Why Doing Less at Once Gets More Done: The Science of Work-in-Progress Limits

If you've ever felt like you're spinning plates but nothing's actually getting finished, you're not alone. The promise that 'multitasking makes you more productive' is one of the biggest productivity myths out there. The truth? Moving fewer things at once makes everything move faster. This isn't just clever advice—it's backed by science, and it's the key to reclaiming your focus and finishing what matters most.

Why Multitasking Slows Everything Down

Picture this: a grocery store where every customer tries to check out at the same register at the same time. Total chaos, right? Your brain works exactly the same way. When you overload your mental 'checkout line' with ten different priorities, each one ends up waiting longer to get through.

Here's what actually happens when you juggle too many tasks:

• Every project sits in a queue, waiting for your attention
• You waste energy constantly switching contexts between tasks
• Nothing gets finished quickly because everything is always 'in progress'
• The mental load of tracking multiple priorities drains your focus

Think of it like opening twelve browser tabs on an old laptop. It doesn't make the computer faster—it makes everything crawl to a halt.

The Power of Work-in-Progress Limits

The solution is beautifully simple: cap how many items are 'in play' at any one time. This concept comes from queuing theory, and it revolutionises how work flows through your day. When you deliberately limit your work-in-progress (WIP), you:

• Reduce waiting time for each task to get your full attention
• Cut out the exhausting mental gymnastics of context switching
• Speed up delivery because you're actually finishing things
• Create a calmer, more controlled workflow

This isn't about doing less work overall. It's about finishing more of the right work, sooner.

How to Set Your Own WIP Limits

Ready to try it? Start with a simple, practical limit. For example, commit to no more than two active projects per person, or five total for your team. Here's how to make it work:

• Set your cap: Choose a realistic number based on your role and energy
• Park new ideas: Keep a 'next up' list for incoming tasks
• Pull, don't push: Only start something new when you've genuinely finished something else
• Review and adjust: Check in weekly to see if your limit needs tweaking

The magic happens when you honour the cap. It forces you to prioritise ruthlessly and protects your focus.

Start Your Two-Week Experiment

Don't just take our word for it—test it yourself. Set a WIP limit for the next two weeks. Track how long tasks actually take to complete. Notice how much smoother your workflow feels when you're not constantly jumping between half-finished projects.

Most people are amazed at how much more they accomplish—and how much less stressed they feel—when they embrace the power of doing less at once.

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