Stop Letting Teaching Take Over Your Life — Here’s the Productivity Fix

“I was drowning in work… until this.”

That’s not just a clickbait headline — it’s a feeling every teacher has had at some point. The endless planning, the marking pile that grows faster than it shrinks, the guilt when you do take an evening off.

But what if teachers could borrow a few tricks from Hollywood and tech — industries built on getting a ridiculous amount done in limited time?

That’s exactly what this week’s guest, Steven Puri, helps us explore.

Steven has led teams at DreamWorks and 20th Century Fox, co-founded tech companies, and now runs The Sukha, a global productivity community with over 34,000 members. He’s seen how the most creative people in the world stay focused, avoid burnout, and get meaningful work done — and he’s sharing how teachers can do the same.

What Teachers Can Learn from Hollywood

When I asked Steven what Hollywood directors, tech CEOs, and teachers have in common, his answer was simple:

“All three have to perform under pressure, without perfect conditions.”

In film production, everything depends on timing — budgets, deadlines, creative energy. You can’t wait to “feel inspired”; you have to show up and deliver.
And that’s exactly what teachers do every single day.

Steven shared that one of the biggest lessons from Hollywood is the importance of protecting focus. “You can’t create great work when your attention is scattered,” he said. “So build micro-moments of deep focus — even just 20 minutes — and make them sacred.”

How to Enter a “Flow State” (Even in a School Day)

If you’ve heard the term flow state, you might picture a novelist disappearing into their manuscript or a coder typing away for hours. But Steven says teachers can access it too, in bite-sized chunks.

A flow state is that sweet spot where your brain is challenged just enough to stay engaged, but not overwhelmed. The trick?

Reduce friction before you start.

For teachers, that might mean:

• Setting up resources before the school day begins.

• Turning off email notifications while planning.

• Writing down your first next step, not a full to-do list.

As Steven put it: “You don’t need hours of focus. You need clarity and momentum.”

The Real Reason We Procrastinate

When I admitted that I sometimes procrastinate with coffee breaks or “just checking emails,” Steven laughed and said, “That’s not laziness. That’s avoidance of discomfort.”

Procrastination, he explained, often happens when a task feels ambiguous — you don’t know where to start or how long it’ll take. So your brain looks for the easy dopamine hit instead.

His solution?

Shrink the task until it’s impossible not to start.

Instead of “mark 30 essays,” try “mark two essays.”

Instead of “plan Year 9 lessons,” try “write the starter activity.”

Momentum beats motivation every time.

Why Teachers Feel Guilty for Taking Time Off

One of the most relatable parts of our conversation was about guilt, the kind teachers feel when they stop working in the evenings or on weekends.

Steven’s advice was simple but powerful:

“Rest is part of productivity. Not the opposite.”

He compared it to filmmaking: no one shoots a 24-hour scene. The pause between takes is what keeps quality high. Teachers, he said, need that same rhythm — work, rest, reset.

“High performance isn’t about doing more,” he added. “It’s about sustaining energy for the things that matter.”

The Productivity Fix: Work with Focus, Not Stress

By the end of our chat, it was clear that productivity for teachers isn’t about cramming more into the day. It’s about designing your time like a creative professional:

• Batch your energy, not just your tasks. Plan demanding work when your brain is fresh, not when you’re running on fumes.

• Embrace imperfection. Hollywood productions never go 100% to plan — and neither do school weeks.

• Set finish lines. Decide when the workday ends, even if the list isn’t done. Otherwise, it never will be.

Steven even gave teachers a challenge:

“Try protecting one hour this week — no marking, no planning, no admin. Use it to think, walk, or rest. That’s when your best ideas surface.”

A Resource Worth Exploring

If you want to dive deeper into Steven’s approach, check out The Sukha  — his online productivity platform built to help busy people (including teachers) find balance.

🎁 Use code KATIE25 to get 25% off for life.

Final Thoughts

Teachers don’t need another system or app to stay productive. They need a mindset shift — from overworking to working with intention.

As Steven reminded us, “The goal isn’t to get everything done. It’s to get the right things done — and still have energy left for your life.”

If that resonates, tune in to the full episode:

🎧 Stop Letting Teaching Take Over Your Life — The Productivity Fix (with Steven Puri)

Available now on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , and YouTube.