Today’s post is from Chris Bailey (subscribe to his newsletter while you are there).

10 proven ways to become less productive

TLDR:

Here are 10 reliable ways to become less productive.

1. Multitask constantly — switch between tasks (email, social media, phone) instead of finishing one.
2. Skip planning and priorities — work reacts to whatever arrives next.
3. Enable all notifications — alerts interrupt and add cognitive load.
4. Work long without breaks — fatigue reduces efficiency.
5. Say yes to everything — overcommitment fragments time.
6. Start tasks without clear goals — effort drifts and scope creeps.
7. Keep a cluttered workspace and desktop — clutter distracts and slows decisions.
8. Consume low-value media during work — quick dopamine hits break focus.
9. Avoid batching similar tasks — frequent switching increases costs.
10. Never review or reflect — without feedback, inefficiencies persist.