Do you ever feel like some people are naturally more productive than others? Research suggests that productivity is influenced by personality traits like self-control, conscientiousness, and planning skills.

But what if those traits don’t come naturally to you? Are you doomed to a life of procrastination? Jodii Maguire from Think Performance Psychology says “Absolutely not!”. She shares 3 simple strategies to boost your productivity, even if you don’t feel naturally organised.

1. Follow the One-Touch Rule

The first strategy is the One-Touch Rule. When you start a task, aim to complete it in one go.

“If you plan to touch it once, complete it in that touch,” explains Jodii. “It might take you ten minutes, it might take you two hours, but create the time and space to get it done.”

By avoiding unnecessary delays and revisits, you’ll streamline your workflow and reduce the chances of tasks piling up.

2. Avoid Overcommitting

Saying yes to everything can be tempting, but it often leads to stress and unfinished tasks. Instead, practice setting boundaries. 

“The simple rule is saying, ‘I can’t do that today. How about I help you next week?’” Jodii suggests. By recognising your limits early, you can manage your workload better and keep your commitments realistic.

3. Stop Multitasking

Multitasking might feel productive, but studies suggest otherwise. “Research shows that people who multitask are 97.5% less productive than those who focus on one task at a time,” Jodii reveals.

That number is shockingly high, but the message is clear—single-tasking is the way to go. Focusing on one task at a time can significantly boost efficiency and reduce errors.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be naturally organized to be productive. By using these 3 strategies to boost productivity; the One-Touch Rule, avoiding over commitment, and stopping multitasking, you can improve your workflow and get more done with less stress.

Try these strategies and see the difference they make!

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

Feature image: Canva

In August of last year I made some radical changes.

I restructured my work life, started intentionally allowing for rest, and working with a coach. I was headed for burnout if I didn’t change something, or actually almost everything in my life. I managed to implement some strict boundaries around my work which for the most part I have maintained. I am working less, but have found I am more productive with my time. I have clear lines around work and rest and I stick to them.

Approaching Chaos With Calm

2025 started with a bang, I broke my thumb on Christmas Day, which led to a delayed return to work. I started studying psychology at Uni, which is a significantly more content than I am used to. My job role is demanding and work is just generally busy. Slowly the boundaries I have in place have started to slip a little. As I have gotten a little bit slack with my work boundaries, the thing being most impacted is my rest time. The lack of rest impacts not only my productivity, but the also the posture that I carry. The energy that I bring to a room is different. Instead of bringing calm to chaos I am a little more frazzled and frayed. I am not approaching my work from a place of rest, the internal exhaustion and stress come with me to situations that are already chaotic. This has an effect on the way that I cope with situations and ultimately the way I treat the people around me.

Rest is Gifted By God

We intentionally rest, not just for ourselves but so that we carry a posture of rest through all circumstances. This allows us to better love those in our world. Rest is gifted to us by God, when we intentionally and actively make time for it, we are showing not only our reliance on him, but our love for others.

What do you carry with you? Do you carry a calmness and peace with you? Do you approach life from a place of rest and allow that rest to flow into the circumstances in your life? Or are you running from situation to situation, never able to rest, never taking a moment to breathe? When you come into a chaotic situation are you just adding to the chaos?

If your answer is that you are bringing more chaos than calm, I would highly recommend starting to implement some times of intentional rest. Disconnect from the device, go for a walk, take a nap, sit outside for five minutes if that’s all the time you can spare. My previous blog on the seven types of rest, gives some helpful tips on all the ways we need rest in our lives. Start slowly and implement small moments to rest throughout your week. You won’t regret it.

Article supplied with thanks to Lorrene McClymont.

About the Author: Lorrene McClymont is a writer and photographer from Hope Images. On her blog ‘Moments to Rest’, she shares about rest, faith, and family.

Feature image: Photo by Julian Bock on Unsplash