Want to Get More Done? Work With Your Brain, Not Against It

We might think that working long hours is the best way to be productive, but cognitive science paints a different picture. In fact, practices that yield the highest levels of productivity in mental work are roughly the opposite of this approach. When we continually push ourselves and grind at a task, we are more likely to find that our attention narrows, our judgment suffers, and our creativity diminishes. The result is less productivity and lower-quality work.  

Fortunately, there are several strategies we can employ to boost our productivity while protecting our energy, focus, and overall well-being. Here are seven actions we can take to ramp up the quality and volume of our work based on cognitive performance techniques. 

Tap your peak energy. Each of us has energy peaks and valleys during the day. The more closely we can match the mental work we do with our best energy, the more productive we can be. For example, we might schedule creative, analytical, and strategic work during our highest-energy time. During our low-energy time, we might engage in routine tasks such as reading and responding to emails, scheduling check-in meetings with colleagues, and organizing and positioning materials and equipment. If we are not certain of our energy cycles, we might track our energy patterns for a week or so and then shift our work schedule as much as we can to match them. 

Adopt pre-work micro-rituals. Rituals can provide powerful support to brain focus. Small actions such as starting a favorite playlist, preparing a favorite beverage, clearing our workspace, or sitting in a consistent, distraction-free location can help us mentally prepare to focus and produce.   

Build motivation. Some tasks are naturally motivating. Unfortunately, much of the work we must do is not. We can create motivation by giving ourselves choices about which task to do first, focusing on the task's purpose and the benefits of completing it, and reminding ourselves that we possess the knowledge and skills to perform successfully. Of course, we can also consider incentivizing ourselves with the prospect of engaging in enjoyable activities, having healthy snacks, and other rewards once we finish the task. 

Chunk tasks and projects into manageable segments. We know that students do their best when they are presented with learning and other tasks in manageable segments. The same is true for us when engaging in large projects, complicated tasks, and other challenging mental activities. When we limit our cognitive load, we are better able to focus, process, and remember the learning and other mental work we do. 

Alternate mental activities. Variation can assist productivity. Time spent writing and creating might be alternated with reading and editing, and analytical tasks might be alternated with interpersonal engagement. Our brains tire fastest when we engage in the same cognitive activity repeatedly or for an extended time. 

Avoid multitasking. When we frequently switch between tasks, we face two challenges: reduced attention and residual interference. Frequent shifts in attention reduce our ability to focus, and a portion of our attention remains attached to the previous task, creating the potential for confusion, errors, and reduced efficiency.  

Stop before you’re exhausted. We might think that working until we can no longer work is the best use of our energy. Yet, fully exhausting ourselves can make recovery take longer and leave us resentful of the experience. We might decide in advance what our stopping point will be. It is best to quit when we are feeling confident. For example, Ernest Hemingway made it a practice to stop writing when he knew exactly what would happen next. The key is to stop at a place where resuming or starting again will be easiest and most comfortable.   

Make recovery deliberate. We might think that stopping and resting is all that is needed to recover from intense or extended mental effort. Yet shifts in focus can be as restorative as, or more restorative than, doing nothing. Consider taking a walk, stretching, or other physical movement; listening to music; having a supportive conversation; or engaging in other low-intensity, enjoyable activities.  

Working long hours might seem like a good way to get work done. Yet, the price exacted by such an approach is high. We are better served by adopting proven cognitive performance techniques to save our energy and sanity, while getting more done.