Breaking up with busy: How doing less can boost your productivity

Donna McGeorge is a productivity expert and bestselling author. In her latest book, Red Brick Thinking’ Donna shares why our instinct to always add more—tasks, meetings, apps—might be holding us back, and how strategic subtraction can help us achieve more with less stress.

In this chat, we dive into practical ways to break up with the busy, how to set healthy boundaries (without guilt!), and why younger generations are leading the charge in prioritising health over hustle. If you’re a business owner or freelancer looking to lighten your workload, make smarter decisions, and rethink what you “have” to do, this conversation will leave you inspired to red brick your day and build a happier, more productive life.

 Key topics

1. Red Brick Thinking and Productivity Philosophy

• Donna McGeorge’s concept: focus on what can be removed rather than added (“strategic subtraction” vs. “addition bias”)
• Encourages breaking away from hustle culture and overwork
• Red Brick Thinking promotes achieving more by doing less

2. Mindset Shifts for Small Business Owners

• The tendency to feel obligated to do everything, especially for soloists who “are the business”
• Importance of questioning self-imposed rules and what tasks truly add value
• Cultivating boundaries and saying “no” without guilt

3. Practical Subtraction Strategies

• Audit meetings, clients, and daily activities to identify what can be stopped
• Reduce time-wasting meetings by focusing on purpose and outcome (e.g., 25-minute meetings)
• Use technology mindfully—eliminate unnecessary apps/tools and leverage AI only for clear business problems

4. Shaping the Future of Work and Wellbeing

• Trends toward four-day workweeks and slower, balanced work lives
• Post-pandemic increased focus on health and work-life boundaries
• The value of downtime and boredom for creativity and better decision making

Timestamped overview

00:00 “Red Brick Thinking Explained”

05:25 “Questioning the Value of Busyness”

07:27 “Rethinking Unnoticed Efforts”

11:53 “Clear Goals for Meetings”

13:30 “AI: Solving Problems, Not Clutter”

18:04 “Respecting Boundaries Builds Understanding”

21:46 “Will It Make the Boat Faster?”

25:49 “The Danger of Constant On”

27:50 AI, Productivity, and Four-Day Week

30:20 Reducing the Weight of Obligation

Listen now:

Presenter: Cec Busby

Audio: Abu Bakar