Do Fewer Things: Cal Newport’s First Principle of Slow Productivity
Slow Productivity is Cal Newport’s thoughtful response to the burnout epidemic that so many driven professionals face. Instead of urging us to work faster or fit more into our day, Newport offers a new approach: do fewer things, more meaningfully.
What Is Slow Productivity?
Slow Productivity is about achieving meaningful results without burning out. Cal Newport challenges the “always-on” culture by encouraging depth, intention, and sustainable success. His framework is built on three core principles, and today, we’re focusing on the first:
Principle 1: Do Fewer Things
Have you ever felt like no matter how much you get done, you’re never truly finished? That feeling, that constant race to catch up, is often the result of doing too many things at once. Newport’s first principle, do fewer things, isn’t about being lazy. It’s about being selective. Intentional. Strategic.
In his words, doing fewer things allows you to give each task the attention it deserves. It’s not about doing less for the sake of it, it’s about doing things better.
Why This Principle Matters for Sustainable Productivity
When you reduce the number of active commitments, you create:
Room for deep work: Focused effort that leads to meaningful results.
Clarity in priorities: Less switching, more doing what truly matters.
Lower stress levels: Because you’re no longer juggling too much at once.
Instead of measuring productivity by how fast you tick things off a list, slow productivity values how deeply you can engage with your work.
Real-World Impact: The Power of Fewer Commitments
One of my clients, a software engineer, was managing four major projects simultaneously while attending 10+ weekly meetings. He was efficient but constantly exhausted.
After applying the “do fewer things” principle, he slowed down his involvement in two projects, declined non-essential meetings, and blocked three hours daily for focused work on his highest-impact project. Within a month, not only did his primary project outperform previous ones by 40%, but he also reported feeling “present and energised” for the first time in years.
Sometimes doing less truly means accomplishing more.
How to Apply “Do Fewer Things” in Real Life
Here are a few ways to start applying this principle:
✅ Review your current commitments: what can you pause, delegate or cancel?
🕊️ Block time for deep work on just one priority.
📅 Resist the urge to say “yes” automatically, make space before committing.
💬 Reframe productivity in your own mind: focus, not frenzy.
A Simple but Powerful Reflection
What’s one thing you could let go of to focus more deeply on something that truly matters?
Even a small shift, like one less meeting, or one more hour of focused time, can have a powerful ripple effect.
Coming Up Next: Work at a Natural Pace
Next week, I’ll explore the second principle of Slow Productivity: Work at a Natural Pace. It’s all about tuning into your energy, your flow, and your internal rhythm, so you can sustain excellence without exhaustion.
🌱 Ready to experience the power of doing less, and better?
I help thoughtful, driven humans create clarity, calm, and lasting, meaningful growth through focused productivity. Book a free discovery call where we’ll identify your highest-impact opportunity for applying Slow Productivity principles to your work. No pressure, just insight. 👇