Discover the 5 choices to extraordinary productivity backed by research. Learn how to focus, prioritize, and achieve more with proven strategies that top performers use.
You’re drowning in emails. Your to-do list grows faster than you can check items off. Meetings consume entire days. And despite working longer hours than ever, you feel like you’re getting less done.
You’re not alone. Research shows that office workers are only productive for 2 hours and 23 minutes per day out of an 8-hour workday. That means five hours and 37 minutes are essentially wasted every single day.
But here’s the good news: extraordinary productivity isn’t about working harder. It’s about making better choices.
The Productivity Crisis
The numbers are staggering:
- Over 50% of employees report being “relatively unproductive” at work
- Workers are interrupted every 11 minutes on average
- It takes 23 minutes to regain full focus after each interruption
- Employee disengagement costs a median S&P 500 company between $228-355 million annually
The problem isn’t that we’re lazy. The problem is that we’re making choices that sabotage our effectiveness without realizing it.
The 5 Choices Framework
After studying thousands of high performers and analyzing decades of productivity research, five critical choices separate extraordinary achievers from everyone else:
Choice 1: Act on the Important, Don’t React to the Urgent
The Challenge: Workers spend 40.1% of their day multitasking with communication tools, constantly reacting to whatever screams loudest for attention.
The Research: Multitasking can decrease productivity by up to 40% and increases mistake likelihood by 12.6%.
The Choice: Distinguish between urgent and important tasks. Important tasks move you toward your goals. Urgent tasks just demand immediate attention.
How to Apply:
- Start each day by identifying your three most important tasks
- Schedule protected time for important work before checking email
- Ask: “Will this matter in 6 months?” before saying yes to requests
Choice 2: Go for Extraordinary, Don’t Settle for Ordinary
The Challenge: Most people operate in “good enough” mode, never pushing beyond comfortable performance levels.
The Research: Superior talent is up to 8 times more productive than average employees, and high-performing employees share three traits: talent, high engagement, and 10+ years of service.
The Choice: Define what extraordinary looks like in your role and commit to achieving it.
How to Apply:
- Set one “stretch goal” each quarter that pushes your capabilities
- Study how top performers in your field operate differently
- Invest 30 minutes daily in skill development
Choice 3: Schedule the Big Rocks, Don’t Sort Gravel
The Challenge: We spend time on small, easy tasks while important projects languish.
The Research: The top 10% of performers work in focused stints of 52 minutes at a time, and productivity can increase by 150% when organizational multitasking is reduced.
The Choice: Calendar your most important work first, then fit everything else around it.
How to Apply:
- Block 2-3 hour chunks for your most important work
- Treat these blocks as unmovable appointments
- Use the “Big Rocks” principle: schedule major priorities first
Choice 4: Rule Your Technology, Don’t Let It Rule You
The Challenge: Technology designed to help us has become our biggest distraction.
The Research: Employees browsing social media costs businesses $28 billion per year, and only 2.5% of people can multitask effectively.
The Choice: Use technology intentionally rather than reflexively.
How to Apply:
- Turn off non-essential notifications during focused work
- Check email at designated times (not continuously)
- Use apps and tools that support deep work, not shallow tasks
Choice 5: Fuel Your Fire, Don’t Burn Out
The Challenge: We treat ourselves like machines that should run constantly without maintenance.
The Research: Work-life balance can potentially see 2x more productivity compared to those who don’t promote it, and employers lose $153 billion annually due to employee health problems.
The Choice: Invest in your physical and mental energy as your most valuable resource.
How to Apply:
- Take real breaks (not checking phone breaks)
- Protect 7-8 hours of sleep consistently
- Exercise regularly to boost cognitive performance
The Multitasking Myth
One of the biggest productivity killers is the myth that multitasking makes us more efficient. The science is clear:
- We’re really wired to be monotaskers – our brains can only focus on one task at a time
- Multitasking decreases cognitive ability and can lower IQ by 10 points while engaged
- Office workers take an average of 25 minutes to recover from interruptions
The Reality: What we call multitasking is actually “task switching,” and it’s devastating to productivity and quality.
The Remote Work Factor
The shift to remote work has amplified both productivity opportunities and challenges:
The Good: 35-40% of businesses report increased productivity from remote employees
The Bad: 32% of people multitask during video meetings when cameras are off
The Key: Remote work can boost productivity if you make intentional choices about focus and boundaries.
Implementation Strategy
Don’t try to change everything at once. Pick one choice and master it for 30 days:
Week 1: Awareness
- Track how you currently spend your time
- Notice when you make choices that support or sabotage productivity
Week 2: Small Changes
- Implement one new habit related to your chosen focus area
- Measure the impact on your daily output
Week 3: Refinement
- Adjust your approach based on what’s working
- Address obstacles that arise
Week 4: Integration
- Make the new behavior automatic
- Plan which choice to tackle next
The Compound Effect
Here’s what happens when you consistently make these five choices:
- Week 1: You feel more in control of your day
- Month 1: Your output quality improves noticeably
- Quarter 1: Others start asking for your productivity secrets
- Year 1: You’ve fundamentally changed how you work and what you achieve
Organizations with highly engaged employees see 17% greater productivity, but it starts with individual choices about how to manage attention, energy, and time.
Your Next Move
Extraordinary productivity isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistently making choices that align with your most important outcomes rather than just staying busy.
Start here: Choose one of the five choices that resonates most with your current challenges. Commit to practicing it for the next 30 days. Track your progress and adjust as needed.
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary isn’t talent—it’s the daily choices you make about where to focus your limited time and energy.
Which choice will you make first?
Ready to transform your productivity and achieve extraordinary results? Let’s explore personalized strategies to help you implement these choices effectively. Schedule a conversation about developing your productivity mastery.
