Sustainable Productivity: How I Get More Done Without Burning Out 🌿🚀
Hey there, eco-champions! 🌍✨
Since moving to Zurich to start my work in high-field magnet research at ETH, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to work smarter, not harder. Between research, consulting, and personal projects, I used to push myself to exhaustion, thinking productivity meant grinding through long hours. But the truth is, productivity isn’t about time… it’s about energy.
So, this month in Fionn’s Green Journey, I want to talk about something that’s changed how I work: Sustainable Productivity. Just like in climate action, being truly effective isn’t about maxing out resources, it’s about efficiency, focus, and creating habits that don’t lead to burnout.
Here’s how I stay productive without feeling overwhelmed.
1. Mornings Are My Power Hours ☀️⚡
I used to fight my natural rhythm, thinking I should be productive at all hours. But I’ve learned that my brain is sharpest in the mornings, so I protect those hours for deep work.
Here’s how I structure my morning routine for max productivity:
🏋️♂️ Morning Gym = Motivation Boost → Nothing gets me in the zone like starting the day with a workout. I feel more focused, my energy levels stay high, and I actually look forward to work.
📵 No emails or messages before 10 AM → Checking emails first thing puts you in a reactive state. Instead, I dive into my most important task first.
☕ Coffee + Obsidian = Planning Time → I spend 10 minutes in Obsidian (my favorite note-taking app) reviewing my goals and setting my priorities for the day.
💡 Try this → Experiment with working around your natural energy peaks. If mornings aren’t your thing, find your best focus window and guard it like gold.
2. Energy Management > Time Management ⚡🌱
The biggest productivity myth? That managing time = getting more done. The truth is, if your energy is drained, more hours won’t help. Instead, I focus on maximizing my energy levels throughout the day.
Here’s what actually works:
⏳ Deep Work Blocks → I work in 90-minute sprints, then take a 10-minute break. Research shows this keeps energy levels high.
💧 Waterminder App → Staying hydrated literally improves brain function, so I use this app to remind me to drink enough.
🌳 Forest App → I use this distraction-blocking app to plant a virtual tree while I focus. It stops me from mindlessly checking my phone.
🎧 Noise-Canceling Headphones → I use AirPods Max to create a deep-focus zone with either lofi beats or deep house. My work playlist.
💡 Try this → Instead of just scheduling tasks, plan your work around your energy cycles and remove distractions.
3. Motivation is Overrated → Build Systems Instead 🏗️
I used to think I just needed more discipline. But motivation comes and goes—systems stick. So, I focus on building habits that make productivity automatic.
🔹 Superhuman for Email → I don’t waste time scrolling my inbox. Superhuman makes emails lightning-fast, so I batch them in 20-minute slots.
🔹 Obsidian for Notes → My brain lives in Obsidian. I take notes on everything—research ideas, to-do lists, even random thoughts.
🔹 A Simple Notebook → Digital tools are great, but sometimes nothing beats writing things down. Every morning, I jot down my 3 biggest goals for the day.
💡 Try this → Instead of forcing motivation, set up habits and tools that make productivity easy.
4. Context Switching is the Silent Productivity Killer 🧠🚫
Between research, consulting, and travel, I used to jump between tasks constantly—and it left me feeling drained. Turns out, switching between tasks can lower efficiency by up to 40%.
How I avoid this:
🚀 Theme Days → Instead of juggling multiple types of work every day, I dedicate full days to research, consulting, or creative work.
📵 Phone-Free Work Blocks → Notifications kill focus. I put my phone in another room when I need deep concentration.
📝 Shutdown Ritual → At the end of the day, I brain-dump unfinished tasks into Obsidian, so I don’t carry mental clutter into the next morning.
💡 Try this → Next time you work, eliminate distractions and focus on ONE task at a time.
Sustainable productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters, in a way that keeps you energized.
If you’ve found any amazing productivity hacks, I’d love to hear them! Reply and share what works for you. 🚀
What I’ve Been Up To in February 🇨🇭✨
🔬 Deep in HTS Magnet Development → I’ve been diving into intensive work in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet fabrication in the Barnes Group at ETH Zurich.
✈️ Amsterdam for the Quantum Delta NL Microplastics Hackathon → A quick but inspiring trip to Amsterdam, where I held a talk for some brilliant minds for Quantum Delta NL’s microplastics hackathon.
👕 Thrifting for Sustainable Spring Fits → With spring around the corner, I’ve been hunting for the perfect second-hand finds to refresh my wardrobe, because sustainable fashion > fast fashion, always.
💚 Green carpet sustainable fashion event in Paris. Rocking the carpet with my fried Cordelia.
🍽️ Dinner with our Important supporter Igor
Random things I am LOVING
🥾 This stunning hike along Walensee → Weesen Waterfall Trail—a perfect mix of waterfalls, lakes, and mountain views.
🔥 Badhuis in Amsterdam → A beautiful outdoor sauna—nothing better after a cold day in the city.
🍓 My new go-to breakfast → Overnight strawberry & matcha bowl—a refreshing, easy start to the day.
🎶 Sebastien Léger on repeat → This remix of ‘The Wave’ is giving me all the deep, melodic vibes this month.
✨ What’s one thing you’re loving right now? 🚀 Let me know below <3
Luxury Swiss Spa & Adventure Weekend – Bid Now for a Cause! 🇨🇭♨️
I’m beyond excited to offer an exclusive 3-day Swiss decadence adventure in Zurich as part of my CharityBuzz auction, supporting The Green Journey Coalition! 🌍✨
All proceeds go toward funding groundbreaking work in microplastic pollution solutions and environmental sustainability. 🌱♻️
👉 Bid now on CharityBuzz: 3-Day Swiss Decadence Adventure for 2
With peace, love, and sustainable success,
Fionn 🌱✨
This edition of Fionn’s Green Journey is fully carbon offset, thanks to the amazing support from Atlas Project! Each tree emoji below represents a verified tree planted to offset our digital footprint.👣
🌟 This Month: A new Red Mangrove has taken root in Vilamatsa, Madagascar! 🌿
Fionn’s Green Journey Forest
🌲 🌳 🌴 🌿 🥑🌴🌿
🌲 = White Fir, 🌳 = Black Ironwood, 🌴 = Indian Cedar, 🌿 = Red Mangrove, 🌺 = Pomegranate, 🍋 = Lemon tree, 🥑 = Avocado tree, 🥭 = Mango tree
Watch the forest grow with every edition. Feel free to request exact coordinates 🥾✨