Let’s be honest: “being productive” has practically become a competitive sport. There are endless podcasts, hacks, tools, and systems promising to transform us into hyper-efficient machines who somehow also get eight hours of sleep and do sunrise yoga. I’ve tried a fair few of these tricks myself. Some stuck. Others… well, let’s just say my colour-coded task spreadsheet lasted exactly three days.
What I’ve learnt along the way is that real productivity isn’t about cramming more in. It’s about setting yourself up properly, focusing on what matters, and making space for the rest of your life too. Here are some practical strategies that have made a genuine difference to my workdays.
Start with Clarity, Not Chaos
The way you start your day can set the tone for everything that follows. For years, I began my mornings by immediately opening my inbox, only to get swallowed up in other people’s priorities before I’d even had my first sip of coffee.
Now, before I check a single email, I jot down three things that genuinely need my attention that day. Nothing fancy, just a quick note in a notebook. This small act of clarity stops me from drifting through the day, reacting to whatever pops up on my screen. It sounds simple because it is, and it works.
Time Blocking (Without Becoming a Robot)
I used to roll my eyes at the idea of “time blocking”. It felt too rigid, like my entire day would be carved into colour-coded segments where even my tea breaks were scheduled to the minute. But I’ve since learnt that it doesn’t need to be that intense.
Time blocking, for me, simply means grouping similar tasks together and giving them a loose window. It might be two hours of deep work in the morning, meetings after lunch, and admin in the late afternoon. Of course, life happens. Meetings run over, the printer jams, someone eats your yoghurt from the fridge. But having a rough structure means you always have a focus point to return to.
Stop Multitasking, It’s a Trap
If you’ve ever tried to write a detailed email while half-listening to a virtual meeting and simultaneously eating lunch, you’ll know how badly that goes. At best, you end up with crumbs in your keyboard and a half-baked sentence that doesn’t make sense.
Multitasking feels productive, but it’s usually the opposite. Switching between tasks constantly forces your brain to refocus over and over, which is surprisingly draining. I’ve found that doing one thing properly, then moving to the next, is far more effective than juggling three and finishing none.
The Midday Reboot
For a long time, I treated lunch breaks as optional. If I powered through, surely I’d get more done, right? Wrong. By 3 p.m., my energy would nosedive, and everything took twice as long.
These days, I take a proper break. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate; a short walk, a coffee outside, a stretch away from my desk. Just changing the scenery and giving my brain a breather makes the second half of the day far more focused. It’s a small shift with a big payoff.
Know When to Log Off (and Actually Do It)
There’s a strange badge of honour in working late, as if sending emails at 10 p.m. proves how committed we are. But overworking doesn’t equal productivity. In fact, it usually leads to burnout and sloppy work.
I started creating a “shutdown ritual” to properly end the day. It’s nothing dramatic; just closing all my tabs, writing down tomorrow’s top priorities, and then stepping away. This little routine signals to my brain that work is done, and it’s time to recharge. The difference in my energy the next morning is remarkable.
Bonus Tip: Have a Life Outside of Work
Here’s the part that surprised me the most: one of the best productivity boosters isn’t another app or system. It’s having a life outside of work.
When your entire world revolves around deadlines and emails, your focus naturally starts to blur. But when you build in time for the things that make you feel alive, whether that’s a hobby, exercise, dinner with friends, or even a quiet night out, you come back to work sharper and more energised.
For me, socialising in moderation is part of that balance. I enjoy the occasional slow paced dinner or catch-up over drinks, but I also like to be prepared. That’s why I keep Myrkl on hand for those nights when a glass of wine turns into two. Paired with drinking plenty of water between drinks, it means I can enjoy myself without feeling it the next day. The goal isn’t to party like you’re 21 again. It’s to enjoy life without sabotaging tomorrow.
The Real Productivity Secret
Productivity isn’t about becoming a flawless efficiency machine. It’s about clarity, boundaries, focus, and balance. A good plan gets you started. A clear head keeps you going. And a life that doesn’t revolve entirely around work? That’s what makes it sustainable. If you found this blog entry interesting, you might want to see what I learned from The Joy of Socialising at a Slower Pace or perhaps what the series, The Office, taught me.
Important Notes:
*MYRKL is a supplement designed to support well-being while consuming alcohol and promote responsible alcohol consumption. It efficiently breaks down the absorption of alcohol, giving you the opportunity to enjoy your social experiences regret-free. Do not take more than the recommended dose of 2 capsules in 24 hours.
Based on a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study, conducted with 24 healthy subjects. Subjects were randomised to take 2 capsules/day of AB001 or placebo for 1 week prior to experimental day, where they ingested a light breakfast and drank a moderate glass of spirit (0.3 g/kg body weight).
- Pfützner A, Hanna M, Andor Y, Sachsenheimer D, Demircik F, Wittig T and de Faire J. Chronic Uptake of A Probiotic Nutritional Supplement (AB001) Inhibits Absorption of Ethylalcohol in the Intestine Tract – Results from a Randomized Double-blind Crossover Study. Nutr. Metab. Insights. 2022;15:1-5.
MYRKL (capsules), Unscheduled. D 34.12: Complementary Medicine (Health Supplement). Contains Fermented Rice Bran (Oryza sativa), L-Cysteine, Dextrin and Vitamin B12. (fermented by Bacillus subtilis & Bacillus coagulans). This medicine is subject to regulatory control by SAHPRA.
Developed and formulated by: De Faire Medical AB, Västra Trädgårdsgatan 11A, 111 53 Stockholm, Sweden.
Applicant: Imperial Market Access Healthcare SA (Pty) Ltd, 57 Sarel Baard Crescent, Gateway Industrial Park, Rooihuiskraal, 0157.
General contact information: Tel: 012 621 4300, info.mahsa.sm@dpworld.com. For any quality or safety related queries, please contact Imperial Quality at quality.healthcare.sm@dpworld.com or Imperial Medical at pvimperiallogistics@dpworld.com.
