You don't owe your to-do list anything

Our Mobile App is ready, plus the dangers of fake emergencies.

Onward Weekly

Onward Team

July 14, 2026

One of our personal productivity heroes, Oliver Burkeman, coined the phrase 'Productivity Debt'. He uses it to describe that terrible feeling of starting the day off 'in the red'-- the persistent anxiety that you HAVE to accomplish X amount of tasks just to feel successful that day.

Everything you do today is additive. Your to-do list starts at zero, and the only direction you can go is up.

Bite-sized knowledge

Fake emergencies crush flow states.

Something as simple as a Slack ping starting with the word 'Quick' is enough to spike your team's adrenaline and knock them off their rhythm.

A study done for the Journal of Experimental Psychology¹ found that a distraction that lasts a measly 4.4 seconds is enough to triple the chances of you messing up a task.

Give this a try

When that next 'emergency' message comes in:

Intentionally wait 5-15 minutes before reading it.
We promise your work (and brain) will thank you.

¹ APA: Momentary interruptions can derail the train of thought.

New In Onward

Our Mobile App is Here!

We're thrilled to announce that the Onward: Tasks & Wellness app is officially live in the App Store and Google Play Store.

Jot down tasks on the go, log your routines, and stay connected to your work wherever you find yourself. Don't forget to write a review :)

Download on iOS Download on Android

Feel good getting more done.

Sign in to Onward and truly understand the positive feelings around your progress. We're here to remind you: there's no such thing as productivity debt.

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