The Productivity Trap
Elle India|February 2019

As the new year triggers a fresh wave of goal setting, Kat Stoeffel takes a hard look at a genre aimed at illuminating how women “get it all done”

Kat Stoeffel
The Productivity Trap

The evidence that I am inadequate had been mounting for some time. But it reached a critical mass in October when an impressive young HSBC executive, Melania Edwards, revealed to Business Insider what a day in her life looks like. According to Edwards, her morning routine begins at 5.30am and includes meditation, green juice, and tennis. After a full day of work— spread between San Francisco and Palo Alto—Edwards enriches herself with classes at Stanford, yoga, and volunteer work. The travel time alone made me want to crawl back into bed. Edwards, meanwhile, relaxes by cooking dinner with her boyfriend and walking “down the tree-lined University Avenue, reflecting upon our key wins and challenges and preparing for the adventures of the next day.”

Aspirational day-in-the-life diaries have recently become ubiquitous. Presenting the daily habits of successful women, these articles are meant to offer the key to unlocking your own future potential. They’re nothing new: Male CEOs have been bragging to business magazines about how early they wake up for years. Optimisation obsessed Silicon Valley spawned a cottage industry of largely male productivity experts explaining how to get more done, faster, in email newsletters and podcasts. But around the time work life balance became a national public debate, women’s media outlets that once might have asked women what they wore, started asking powerful or simply cool women about how they get things done.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2019 من Elle India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2019 من Elle India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من ELLE INDIA مشاهدة الكل
FULL THROTTLE
Elle India

FULL THROTTLE

F2 rising star Kush Maini on his racing journey & challenges in motorsport. Ekta Sinha hitches a ride

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
VIJAY VARMA MAN OF THE MOMENT
Elle India

VIJAY VARMA MAN OF THE MOMENT

Amidst the barrage of releases, Vijay Varma's dignified reticence is enveloped in thoughtful consideration, reports Ipsita Kaul

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
ROHIT SARAF THE GEN Z STAR
Elle India

ROHIT SARAF THE GEN Z STAR

The new generation heartthrob talks about his love for romcoms, music, and future endeavours with Ekta Sinha

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
Roaring RAJASTHAN
Elle India

Roaring RAJASTHAN

From Jawai's dramatic landscape and Jaisalmer's rich heritage to Ranthambore's enthralling wilderness-Isha Mayer explores SUJÁN's luxurious, eco-conscious hospitality offerings in the beautiful state

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
Ectoin: The Skin's New Defence
Elle India

Ectoin: The Skin's New Defence

Krishika Bhatia explores a revolutionary skincare breakthrough that merges nature and science, featuring insights from industry experts

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Nigella's WORLD
Elle India

Nigella's WORLD

The British celebrity chef shares the secret recipe to her effortless charm in the kitchen with Isha Mayer

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
ADRIATIC DRIFT
Elle India

ADRIATIC DRIFT

Stari Grad is Croatia's hidden gem waiting to be explored, finds Isha Mayer

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024
Unapologetically MOSTLY SANE
Elle India

Unapologetically MOSTLY SANE

The multi-hyphenate artist fills Maahi Shah in on the fun things she's working on, what meeting Michelle Obama was like, & how she stays grounded

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
SANYA MALHOTRA POWERHOUSE OF VERSATILITY
Elle India

SANYA MALHOTRA POWERHOUSE OF VERSATILITY

The actor lets Maahi Shah in on her female-forward acting choices, growing through the tribulations of the imposter syndrome and the big little things that make her proud to be a woman

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
H&M GOES BRAT
Elle India

H&M GOES BRAT

Popstar Charli XCX's celebration of the fashion brand's Autumn/ Winter 2024 campaign offered a window to its refreshed trajectory, reports Haiqa Siddiqui

time-read
3 mins  |
October 2024