Productivity, in the context of effective altruism, refers to the practices, tools, and mental models that help individuals or teams increase the amount and quality of impact-focused work they can accomplish over time. While often associated with efficiency and output, productivity in EA is typically framed with an emphasis on sustainability, focus, and long-term capacity for doing good.

Many EA-aligned thinkers have critiqued the simplistic view of productivity as “doing more faster,” pointing instead to risks of burnout, the importance of prioritization, and the value of rest. A common theme is that maximizing total long-term impact requires maintaining mental clarity, health, and slack—much like a well-managed system or a computer with sufficient RAM. These ideas are sometimes referred to as a counter to the “productivity fallacy”—the mistaken belief that maximizing short-term output leads to long-term effectiveness.

On the Forum, productivity discussions include:

• Personal systems for solo workers (e.g. brainwriting, time blocking, rubber ducking, structured walks).
• Mental models for managing energy and capacity (e.g. “delegating to future selves,” prioritizing tasks based on mental load).
• Techniques for coordination and follow-through, such as weekly check-ins, project management tools, and placeholder notes.
• Organizational practices to prevent “dropped balls” and encourage clarity in team communication.

Forum authors often tie productivity to career choice, cause prioritization, or meta-level questions about how to best scale one’s impact over time. Posts may include both practical advice and reflection on the emotional or motivational dynamics behind productivity.