Kosta Canatselis

March 27, 2025

Why Your Productivity Tool Might Be Holding You Back

Ever feel like your task manager is making you work harder, not smarter? I’ve been there. I’m a designer, and I’ve tried every productivity tool you can think of. But today, I want to talk about the one tool I actually stuck with—Sunsama.

I’ll walk you through how I use Sunsama to balance work, side projects, and personal life—and the unexpected lesson I learned about productivity along the way.

How I Use Sunsama Daily

Work Projects: Keeping Design Tasks Under Control

At work, I deal with a ton of different tools—Figma, ClickUp, Slack, email. Sunsama pulls everything into one single place so I don’t have to jump between tabs all day. Every morning, after my coffee, I go into Sunsama and:

  1. Prioritize my design tasks for the day
  2. Timebox deep work sessions
  3. Balance meetings vs. creative work

It helps me stay focused without feeling overloaded.

Side Projects: Managing Creative Work Without Overwhelm

Like most designers, I have too many side projects. Sunsama helps me structure them without stress.

  • I set realistic goals (no more dumping 20 tasks on my plate)
  • I track my progress without pressure
  • I keep my creative work separate from my day job

I’ve found that treating side projects like a marathon, not a sprint makes them more enjoyable and sustainable.

Personal Life: Using Sunsama Without Letting It Control Me

I used to be obsessed with productivity—until I realised I was turning my tools into stress generators. Sunsama helped me step back and:

  • Respect my daily limits—no over-scheduling
  • Track habits & personal tasks without feeling guilty
  • End the day knowing what I actually accomplished

It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what matters.

The Lesson I Learned About Productivity

Sunsama is a tool, but how you use it makes all the difference. The key takeaways:

✅ Start with small, manageable tasks
✅ Respect your daily limits (stop overloading yourself)
✅ Don’t forget to celebrate your wins—big or small

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- Kosta