Doing it the honest way can be slower. The upside is you never have to look over your shoulder.

Dishonesty carries a maintenance cost that nobody mentions while they are selling you the shortcut. The story needs remembering, the people who know need managing, and a share of your attention is permanently assigned to being found out. Doing it properly costs more time at the start and nothing afterwards, which across a whole year is usually the better trade.

Add up what you are currently keeping track of: the thing you said, the thing you hid, the person you are avoiding. Clear one of them this week, even clumsily, and notice how much attention comes back. Then start building in the extra day the honest version needs.