Nearly three years of constant bad news stream and realization that the world is not going to become “better”, made me reflect deeply on my personal productivity. As usual, I started by revisiting the definition of productivity itself. What does it truly mean? That’s where I found myself stuck, right from the start. Internet searches offered only vague and abstract explanations: words like quantity, quality, continuous learning, innovation, and responsibility for your work dominated the definitions.

Certifications have always been a controversial topic for me. They’re either dismissed as time-wasters or celebrated as career boosters. When people ask me, “Do you recommend certification X? Is it worth pursuing?”, I find myself unsure how to respond. Having gained experience with a few technical certifications (such as OCP and CKAD) as well as language certifications (like IELTS and TELC German), this article is an attempt to break it down and figure this out.