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# 275 : Activity Is Not Always Progress
- URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/275-activity-is-not-always-progress/
- Published: 2026-01-26T06:00:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-26T06:00:39.000Z
- Description: Do you know the difference between 'busy work' and progress? Make sure your activities count with a low-friction weekly review.
- Author: Matt
- Tags: Newsletter

Being busy feels safe, productive and fills your day. But is your task list helping you make **progress**?

Knowing the difference is critical. 

Real progress mostly comes from a small number of **key** actions. A decision that removes friction. A conversation that unlocks movement. A deliverable that **force multiplies** your work. These actions are hard. They create tension. So you postpone them and default to ‘busy work’. 

[Try this question in your weekly review](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-weekly-review-that-makes-you-better-at-your-job-in-30-minutes/): **What changed because you showed up this week?**

If the answer is “nothing”, you were busy. Not effective.

*I try and pick at least one progress action each week. This week I worked on automating a key report that will help the main part of my job.* 

**Clarity exposes progress.**

> What did you do last week that genuinely changed something?

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### The Stuff

[The weekly review that can change your career](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/the-weekly-review-that-makes-you-better-at-your-job-in-30-minutes/) | [Motivation is good, but discipline is better.](https://psyche.co/notes-to-self/why-having-discipline-matters-more-than-having-motivation?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) | [How to learn so fast it’s unfair](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npQ2IORdlvU&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) (YouTube) | [Could frictionmaxxing lead to a happier life?](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/06/friction-maxxing-could-less-convenience-lead-to-much-more-happiness?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) | [Is Ghost Growth affecting your career?](https://theeverygirl.com/what-is-ghost-growth/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) | [Three phrases to help navigate conflict](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/05/brene-brown-good-communicators-have-a-tolerance-for-discomfort-.html?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk).

**Finally** : [Meme Higher or Lower ](https://memehigherlower.github.io/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)\- work out the most popular memes. My high score is 11, can you beat that? 

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### Below the Fold

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[Updates from the last seven days](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/weeknote/) \+ [This Week I Learned](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/twil-103-white-storks-in-london/)

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****Journal Prompt:** What is one thing you can do to show gratitude to someone today? [Start Writing Now.](https://startwriting.now/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)

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****Elsewhere:** More insights and updates on my [website](https://mattrutherford.co.uk/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), follow me on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/matt.rutherford/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@matt.rutherford?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/rutherfordmatt.bsky.social?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) for updates. 

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