.
  3. It's important to adapt your workflow to new technologies. When you let AI handle the busywork, you can dedicate more time to creative and strategic thinking.

Are developers happy yet? Unpacking the 2025 Developer Survey | Stack Overflow’s Erin Yepis

Dev Interrupted • 14 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Developer job satisfaction is improving after a recent dip, driven mainly by better autonomy and compensation, though senior engineers report higher happiness than juniors.
  2. AI tools speed up code generation but often just move the bottleneck to testing, validation, and maintenance, so teams need experienced oversight and metrics to avoid creating technical debt quickly.
  3. Large language models can be compressed and de‑censored, showing they’re easy to reverse‑engineer and repurpose, which raises new risks for model security and trust.

Productivity theater is hard to kill

Public Universal Friend • 2 HN points • 03 Sep 24
💼 Business Productivity
  1. Many workers spend a lot of time showing they're busy instead of focusing on real results. This 'productivity theater' makes work feel less meaningful.
  2. Using knowledge management systems can help improve teamwork, but they often lead to clutter and repetition instead. This makes it hard for teams to find useful information.
  3. It's important for companies to focus on the impact of work rather than just the effort put in. Trusting employees can lead to better performance and less stress.

The Three Paradoxes of Generative AI

Mimir's Well • 117 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Productivity
  1. Generative AI can help novices compete with experts, but devalue expertise in certain non-autonomous jobs.
  2. Generative AI can excel in human-like traits like empathy and creativity, outperforming humans in specific roles.
  3. Generative AI is a creator and destroyer, transforming industries and roles, leading to massive impacts.