Why Doing One Thing At A Time Wins

I’m sharing a small but important change that I constantly have to work on: choosing one thing at a time instead of many things at once. You’ll see why it matters, how I apply it, and a straightforward checklist you can try this week.

Why one focus matters

I used to juggle many projects at once and I still find myself from time to time having to much on my plate…or plates.

The problem? My output eventually dips and I felt worn out and sometimes I just get distracted from the multiple areas competing for my attention.

When I switch to doing just one thing at a time, two big things change: I get deeper focus and I feel lighter mentally.

Because when you split your attention, everything slows down and becomes shallow.
So I made a simple rule: pick one top priority and stay with it until it reaches a meaningful milestone.

How to focus & finish

Here are the practical steps I use—and you can adapt them to your world:

1. Choose one top priority. Look at your projects and pick the one that will move the needle most. Make it your main job for now.

2. Work in sprints. Set a block of deep work (90 – 120 minutes) where you don’t switch tasks. Then take a real break.

3. Plan and review regularly. Every morning pick your one top result for the day. Weekly, review what you did and pick next week’s focus.

4. Communicate your boundaries. Let people know how you work best. If something isn’t urgent, ask to schedule time instead of dropping everything.

5. Keep tools simple. Use one prioritized to-do list, one calendar block for your sprint, and one project board with just one active card. The simpler the system, the less your focus fragments.

   Try this for a week: pick a single project, schedule two sprints, do a short daily plan, and let your team or stakeholders know how you’re working. Watch how your output and mindset shift.

Extra Extra

Here are three interesting reads that complement this focus-topic:

• “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success” — an article summarizing how extended focused sessions boost productivity.

One quick question 👋

I love hearing from readers, and I’m always happy to hear feedback from active subscribers. How am I doing with the Productivity Academy newsletter? Is there any content you’d like to see more or less of? Which parts of the newsletter (or articles, or podcast) do you enjoy the most?

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P.S. Looking for resources to improve your productivity? Check out the tools I use right here.