Multi-tasking may be something girls do better than boys. But that’s not how you get a lot done.

I notice that those left in jobs seem to be under more workload than before this latest downturn. So how do you make it so you get more done without having to work all weekend or late every night? Here are two of the most powerful working practices that will really make a difference to you.

Keep changing your rhythm

I see many of you scheduling three hours to finish one piece of work. Scheduling time to complete tasks is a good habit – otherwise you’re only operating on wishful thinking.

You were not built to concentrate for three hours on anything. Your body has natural rhythms that change every 20 to 30 minutes. The dominant nostril that brings in most breath changes about every 20 minutes – that’s a conversation you’ve never had until now! You don’t need to think about changing nostrils – your body has that set up and on automatic.

So schedule work in 30 minute spells, and make each spell a different sort of task or part of a task. That will keep you interested and improve your productivity no end.

Do one thing at a time

The secret to being productive is to be present to one thing only. You can develop your ability to do this by taking mundane activity and being completely focused on doing it.

When you only wet your hands, then only soap up and only wash your hands then the quality of the moment is experienced. So when you completely listen to your colleague who is telling you about her weekend, she gets a very good quality experience from you.

Very soon you’ll be only writing the email you’re working on and the quality of that improves. Next thing that happens is the report you have been bored to write gets interesting and the output better.

This is me only writing this article.

Ed Percival is a business coach with Shirlaws Business Coaching