The Art of Grit

(5 Minutes)

We live in a world that rewards busyness. There’s a certain satisfaction in crossing items off a to-do list, in having a packed schedule that makes us feel productive, needed, important. But as Stephen Covey pointed out, “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” It’s a simple shift in thinking, but one that challenges some of the deepest work habits ingrained in modern culture—especially in places where overwork is glorified.

The Trap of Endless Work

In Japan, the concept of karōshi—literally, “death from overwork”—has been recognized since the 1970s. It’s not just a phrase; it’s a documented reality where employees, often corporate workers, suffer fatal strokes or heart attacks from excessive work hours. There’s an entire system that perpetuates this—social pressure, company loyalty, and the belief that long hours equal dedication.

Similarly, in China, the 996 work culture (9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week) became an unofficial standard in tech companies, and more recently, the 666 model (12-hour shifts, six days a week) has emerged. While it’s often framed as a “commitment to success,” in reality, it has led to burnout, disillusionment, and a wave of young workers rejecting this relentless cycle. The backlash has already begun with movements like Tang Ping (lying flat) and Bai Lan (letting it rot), where workers refuse to participate in a system that demands everything and offers little in return.

The problem with these work models isn’t just exhaustion—it’s the fundamental misalignment between time spent and life truly lived. When work dictates our entire schedule, the things that actually make life meaningful—relationships, creativity, personal growth—are treated as secondary, if they’re considered at all.

The Illusion of Productivity

We tell ourselves that once we get through the urgent things, then we’ll focus on what’s important. But the urgent things never stop. They refill the moment we clear them out. Productivity, in the way we often define it, is an endless loop—one that keeps us busy but not necessarily fulfilled.

This is why Covey’s distinction matters. If we only prioritize what’s already on our schedule, we’re letting circumstances dictate how we spend our time. But if we take the time to schedule our real priorities first, we shift from reacting to life to actively shaping it.

The Counterintuitive Key to Productivity

What’s often missed in this conversation is that scheduling our true priorities doesn’t just improve our well-being—it actually makes us more productive.

Think about it. When we’re overworked, running from one obligation to another, constantly firefighting, we aren’t truly productive. We’re just expending energy. Real productivity—the kind that leads to meaningful work, creative breakthroughs, and lasting success—requires focus, clarity, and mental energy.

When we schedule time for what actually matters, we:

• Work with more energy and creativity. Rest and recreation aren’t indulgences; they’re fuel. A rested mind is a sharper mind, capable of deeper thinking and problem-solving.

• Make better decisions. A cluttered schedule leads to a cluttered mind, where we default to reacting rather than thinking strategically. Prioritizing key areas of life clears mental space for better judgment.

• Avoid burnout. Chronic stress reduces productivity over time. Sustainable work habits lead to more consistent, high-quality output.

• Get more done in less time. Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time allotted for it. When we work nonstop, tasks stretch endlessly. When we set boundaries, we become more efficient.

Redefining Success

In cultures that glorify overwork, success is often measured by output—how much you do, how many hours you put in. But what if success was instead measured by how well we live? By the strength of our relationships, the richness of our experiences, the depth of our engagement with the world?

This isn’t about rejecting hard work. It’s about recognizing that work for the sake of work is not the goal. If the reward for working tirelessly is simply more work, then what are we actually striving for?

The Practice of Scheduling Priorities

So how do we change this?

It starts with a shift in how we approach time. Instead of treating our schedules as a list of tasks that need to be completed, we can start by placing our real priorities first.

• Block off time for what matters most. Instead of waiting for a free moment to work on that project, read that book, or spend time with loved ones, put it on the calendar first—just like you would a meeting or deadline.

• Be protective of that time. Just because something isn’t “urgent” doesn’t mean it’s negotiable. The most meaningful things in life require consistency, not just good intentions.

• Let go of the idea that being busy equals being productive. Productivity is only meaningful if it moves us toward what we truly value. Otherwise, it’s just movement for movement’s sake.

A Culture Shift Starts with Individuals

There’s something sobering about realizing that time is passing whether we use it well or not. It’s easy to assume we’ll always have more of it, that we can start prioritizing the important things later. But life rarely works that way. The best way to ensure something happens is to make space for it now.

Cultural norms don’t shift overnight, but change always starts with individuals. If we begin to measure success differently—by the quality of our lives rather than the sheer quantity of our labor—then perhaps we can build a world where work is part of life, not the defining feature of it.

So, what’s something you’ve been meaning to make time for but haven’t? And what would happen if, instead of waiting for a “good time,” you simply scheduled it?