How doing less can make you more productive

Do you constantly find yourself stretched too thin? Feeling busy but ultimately unproductive? Overwhelmed by burnout, hustle-culture and constant digital distractions, more people are realising that protecting your energy isn’t laziness, it’s strategy.

The daily grind results in a constant chase, which often leaves us feeling like we’re always on but never doing enough. What if you could be more productive by doing less?

Greg McKeown’s novel Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less helps you redesign your life to prioritise what’s important, and free yourself from what isn’t. By focusing on less, you gain clarity, purpose and the freedom to channel your energy on what truly matters.

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Being busy vs being productive

It’s tempting to fill every free moment in our schedule with tasks to feel like we’re making the most of our time, but this tendency to overwork can leave us robbed of the ability to do a good job. Focusing on the essential means embracing the idea that you can’t have or do it all, and that trying to is not only unrealistic, but also ineffective.

A 2025 survey conducted by YouGov found that burnout remains prevalent, with one in three (34%) adults experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure or stress. Dr Laurie Santos, Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale University and expert on the science of happiness says we get the relationship between productivity and busyness wrong.

‘Juliet Schor and her colleagues have done some lovely work on companies that have started using a four-day work. Her findings are pretty surprising: when people work less, they often get more done in less time.

‘Schor’s research found that long hours don’t always equal high productivity. Instead, reducing the work week doesn't hurt output and sometimes even improves it. These findings hint that when we’re well-rested, we’re more focused, motivated, and creative.’ Our tendency to equate busyness with productivity sees us repeatedly run ourselves into the ground, and so it’s clear that we need to adjust our lifestyles to promote a healthier and ultimately more sustainable approach.

How to live with intention

The idea of choice over obligation can feels rebellious, but according to Greg McKeown the phrase “I have to” is often a lie, and in most cases, we have the freedom of choice. We can choose how we spend our time and energy, living with intentional choice, rather than in a constant state of reaction.

Often, we default to saying yes to new challenges and opportunities without thinking through the bigger pictures.

Modern life is an onslaught of notifications and pressures, without clarity and intention it’s easy to fall into reactive mode, letting others set our agenda. McKeown argues that this leads to a “diluted life”, where we’re constantly busy but not necessarily productive or fulfilled.

Often, we default to saying yes to new challenges and opportunities without thinking through the bigger pictures. Before agreeing to a task, stop and ask: “what do I want to do?”, “does this align with my goals?” and “is it worth my time?”. These simple questions can help you regain control of your life and stop being swept along in other people’s priorities.

Understand your priorities

To effectively declutter your life, you need to distinguish between what is essential and what is a distraction. Think about your long-term goals and decipher what habits and actions will get you closer to them, only then can you confidently clear out your calendar of what doesn’t align.

Stretching yourself too thin sabotages productivity, so Essentialists don’t seek to do more things, just the right things. Host of The Happiness Lab Podcast, Dr Laurie Santos runs a 10-week course on The Science of Wellbeing which uses science-backed strategies to shape happier, more fulfilled lives. She says ‘when we stretch ourselves too thin, we fall into the trap of what researchers have called time famine—feeling like there’s never enough time, which sabotages both our productivity and well-being.

‘Studies show that time famine can have a huge negative impact on our happiness. In fact, some surveys show that just feeling like you don't have any free time can be as bad for your wellbeing as suddenly becoming unemployed. We'd all be much better off if we focused on improving our time affluence—the feeling of having enough time. Research by Ashley Whillans has shown that time affluence can be a stronger predictor of happiness than money (or financial affluence).’

The truth is we’re not deprived of time - we’re just misspending it. Every time you say yes to one thing, you’re saying no to something else, every decision is a trade-off.

Time affluence is the to answer to a hustle-culture that constantly squeezes you. Once you cut back your schedule to the bare-essentials, you’ll have time to finish that book or sink into a long therapeutic bath – giving you space to commit to the pursuits and people that make us happy.

The truth is we’re not deprived of time – we’re just misspending it. Every time you say yes to one thing, you’re saying no to something else, every decision is a trade-off – whether you realise it or not. To ensure you’re spending your precious time on the right thing, ask yourself not only “which option will ultimately move me closer to my goals?”, but also “what do I want to do next?” rather than “what do I have to do?”.

The danger of being a yes person

One of the most powerful skills a person can develop in a world dominated by social pressures is the ability to say “no” gracefully, but firmly. RTT Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Transformation Coach, Elise Clayton says when you say “yes” to everything, you end up saying “no” to yourself.

‘I learned this the hard way in a corporate role where people-pleasing and overcommitting left me drained and unwell. Constantly prioritising others’ needs creates resentment, stress, and ultimately burnout. Protecting your time and energy is not selfish – it’s essential if you want to be effective, creative, and healthy.’

That’s why learning to say no isn’t selfish – it’s strategic. Protect your time like a precious resource, understanding that you can’t please everyone, and that trying to only leads to frustration and overcommitment.

“No” can be a hard word to say, but the key is to be honest, clear and consistent with your priorities. Politely saying no reinforces your commitment to what’s essential to you and reinforces a focus on what truly moves your life forward.

Do less but better

The antidote to the “more is more” mentality that dominates modern hustle culture, “less but better” is about doing fewer things to a much higher standard. This mindset is not about doing the bare minimum, it’s simply means being selective and purposeful about where you invest your time. Doing less but better is about quality over quantity, allowing you to maximise your impact, reduce stress and find greater fulfilment.

This principle can be applied to both your work and your personal life. For example, it might manifest in nurturing a few close relationships rather than maintaining a sprawling but shallow social group, or it might mean focusing on one meaningful project instead of juggling ten.

Doing less but better is about quality over quantity, allowing you to maximise your impact, reduce stress and find greater fulfilment.

The art of cutting back will remove distractions and let you focus on what matters most. Almost 40% of our decisions are completely unconscious, so establish a routine which turns your chosen few priorities into natural daily habits.

Be clear on your purpose

Do you ever feel like your persistently busy but no closer to reaching your goals? Have you lost sight of what those goals even are? Without a clear sense of direction, it’s easy to drift. Greg McKeown argues that Essentialists operate with a crystal-clear understanding of what they’re trying to achieve – personally and professionally.

This clear sense of purpose becomes a filter for all decisions. When you’re faced with new opportunities, you can simply ask: “does this align with my goals?” if the answer is no, you let it go. When you know what you’re aiming for, it becomes easier to prioritise. Your time, energy and focus are no longer scattered and stretched; they’re aligned with a clear purpose.

Protect your energy

Rest is a vital part of productivity; it gives your nervous system time to recuperate, reducing stress, improving focus and boosting creativity. Rest allows you to show up as best version of you – Rapid Transformational Therapist, Elise Clayton says rest is the key to taking back your power and transforming your life.

‘I used to ignore rest until my body forced me to stop with a diagnosis of MS. Now, I view rest as the fuel for everything else – it’s the space where ideas land, where resilience is built, and where your mind and body recharge so you can perform sustainably.’

Integrate time to rest into your daily routine to ensure you are protecting your energy. Sleep-deprivation depletes your cognitive function, emotional wellbeing and physical wellness. It’s only when you feel well-rested that you can truly be productive.

Set clear boundaries

If you look back on the last few months or years of your life, can you say that you focused on what truly matters to you? Without boundaries you risk letting other people’s priorities dictate your schedule, leaving you overwhelmed and scattered. The most fulfilling version of your life is created through parameters that keep what’s important to you at the forefront.

Boundaries can be physical, emotional or digital, they can be as simple as setting specific times to respond to phone notifications or saying no to last minute plans that interfere with your priorities. Communicating them clearly to others helps people understand your limits and respect your priorities, leading to healthier relationships as well as bringing a sense of control back to a busy life.

Make time to think

In a fast-paced world, it can sometimes feel indulgent and counter-intuitive to make time for reflection and deep thinking. But this ‘white space’ in our calendar it is the key to leading with intention. Without dedicated thinking time, it’s difficult to distinguish between what’s important and what’s a distraction.

When you neglect to think deeply, you risk falling into autopilot. Carving out time in your schedule to pause and reflect will give you space for clarity, allowing you to identify the essential few priorities from the noise.

Progress over perfection

Many people get stuck waiting for the “perfect” moment before taking their first steps towards a goal or get preoccupied with making something flawless before moving forward. This mindset can lead to wasted time and missed opportunities.

Greg McKeown believes that the pursuit of perfection is a trap that undermines happiness and hinders progress. Instead, embrace “a growth mindset” - the idea that small, consistent steps towards your goals boosts productivity. Progress, even if imperfect, builds momentum and brings you closer to a life with that aligns with your purpose, so there’s no better time to start than right now.

Photos: Getty

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