Why Doing Less is the Smartest Productivity Move of 2026
Why Doing Less is the Smartest Productivity Move of 2026
We’ve long been sold the idea that doing more equals achieving more. More meetings, more emails, more side hustles or more KPIs but as we step into 2026, I believe the smartest move you can make is strategic subtraction. Our calendars are bursting, our energy is stretched, and our attention is shattered.
In the name of getting ahead, we’ve filled our days with tasks, meetings, and obligations that offer diminishing returns and yet, so many of us keep piling on, convinced that more activity means more achievement.
The power of subtraction
This is the idea behind red brick thinking; a concept I developed to help individuals and organisations challenge their default behaviours and create space for what really matters.
The name comes from a simple exercise I often use in workshops involving a LEGO® bridge that’s crooked and unbalanced. Most people try to fix it by adding more bricks with few considering that the smarter move might be to remove the red brick that’s causing the problem in the first place. It’s a metaphor that almost always lands because in environments that reward addition, we’ve forgotten how powerful subtraction can be.
This kind of thinking becomes especially valuable in workplaces where complexity creeps in slowly and silently. We inherit systems, take on tasks, and accept responsibilities without questioning whether they still serve a purpose. Before long, our days are governed by processes that no one remembers creating and meetings that exist because they always have.
In most cases, no one is deliberately designing complexity; it’s simply accumulating in the background. That’s how red bricks get embedded in our routines and why they’re so easy to ignore.
When we start removing those bricks, even one at a time, we experience a noticeable shift. We reclaim energy, think more clearly and give ourselves a moment to breathe, creating space for deeper work, better decisions, and more meaningful impact.
Letting go can feel uncomfortable. There’s often a quiet fear that if we stop doing certain things like attending that recurring meeting, replying instantly to every message, staying across every detail, we’ll fall behind, be seen as disengaged or not a team player.
But I’d argue the opposite. When we hold onto everything, we dilute our focus and compromise our ability to show up fully where it counts. Leaders, in particular, need to be conscious of the signals they send and making deliberate choices about where we invest our time and energy sets the tone for our teams to do the same.
As we move into a future where adaptability, clarity, and wellbeing are essential to performance, we need to stop equating busyness with success. People are waking up to the idea that constant hustle isn’t a badge of honour but a barrier and the professionals who thrive in 2026 will be the ones who know how to focus, edit, and protect their capacity. Doing less is a bold step forward … one red brick at a time.
Donna McGeorge is the author of Red Brick Thinking, a bold new call to simplify work by removing what no longer adds value. Learn more at www.donnamcgeorge.com.
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