Productivity Hacks CEOs Swear By……..So, I’m just gonna say it: productivity hacks always sounded a little… scammy to me. Like, if Jeff Bezos wakes up at 4 AM to meditate upside down while drinking mushroom tea, that doesn’t mean I should. Right?
But then—I hit a wall. Like, full-on mental faceplant. I was drowning in work, drinking way too much bodega coffee (shoutout to the 24/7 deli down the block in Queens), and somehow still behind on emails. You know that feeling where your brain feels like 87 tabs are open, but one of them is playing music and you can’t find it? Yeah. That.
And because the internet told me CEOs know something I don’t (spoiler: some do, some are just really good at pretending), I started digging into what the “big shots” actually do to manage their time. Shockingly, a lot of it is less about magic mushroom tea and more about simple stuff you and I can actually try without wanting to cry.
So here we go—10 productivity hacks CEOs swear by (that normal humans can steal too).
1. The Two-Minute Rule
I first heard this from David Allen (the Getting Things Done guy), but I swear CEOs live by it. If a task takes less than 2 minutes, just… do it.
Example: I used to let “reply to that email” sit on my to-do list for days. Like the email was some 400-page dissertation. Nope. Took me 47 seconds to write back. Boom. Done.
It feels dumb at first, but it’s one of those “oh, this actually unclogs my brain pipes” tricks.
2. Time Blocking (But Make It Personal)
Okay, you know those planners where people color-code every hour? I used to think that was for perfectionists who have matching sock drawers. Turns out? It works.
I literally block out time for “Do Nothing.” Like, an actual calendar entry. Otherwise, guess what? I never stop. CEOs apparently do this too—Elon Musk supposedly breaks his day into 5-minute slots (which is insane but also kind of genius).
For me, I stick with 1–2 hour blocks. “Writing block.” “Errands block.” “Eat tacos block.” Non-negotiable.
3. Morning Rituals (Even Lazy Ones Count)
Not every CEO is up at 4 AM bench-pressing their demons. Some just… wake up, make tea, and stare at the wall for a bit. And honestly? That’s valid.
I used to wake up and immediately scroll TikTok. (Bad idea. Your brain is not ready for a guy deep-frying Oreos at 7:30 AM.) Now I just light a candle and drink water before I touch my phone. Simple. But it makes me feel like I’m not already behind before 9 AM.
4. The One-Big-Thing Rule
Sheryl Sandberg apparently asks herself: What’s the most important thing I have to do today? Then she does it first.
So now I write ONE thing on a sticky note and stick it to my laptop. That’s my “if nothing else gets done, at least do this” task. It sounds small, but it stops me from getting lost in the swamp of busywork.
Pro tip: don’t pick something insane like “redo the entire website.” Pick “write homepage headline.” Manageable chunks.
5. Delegation Without Guilt
Okay, real talk—delegation always made me feel like I was being lazy. Like, if I don’t do it, am I even working? CEOs obviously don’t think like that—they literally wouldn’t survive without handing stuff off.
So I tried it. I outsourced grocery delivery one week. Saved me 2 hours, and I didn’t forget eggs. Small thing, but my brain was like: “Oh, right, time is money and sanity.”
6. Walking Meetings (Yes, Really)
Apparently Steve Jobs was obsessed with walking meetings. At first I thought: that’s just a guy who hates chairs. But then I tried it.
I had a catch-up call with a friend/client while walking around Astoria Park. Fresh air, steps in, actual sunlight on my face… game changer. My brain worked better. Plus, it feels less formal and more like, “let’s actually talk human to human.”
7. Batch the Small Stuff
Emails, invoices, texts—those tiny things that sneak up like gremlins. Instead of tackling them randomly, I batch them into one block.
So 3 PM? That’s “admin hour.” Until then, I ignore my inbox like it owes me money. CEOs do this too—it’s why their assistants say “He only checks email at 11 and 4.” Not because they’re snobby. It’s strategy.
8. Saying No (Without Apologizing)
This one is brutal but so important. Apparently Warren Buffett says “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
The first time I tried it, I felt like a jerk. Someone invited me to a “quick Zoom brainstorm.” My soul screamed. I said no. You know what? The world didn’t end.
9. Tech Detox (Micro-Style)
I don’t mean go live in a cabin without Wi-Fi (though, kinda tempting). CEOs like Ariana Huffington swear by tech boundaries—like no phones in the bedroom.
For me, I set a 30-minute “no-phone zone” before bed. Instead of doomscrolling, I read (or, let’s be honest, fall asleep halfway through one page). My sleep actually improved. Crazy.
10. Review & Reset Sundays
CEOs love reflection time—sounds cheesy, but it works. Sunday evenings, I do a little “reset.” I look at the past week: what worked, what was a disaster (like that one day I ate leftover pizza for all 3 meals). Then I set 3 priorities for the coming week.
It makes Monday way less terrifying. Like, at least I know the plan before the chaos hits.
A Quick Recap (Because My Brain Likes Lists): Productivity Hacks CEOs Swear By
- 2-minute rule = instant relief
- Time blocking (yes, even for tacos)
- Morning rituals, big or small
- One big thing first
- Delegate guilt-free
- Walking meetings > chair meetings
- Batch the gremlins (emails, etc.)
- Say no like a boss
- Tiny tech detoxes
- Sunday reset
Final Thoughts about Productivity Hacks CEOs Swear By
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a CEO to steal their hacks. You just need to find what doesn’t make you want to throw your planner out the window. I tried all of these, some stuck, some didn’t. But even picking 2–3? Huge difference.
And if you’re like me—Queens coffee addict, way too many half-started projects, a brain that thinks “ooh shiny” every 5 minutes—then trust me: these little hacks might just keep you afloat.
Also… if anyone figures out how to stop getting distracted by group chats where your cousin is sending 37 memes about cats in wigs, let me know.
Suggested Outbound Links
- Getting Things Done by David Allen (for the 2-minute rule origin)
- Arianna Huffington on sleep & productivity
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