Why Your Productivity Is Broken (And How the 5 Gears Can Fix It!)

Are you stuck in an endless cycle of to-do lists, emails, and meetings—always busy, but never quite caught up? You might be living in the wrong gear. According to Jeremie Kubicek and Steve Cockram’s '5 Gears,' most of us spend our days in 4th gear, juggling tasks and firefighting problems, while neglecting the focused, creative work that really moves the needle. The result? Burnout, frustration, and a nagging sense that you’re not making a difference.

The solution isn’t to work harder—it’s to work smarter by mastering the art of shifting gears. 5th gear is where deep work happens: no distractions, just pure focus and flow. But you can’t live there all day. 4th gear is for managing the daily grind, 3rd gear is for building relationships, and 1st gear is for rest and renewal. The trick is knowing when to shift, how to protect your focus, and when to step back to recharge.

Research shows that true multitasking is a myth. Every time you switch tasks, your brain loses efficiency. The '5 Gears' approach encourages you to batch similar tasks together, create rituals for entering deep work, and schedule intentional breaks. For example, block out an hour each morning for 5th gear, followed by a 4th gear sprint to handle emails and admin. Use 3rd gear to connect with colleagues over lunch, and don’t forget to carve out 1st gear time at the end of the day to unplug and recover.

Leaders who adopt the 5 Gears system report fewer distractions, higher morale, and a healthier work-life balance. Teams become more productive when everyone speaks the same gear language, and families benefit from clear boundaries between work and home. If you’re ready to break free from busyness and reclaim your productivity, it’s time to learn the 5 Gears—and start shifting with purpose. 1 3 4