If we told you that the secret to getting more done is to do less, you’d probably think we’re nuts.
But hear us out.
This theory is called subtractive productivity and it’s rooted in the idea that spending more time working doesn’t necessarily equate to higher output. Rather, overworking can actually decrease your levels of productivity and cause burnout.
Subtractive productivity doesn’t simply mean sitting at your desk staring at the wall. There’s a method to the madness. But when done strategically, it can offer great results.
We’ll explore how, but first let’s look at why.
Why Does Subtractive Productivity Work?
As we said, subtractive productivity isn’t about doing nothing. Instead, it’s about increasing your volume of rest while also eliminating harmful habits and activities and improving workflows.
The name of the game is to optimize the output of every action using the least input of effort and energy. It’s equal parts learning what to do and what not to do.
Believe it or not, David Rock, author of Your Brain at Work, found that we’re genuinely focused on our work a mere six hours per week. With that in mind, the goal of subtractive productivity is to stop doing things that make you feel busy but aren’t getting you results, in turn giving yourself more than enough time for what really matters.
7 Tips to Help You Achieve More by Doing Less
Now that you understand what it’s all about, here are seven tips you can use to test the waters of subtractive productivity to see if it will work for you.
1. Prioritize and Break Down Your Tasks
According to Psychology Today, preventing procrastination and ensuring productivity results from identifying priorities, doing meaningful work, and creating a schedule or routine.
So, what does this mean for your task list?
It means that you need to prioritize your tasks based on their importance. Once you’ve done so, it’s smart to breakdown each big task into a number of smaller tasks.
Why?
Because numerous smaller tasks feel more attainable and achievable than one daunting task. And moreover, this allows you to achieve multiple small wins in completing tasks throughout the day. It’s been proven that checking items off your to-do list has psychological benefits — which brings us to our next point.
2. Make a To-Do List
Making a to-do list for each day is critically important. Word to the wise: do this the night before so you’re not rushing into your day trying to figure out what you need to be doing.
Here’s the key: avoid, with prejudice, creating long and overly-ambitious to-do lists.
This will only serve to leave you feeling guilty about tasks you weren’t able to complete in a day, even though you probably never had a real chance of getting them done anyway.
Instead, use your prioritized list from the previous point and develop an attainable to-do list filled with important tasks.
Stop trying to do more and instead opt to do a lower volume of important tasks — with extreme focus.
3. Implement Time Blocking
With your to-do list built out, try implementing a technique called time blocking wherein you utilize your calendar or day planner to assign pre-set timeframes for particular tasks. In doing so, you’ll be giving yourself a mental parameter for how long the work should take and ensuring you don’t spend extra time on it.
4. Do Not Multitask
Multitasking may feel productive, but in reality, it simply stops you from giving your full attention to any one task.
That’s why multitasking is a fundamental no-no when it comes to subtractive productivity. It’s a clear example of trying to achieve too much and in turn achieving much less than you otherwise might’ve.
Eliminate distractions, put away your phone and social media, avoid checking emails, don’t take calls, halt other work tasks.
Whatever it takes, make sure you’re focusing intently on one task at a time.
5. Give Yourself Assigned Breaks
Giving yourself assigned breaks is critical to performing better. A popular technique called the Pomodoro Technique has found that short periods of rest actually increase your productivity. As a result, this technique promotes 25 minutes of work followed by five minutes of rest.
Other research has suggested that the most productive individuals do 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes of rest.
But ultimately, the best way to find out what works for you is to test the theory at varying intervals until you find the perfect balance.
At a flexible workspace like The Post, taking scheduled breaks is extra easy because you can get up, head to the cafe, chat with other professionals, or simply get a change of scenery to sit and unwind.
6. Create White Space in Your Schedule
In addition to taking scheduled rest breaks and booking them into your calendar, it’s also important to create white space in your schedule.
What do we mean?
It can be all too easy to schedule back-to-back calls or meetings which in turn causes you to feel rushed, stressed, and unfocused. By allowing small blocks of white space (i.e. stints of time between calls, meetings, or engagements), you’ll give yourself time to reflect on what you’re learning and the impact you’re making through your work as well as to regroup and refocus on the next tasks at hand.
7. Practice Self-Care
This is non-work-related but has big implications in your work performance: practice self-care and take care of yourself.
By eating healthier foods, drinking more water, and getting a full night’s sleep, you’re physically fueling your brain and empowering yourself to focus more sharply and to achieve more.
Subtractive productivity, when done correctly, can allow you to achieve more while doing less and focusing more intently on giving your all to those fewer tasks in your day.
Try it for yourself and see if it makes a difference — even after a few weeks!
Want to learn more about how flexible office space can boost your productivity and help you achieve more?
Get in touch with us or book a tour of The Post today!