Prefer to listen as a podcast? Click here.

Let’s talk about rabbit holes.

Those times when you’re supposed to be helping your kiddo write a report or folding laundry or finishing that work thing…and suddenly, you’re seven layers deep into researching ancient Roman plumbing systems or watching videos of raccoons washing grapes. And before you know it, poof! Two hours gone. Your to-do list? Still untouched. Your shame and anxiety levels? Maxed out.

But what if – and stay with me here – rabbit holes weren’t the enemy?

What if they were actually…a…weird, twisty, slightly chaotic form of productivity?

I know. That sounds absolutely batshit when you first hear it. Like, “Sarah, are you seriously telling me that scrolling TikTok for 90 minutes while looking up ADHD hacks is productive??”

Yes. Yes, I kind of am.

Because here’s the spicy take of the day: Rabbit Hole Productivity is a real thing. And it might be the exact thing your brain needs to get shit done.

Rabbit holes have been a staple of my life for as long as I can remember. Honestly, even while writing this very episode, I’ve already gone down four or five of them – a mix of procrastination and an obsessive search for old notes I swore I had saved somewhere on my hard drive. (Spoiler alert: I did not. I found a recipe for Gordon Ramsay’s shepherd’s pie instead.)

For years, I beat myself up for this.

“You’re not focused.”

“You’re lazy.”

“Why can’t you just DO THE THING like a normal person?”

Sound familiar?

Yeah, welcome to the inner monologue of a neurodivergent brain living in a capitalistic hellscape…while also under a fascist takeover.

But over time – and trust me, this was a whole journey with tears, therapy, and many, many unfinished planners – I stopped berating myself for falling down rabbit holes. Or at least, I mostly stopped. Because honestly? That berating wasn’t helping me get my shit together. It was just making me feel worse. Like somehow I was broken because I couldn’t operate like the perfectly productive Pinterest moms or CEO bros in their matching blue suits and brown shoes with no socks (seriously, why do you wear those uncomfortable shoes with no socks? It makes no sense…and looks gross).

Screw all that mental nonsense.

So today, I want to show you how we can reframe rabbit holes, stop beating ourselves up for our beautifully nonlinear brains, and maybe even use those rabbit holes to our advantage.

Let’s go spelunking, shall we?

So what the heck is Rabbit Hole Productivity, anyway?

Think of it like this:

It’s not about getting distracted – it’s about following your curiosity and using those tangents as fuel.

I also call it taming the tangent. We’re not eliminating the rabbit holes – we’re learning how to traverse them like a freaking side quest in a video game.

And no, this is not the same as the toxic hustle culture BS that tells you you must monetize every hobby and have 24/7 laser focus or you’re failing at life. HARD PASS.

Here’s what Rabbit Hole Productivity isn’t. It isn’t about meeting society’s definition of productivity. It isn’t about turning every moment into a measurable result. And it definitely isn’t about feeling like crap every time your brain takes a detour.

It is about embracing how your mind naturally works, and learning to work with it – not against it.

Rabbit holes don’t mean you’re broken. They mean your brain is curious. Creative. Exploratory. And when we understand them, we can turn them into side quests that lead us back to the main objective with more insight, energy, and clarity.

Now let’s talk about navigating distractions.

Distractions show up for a reason. Sometimes it’s procrastination. Sometimes it’s boredom. Sometimes it’s a spark of inspiration that takes you down a Wikipedia black hole about haunted castles in Scotland. (No judgment, I’ve been there.)

But how do we know when a rabbit hole is helping us…or just an elaborate form of avoidance?

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself the next time you find yourself five tabs deep and wondering where your afternoon went:

• What kicked this off? What was the spark? A question? A TikTok? A weird dream?
• What was I hoping to find out? Were you researching something relevant? Avoiding a task? Chasing dopamine?
• What did I actually learn? Did you get any insight, idea, or momentum that could connect back to what you were originally working on?

Then, ask yourself:

• Can this rabbit hole become its own mini-goal? Like a bonus level? A detour that actually builds the bridge to your bigger picture?

Or…

• Is this just Procrastination Station™, and I need to either set a boundary or rethink the task entirely?

Because – and here’s your permission slip – maybe the original task sucks. Maybe it’s not aligned. Maybe your brain’s resistance is trying to tell you something.

And that brings us to your core values.

Rabbit holes aren’t just distractions. Sometimes, they’re signs from your intuition. If you’ve been spinning out on a tangent and can’t figure out why, try checking in with your gut:

• Does this rabbit hole feel aligned with your values?
• Is it lighting you up in a way your current task doesn’t?
• Is it nudging you toward something more you – even if it doesn’t make logical sense?

Remember. You’re not a robot. You’re not a to-do list machine. You are a complex, magical, weird AF human being with thoughts and ideas and actual feelings. And if your values and your curiosity are pulling you in a new direction, maybe it’s time to follow it. Or at least explore it.

Now. Once you’ve checked in with your gut, it’s time to unleash your inner explorer.

Let’s say you do want to experiment with your rabbit hole. Maybe you’re thinking, “Okay, this might actually be useful.” Here’s what you can do:

• Turn your rabbit hole into a working hypothesis. Ask: “If I follow this curiosity, how might it loop back to help me with my original goal?”
• Make it a test. An experiment. Not a commitment. Play with different tools. Combine your rabbit hole topic with your current task. Or ditch the task completely and follow the rabbit down the hole to see where it leads.
• See if it opens up a better, easier, more aligned way of doing what you originally set out to do.

Because sometimes the weird, twisty path is the right one.

And finally…let’s talk about reflection. Because this is where the real magic happens.

After you’ve wandered through your rabbit holes – whether they led to gold or just a pile of random trivia – take a beat and reflect. Ask yourself:

• How did I feel during the rabbit hole?
• Was I energized? Curious? Avoidant? Guilty?
• What did I discover, if anything?
• Did I treat myself with kindness, or did I start spiraling into shame and self-loathing?
• And most importantly – did this serve me in some way?

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about getting curious about yourself.

Because every time you reflect, you learn more about what makes your brain tick. And the more you know, the more empowered you are to work with your brain instead of constantly fighting against it.

So here’s your weird little challenge for the week. Find one rabbit hole you’ve recently gone down. Just one. And instead of beating yourself up for it, take ten minutes to ask yourself:

• Why did I go down this rabbit hole?
• What did I discover?
• And can I use it – even just a piece of it – to help me move forward?

Then, share your thoughts. Seriously. DM me, email me, or join us in our Monday coworking community. You are absolutely not the only weirdo out here wrestling with distraction, curiosity, guilt, and ambition – all at the same time.

And if you want some help sorting through those rabbit holes and finding your own map through the chaos, come hang out with us on Monday coworking calls, hop on the email list, or stay tuned for the Tame the Tangent Lab…coming soon.

Let’s stop pretending that the only way to be productive is to be perfectly focused, perfectly structured, and perfectly boring.

You’re allowed to be weird.

You’re allowed to be nonlinear.

And you’re allowed to find magic in the rabbit holes.

Until next time, my lovely weirdo – Stay weird. Stay curious. Stay kind to that beautiful brain of yours.

*Some links on this page may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase anything from those links, I would make a small commission. There’s no additional cost to you when you purchase, it just contributes to the building of my home library 😉

Read all of my blog posts about organizing.