The Two-ish-hour workday
Picture this: Instead of spreading out your productivity over a long, drawn-out eight hours, you dedicate just around two hours—broken up into three distinct segments—to focus on the tasks that matter most. I’m a big believer that if you get these segments right, you can achieve (and maybe surpass) the productivity level of the typical eight-hour day.
1. Creative (Up to 90 Minutes)
We always start with creative work. If you get this right, everything else flows. The goal is to immerse yourself in creating something—writing, designing, brainstorming, or whatever lights up your imagination. This session should never be shorter than 30 minutes, and if you feel the creative juices still pulsing, let it stretch up to the full 90 minutes (or even longer on lucky days!). The point is to harness that fresh, powerful energy before the day’s demands begin to clutter your mind.
2. Proactive (Up to 60 Minutes)
Once the creative portion winds down, move on to proactive tasks. These are items you know you need to tackle: major to-do list items, strategic planning, or other assignments that require your focused attention. Think of proactive work as that sweet spot where you handle important items before they become urgent.
3. Reactive (No More than 30 Minutes)
Finally comes reactive work: processing emails, messages, and tasks that others send your way. The goal here is to handle or file away these small demands quickly and efficiently. Make no mistake—just because it’s “reactive” doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. But this time should be short, no more than 30 minutes.
Often, you’ll discover something in your inbox that demands creative or proactive attention. If so, stash it away on the appropriate list and save it for the next creative or proactive block. That ensures you don’t derail your day by letting someone else’s agenda dictate your schedule.
Why This Works
If you commit to each segment wholeheartedly, you can genuinely get more done in significantly less time. Give yourself the rest of the day to re-energize, explore other interests, or simply breathe. If you want to do extra creative work, go for it—especially if inspiration strikes. But try to limit reactive tasks: give them a container, and they’ll fill it up!
Remember, “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” This is Parkinson’s Law, a concept introduced by C. Northcote Parkinson. By sharply defining these segments, you keep your priorities clear and your mind free from the tyranny of endless busy work. Trust me, once you master the two-ish hour workday, you’ll wonder why you ever spread your tasks across those long, drawn-out eight hours in the first place.