Hello changemakers 👋

This week, I want to share something that has made a big difference into my productivity, and that is learning how to stop doing certain things.

This is something I wish I would have learnt at the start of my professional career. Back then I was that person who said “yes” to everything, checked emails constantly, and felt like I had to be doing more to succeed. But turned out this wasn’t true, and it just made me feel exhausted every day. It wasn’t until I started cutting out the non-essential, the distractions, that I finally got my time and focus back.

It took me years to realize that real productivity isn’t just about ticking off to-do lists. In fact, focusing on a "Not-to-do" list can be more powerful than any productivity hack or tool out there.

So this week I’d like to dive into it with you. Here are 7 things to stop doing to take your productivity up a notch:

1. Stop checking emails first thing in the morning or late at night

We’ve all been there: you open your inbox first thing in the morning, and suddenly, you’re responding to someone else’s urgent problem. Or worse, you check your emails late at night, and now your mind’s buzzing when you should be unwinding. Your email can wait. Like, really. Start your day by knocking out a critical task, and let your inbox work around you, not the other way around.

I learned this the hard way when I used to start my mornings with emails. By 10 a.m., I’d already been side-tracked and my most important tasks had fallen by the wayside. It took me months to realize that if I knocked out one key task before even opening my inbox, the rest of the day flowed so much smoother.

2. Stop agreeing to meetings without a clear agenda

We’ve all sat through those vague, meandering meetings where nothing really gets decided. Protect your time by insisting on a clear agenda. If it’s not clear what needs to be discussed, or if there’s no set end time, don’t commit. Your time is valuable, use it wisely.

3. Stop letting conversations drift

When someone calls or walks by your desk, it’s easy to let small talk take over. Before you know it, 20 minutes are gone, and you’ve accomplished nothing. Instead, keep it focused: “What’s up?” or “How can I help?” are great ways to get straight to the point and avoid unnecessary chatter.

4. Stop checking emails constantly

This is something I still struggle with sometimes to be honest. At one point, I had my email open all day, convinced that instant responses were key to success. But what actually happened was I was constantly putting out small fires and never making progress on my larger goals.

The thing is, email is a productivity killer when unchecked. The constant flow of messages creates an illusion of urgency, but most things can wait. Instead, set specific times during the day to check your inbox in batches. Twice or thrice a day should be enough, allowing you to focus on bigger, more meaningful tasks the rest of the time.

5. Stop trying to do more when you're overwhelmed

I remember one week when I tried to tackle every single task on my plate. By Friday, I was completely exhausted, and ironically, I felt like I had very little to show for it. And the thing is, sometimes trying to do everything means doing nothing well. It’s about prioritizing what truly moves the needle.

When you’re feeling swamped, the instinct is to pile on more: more work, more effort, more hours. But often, the solution is to do less, but do it better. Focus on the one or two tasks that will have the biggest impact, and let the small stuff slide when necessary. Overwhelm happens when everything feels urgent, but not everything is.

6. Stop saying "yes" to everything

It’s so easy to say “yes” to every request that comes your way, whether it’s a new project at work or a favor for a colleague. But saying “yes” to everything is a fast track to burnout. Learn the power of saying "no" when something doesn’t align with your priorities. It’s not about being unhelpful, it’s about protecting your time and energy for what really matters.

7. Stop working through lunch

We often fall into the trap of thinking that skipping lunch or working through breaks will help us “catch up.” But without proper breaks, your brain and body wear down, leading to diminished focus and creativity. Take your lunch break seriously! Step away from your desk, eat mindfully, and you’ll return refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of the day.

Learning what to stop doing has been one of the most liberating shifts in my productivity journey. By removing distractions and setting boundaries, you’ll be amazed at how much more you can achieve. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to stop holding yourself back. Let me know what else you’d add in this list, curious to hear your thoughts on it!

Wishing you a productive week,
Ignasi 🚀

Things I’m liking this week 🥰

📊 Infographic - 50 Cognitive Biases In The Modern World - No matter how many times I study about biases, there’s always a new one that pops up or one that I forgot about. This graphic I think is great to learn about the most common biases that we find in our day-to-day (and how some companies exploit it for our disadvantage…)

🎬 Movie - Your Name - I’ve been hearing about this movie for long time, and seeing YouTube Shorts of people going to visit the same places that show up in the movie. But until now I didn’t make the time to watch this movie. Finally this week I set aside some time to watch it with my girlfriend, and I loved it. Would totally recommend it, whether you’re into anime (like myself) or not (like my girlfriend).

📱 App - SuperChinese - Big news, I’m moving to China by the end of next month for an assignment with my company. Hence, I decided to start learning Mandarin Chinese. I’ve been using this app for the last couple of weeks for it instead of Duolingo, so far loving it.

Question of the week 🤔

How much of your time is spent reacting to other people's priorities instead of focusing on your own?

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