How to Get More Done in Less Time: 7 Hacks

Want to get more done, but you feel like you’re constantly busy without much to show for it?  Good news: You can be one of those people who always seem to have it all together.  Here’s how I know: Years ago, I was working 10+ hours a day on Wall Street, completely overwhelmed. I thought working harder was the only way to succeed until stress landed me in the hospital. From then on, my wife, Carey, and I decided to take control of our time. The best part? We didn’t just become more productive — we reclaimed our lives. Today, we run a thriving 7-figure business helping others do the same. So, if you’ve been craving a life where you have more time for what matters, this is your roadmap. Let’s dive in! How to get more done: 

1. Plan ahead
2. Create the right foundation 
3. Block your time 
4. Do the hardest things first
5. Remove distractions 
6. Batch similar tasks 
7. Delegate and automate

💡Key takeaways:

• These seven proven hacks will help you get more done without burning out
• Start your day by tackling the most leveraged task instead of the hardest one
• Multitasking doesn’t work — try time blocking and task batching instead

1. Plan ahead

Feel like you’re always playing catch-up? Planning ahead is your secret weapon to get more done. 🗓️ Back when I was overwhelmed, I never planned my week. I’d simply dive into work and hope for the best. That was a big mistake. When I finally started planning, everything changed. I got more done, felt less stressed, and even had time left over. To help you enjoy these benefits, we created the Winning the Week Formula. Here’s how it works:

• Step one: do a weekly review of what went well and what didn’t
• Step two: set goals for the upcoming week and break them into smaller, actionable tasks
• Step three: use the “Champagne Moment” exercise to prioritize one task that’ll make your week feel like a win
• Step four: block time in your calendar for each task
• Step five: review what you accomplished, adjust, and prep for the following week

Prioritizing is key. Along with the Champagne Moment exercise, the Eisenhower Matrix is a great way to decide what’s most important for you to do. With this technique, you split your tasks into four boxes:

• Do First: urgent/important
• Schedule: important/not urgent
• Delegate: urgent/not important
• Delete: not urgent/not important

It’s a clear way to decide what needs your attention and what can wait. 📚 Ready to reclaim your time? Check out our proven time management training course to create more freedom for yourself!

2. Create the right foundation

Productivity isn’t just about time — it’s about energy. With the right amount of energy, you’ll get more done in an hour than in an entire day. And guess what? If you’re running on empty, even a full day won’t feel like enough. Here’s how to boost your energy:

• Get enough sleep: Aim for at least seven hours a night. Your brain and body need it to function at their best.
• Eat well: Swap sugary snacks for whole foods like nuts, fruits, and veggies. They give you steady energy without the crash.
• Take regular breaks: Step away from work for 10 minutes every hour. Stretch, walk, or simply breathe.
• Move your body: Doing physical exercise is a great way to clear your mind. Even a 20-minute walk can recharge you and boost your immune system.

Self-care often gets overlooked, especially when life feels hectic. But that’s exactly when you need it the most. Take care of yourself, and you’ll be amazed at how much more focused and productive you feel. Next, let’s talk about time blocking.

3. Block your time

Does your day feel like a constant juggling act? Then, let’s change that! Studies show that jumping between tasks wastes up to 40% of your productivity (this is also why multitasking just doesn’t work). The fix? Time blocking. Time blocking means dividing your day into chunks of time dedicated to specific tasks. This reduces interruptions and keeps you in the zone. Here’s how to get started:

• 🍅 Use the Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat four times, then take a longer break.
• 🕒 Try timeboxing: Set a fixed amount of time in your calendar for a specific task. For example, “Answer emails from 9-10 AM” or “Work on presentation from 2-4 PM.”
• 📌 Play the Sticky Focus Game: Use sticky notes to mark available 60-minute gaps in your schedule and write tasks on them. When a sticky note comes up, work for 50 minutes, trying to finish as many tasks as possible.

Want to learn more about making work FUN with the Sticky Focus Game? Then check out this video:

4. Do the hardest things first

You’ve probably heard it before: “Do the hardest thing first.” The problem with that strategy is it sounds good in theory, but it can drain your energy for the rest of the day. And here’s another problem: become the co-worker who quickly handles the toughest tasks, and guess what? Your reward is often more tough tasks. That’s why I recommend flipping the script. Instead of asking, “What’s the hardest thing I need to do today?” Ask, “What’s the most leveraged task I can tackle?” 🎯 A leveraged task makes everything else easier or even unnecessary. For example, one of my clients, Tim, struggled to scale his new law firm. Instead, he would spend his mornings drowning in case prep, thinking that’s what good lawyers do. But when he switched to a leverage mindset, he realized the real game-changer was improving his team’s systems. By creating SOPs, he freed up time for high-value work — like landing new clients — and even found more hours to spend with his family. Double win! 🙌 The takeaway? Figure out what tasks will make your life easier tomorrow, next week, or even next year, and focus there. Now, let’s cover removing distractions.

5. Remove distractions

Distractions are the biggest productivity killers!  They derail your focus and eat up hours of your day, preventing you from getting more done. It takes up to 23 minutes to refocus after just one short interruption. Multiply that by an average of 60 interruptions a day, and you’re quickly losing hours… So, how do you protect your focus? Here are my top 10 tips:

1. Outline your priorities with a to-do list or task manager so you can focus on what matters
2. Work behind a closed door, and let others know when you’re busy
3. Get comfortable saying no, and train your co-workers to stop distracting you
4. Establish a block time for interruptions to create clear boundaries but still be available
5. Create a communication policy so people understand when and how to reach you
6. Limit technological distractions by turning off notifications and setting screen time limits — for work on the computer, use tools like Freedom to block websites that tempt you to scroll
7. Every hour, take a short 10-minute break to recharge
8. Check your emails at set times and respond right away so you don't waste time rereading them
9. Use noise-canceling headphones to block out unwanted noises
10. Take care of yourself — feeling good makes it easier to stay focused

6. Batch similar tasks

Feel like you’re constantly jumping between tasks? Then task batching might be your new best friend. It’s simple: group similar tasks and do them all at once. 🗂️ For example:

• Block one: brainstorm ideas for your next big project
• Block two: prepare reports or presentations
• Block three: answer emails
• Block four: make calls
• Block five: process your paperwork

Why does task batching work? It minimizes context switching and keeps your brain focused on one type of work. In turn, you:

• Waste less energy switching between different tasks
• Process information quicker
• Solve problems better
• Are more likely to achieve a state of flow where you perform at your best

💡 Pro tip! Combine timeboxing and batching to get the best of both worlds: clarity in your schedule and streamlined focus. Of course, batching isn’t just for work — it can make your personal life easier, too. And if you want to free up even more time? That’s where outsourcing and automation come in. Let’s explore how!

7. Delegate and automate

Did you know the average worker spends 51% of their workday on tasks of little to no value? But what if you could reclaim that wasted time and focus on what truly matters? The thing is, you can do anything you want in life, but not everything.  And the good part is you don’t have to do it all! Instead, focus on what only YOU can do and let delegation or automation handle the rest. Here’s how:

• Delegate: Hand off tasks like admin work, chores, or even specialized projects to others. (We’ve been outsourcing our laundry for years, saving us hours every month!)
• Automate: Automating means using tools and systems to handle repetitive tasks. For instance, ChatGPT can help draft emails and content (just make sure to double-check its output and add your personal touch). Tools like Asana, on the other hand, simplify task management by creating workflows and tracking progress.

Good systems make delegation easy. For example, we onboard freelancers with tutorials and screencasts to get them up to speed. This saves time and ensures tasks are done the way we need them. Plus, Asana helps us organize and track our projects in one place. We use it to:

• Assign tasks to team members
• Set deadlines
• Create automated reminders
• And so on

Over the years, we’ve seen so many benefits from outsourcing that we even created a course on it! It’s called Outsourcing Mastery and could save you hundreds of hours. Feeling intimidated by AI tools like ChatGPT? In this video, I share the best ways to leverage it for YOUR success:

What’s next?

And that’s how to get more done in less time! Time is your most precious resource because once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. That’s why productivity is so much more than ticking tasks off a list — it’s about focusing on what moves you closer to the life you really want. Looking for a proven way to simplify it even further? Then check out our Winning the Week worksheet! In just 30 minutes, you’ll take control of your schedule and set yourself up for success on your terms. Download it for free and start seeing results today! Read more:

• Best Time Management Courses for Professionals
• How to Work Less and Get More Done
• The Best Time Management Strategies for Professionals