How to Notice When a Tool Is Creating Work

Productivity tools can hide their cost. They look organized even when they add chores.

Count maintenance actions

Tagging, sorting, syncing, grooming, and reviewing all cost attention. If those actions do not change decisions, question them.

If the same task lives in notes, chat, calendar, and a project board, the system may be creating uncertainty instead of clarity.

Remove one redundant view, status, or category. A smaller system that gets used is usually stronger.