Chapter 21

How to Accomplish More by Doing Less

by Tony Schwartz

We know that it’s not just the number of hours we sit at our desks that determines the value we generate. It’s the energy and focus we bring to those hours. Human beings are designed to pulse rhythmically between spending and renewing energy. That’s how we operate at our best. Maintaining a steady reservoir of energy—physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually—requires refueling intermittently.

Take for example, two people of equal skill—Bill and Nick—who work in the same office. Each day they arrive at work at 9:00 AM and leave at 7:00 PM.

Bill works for 10 hours—essentially without stopping—juggling tasks at his desk and running between meetings all day long. He even ...

Get HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done (HBR Guide Series) now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.