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Why Doing Less Makes Your Day More Productive
How constraints make us more intentional about what matters.
Parves Shahid
December 04, 2024
I want to do everything all at once. You probably do, too.
We face this constant battle: endless tasks, infinite scrolling, and countless opportunities. The modern world whispers 'more' while our brains scream 'enough.'
Multiple tasks compete for our attention, some important, some urgent, and most a mix of both.
Our natural instinct? Try to do it all.
The result is scattered focus, incomplete work, and constant overwhelm.
Our brains aren't built for endless tasks:
Make about 35,000 decisions daily
Each choice depletes mental energy
Productivity drops 40% when multitasking
Each task takes longer when done in parallel than if you do it all
We live in a world obsessed with more. More tasks. More goals. More productivity hacks.
What fascinates me is that while everyone is chasing productivity hacks, the most successful people do the opposite. They're not trying to do more - they're getting better at doing less.
And this is exactly what nobody talks about: productivity isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters. It's also about building in constraints that drive greater intention and impact.
As author Matthew E. May explains in his book The Laws of Subtraction:
When forced to work within a strict framework, the imagination is taxed to its utmost – and will produce its richest ideas. Given total freedom, the work is likely to sprawl.
To tackle this, I borrowed a simple framework from product development: the MVP (Minimum Viable Product).
In product development, MVP isn't about building less - it's about building what matters first. It has enough features to be useful. The key word is "enough."
Apply the same principle to transform your day:
The Minimum Viable Day (MVD).
The concept is simple:
Define what makes today "good enough"
Focus on those elements
Consider everything else a bonus
My MVD today:
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Why MVD Works:
Creates clear success targets
Reduces decision fatigue
Builds momentum through completion
Turns overwhelm into action
Complete these? Good day.
Exceed them? Great day.
No complex systems. No rigid rules. Just clear intentions and reasonable targets.
Of course, you have a few questions:
But what about...
Ambitious goals? (MVD gets you there steadily)
Urgent demands? (MVD helps prioritize)
Complex projects? (MVD breaks them down)
If you think about it, the power isn't in the simplicity - it's in the clarity.
It’s also in the mindset shift: from the pressure of perfection to the freedom of "good enough.”
The truth about productivity isn't complex. You define what’s enough and do it completely. Everything else is a bonus.
A completed MVD beats an imaginary perfect day. Every time.
Overcoming MVD Obstacles
While the MVD approach is theoretically simple, implementing it can surface some challenges. Here are a few common hurdles and how to navigate them:
Distinguishing Urgent vs. Important
Urgent tasks often masquerade as MVD priorities. Ask yourself: "Will this materially impact my key goals or well-being today?" If not, it's likely not MVD-worthy.
Handling Interruptions
Unplanned requests or issues will inevitably arise. Determine quickly if they truly impact your MVD. If yes, integrate them. If not, capture them on a "Later List" to revisit when your MVD is complete.
Scoping an Achievable MVD
Be realistic in defining your MVD. Overestimating what's feasible can undermine the whole approach. Remember, you can always exceed your MVD, but not achieving it will compromise momentum.
Embracing "Good Enough"
Perfectionism is the enemy of the MVD. Recognize when you've met your "good enough" criteria and resist the urge to keep tweaking. Completing is more important than perfecting.
As author Greg McKeown emphasizes in his book Essentialism:
Remember that if you don't prioritize your life someone else will.
The MVD method ensures you prioritize what matters most to you daily.
By keeping your non-negotiables front and center—and having the discipline to put the rest on hold, you set yourself up for consistent progress and a greater sense of accomplishment.
Life will always present more demands and distractions than we can handle.
But by defining and committing to an MVD, we create focus amidst the chaos. We may end up doing less in a day, but we make sure we're doing what counts.
And that makes all the difference.
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