Reach Optimum Productivity by Pruning Too Much of a Good Thing

Girl Scout cookies are all the rage, but a colleague’s always-hungry teenage son may have gone a little overboard. Her mistake was leaving the box on the kitchen counter after dinner. By the end of the night, a cookie here or there added up to an empty box plus a stomachache.

Having too much of a good thing isn’t limited to delicious Thin Mints. It can also apply to how you approach your day. Do you think of yourself as a Yes Person, where you say yes first and think through logistics later? Here’s why you might rethink that mindset: Success doesn’t start with a list of projects from A to Z. Instead, productivity gets easier by throwing your mental, emotional, and physical capital against the right projects—and that’s usually a short list.

Future Proof Project Overload

Shortlisting was a lesson learned the hard way by a client of organizer Hellen Buttigieg. The upside was that The Client was incredibly creative. She knew so many crafting styles—from scrapbooking to flower arranging—that she could see a use for anything. However, her unbridled vision and over-optimism played against her. The downside was that unfinished projects piled up, creating a fire trap in a jam-packed spare bedroom.

In her former Discovery Home television show, Neat, Hellen refreshed the space but then took an additional step. She future-proofed project overload by designing a magnetic project board. The proposal was simple: The Client could reorder or change ten priorities on a whim. However, what she couldn’t do was start something new without finishing a project or taking it off the shortlist.

You might think The Client would be resistant or even offended. But the opposite happened—she felt energized. With both short- and long-term goals in plain sight, she was more enthusiastic than ever about creating.

3 Ways to Make Judicious Cuts

In the April series, Prune for Productivity, we’re talking about cutting back so you can reduce stress, avoid burnout, and get more accomplished. The old way of bossing up was the “never let them see you sweat” narrative, where you kept a smile on your face. You said yes even though you wound up feeling as burdened as Atlas, carrying the weight of the world.

But what happens when there’s too much of a good thing? The anxiety of producing fast, consistent, quality work gets to people. So, let’s agree: Not like that, kids!

It’s time for a different take. Being productive doesn’t have to be coded language for working yourself into exhaustion. Like the case study, optimizing can mean cutting back. That’s not a less-than decision—it’s using critical people skills like realistic project scoping and maintaining high standards.

Right now, you may have endless ideas calling your name. So, if you’re spoiled for choice and not sure where to cut back, try using one or all three of these categories:

1. Prune the Lost Interest Projects: Think back to your January intentions. Are there some that looked good on paper but where you’ve already lost interest? Either cut them altogether or move them to the “Revisit” pile. You can always pick them up later.
2. Prune the Second Look Projects: Did you think you had something all figured out but now you have a better idea? Give yourself the grace to hit pause. Remember: You’ll regret rushing forward in the name of “done.”
3. Prune the Long Game Projects: Are you realizing that a project or two will take longer than expected? Cut self-imposed pressure loose and replace it with steady progress.

You’ll know you’re succeeding when your projects list shifts from a “have to” to “meaningful and valuable.” So, keep your diverse interests—just marshal your energy in positive ways and empower yourself by creating a shortlist. Prune the wrong projects, and you’ll get to the right results.