Time management researcher advises against overworking and suggests embracing a more relaxed approach to productivity.

Focusing on your checklist, clearing out your workspace, and chewing gum.

According to CNBC Make It, Oliver Burkeman, an author and time management researcher, was left "pretty disillusioned" after researching productivity hacks and their effectiveness in managing responsibilities and time.

Burkeman advises that instead of constantly striving for optimization, one should learn to accept mediocrity on a recent episode of LinkedIn's "Everyday Better with Leah Smart" podcast.

Typically, the word "settling" carries a negative connotation, such as accepting a job that you don't truly enjoy because it offers a higher salary or remaining in a relationship that lacks passion because you don't want to hurt the other person.

Settling can be beneficial when it comes to managing your time, according to Burkeman, author of the New York Times bestselling self-help book, "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals," which he wrote while seeking better productivity advice.

"Understanding that every decision has opportunity costs is crucial. Settling is not about accepting less, but rather recognizing that we always have to make choices with pros and cons."

Accept your reality when you're overloaded

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by deadlines, commitments, and self-care needs, try to "embrace limitation" and focus on what's most important, said Burkeman.

You may have to reschedule your meeting and stop taking on more work because of a time-consuming project that conflicts with your weekly coffee chat with your work bestie or your desire to be seen as valuable by raising your hand for more assignments. Despite this, you remain a valuable friend and professional.

When selecting an action, we simultaneously forsake another option, which can be overwhelming when there is a lot to accomplish, as he stated.

A survey by Oak Engage in March 2024 found that 47% of employees feel stressed or overwhelmed on the job, which can result in decreased job satisfaction and burnout.

Burkeman, who spent years writing a column for The Guardian about time management and productivity, realized that "maybe the problem is this quest to achieve total control over the human condition" after trying a plethora of unsuccessful hacks.

Instead of resisting reality, in other words, try accepting it.

Release yourself from 'unrealistic expectations'

Unrealistic time-management goals can lead to the growth of negative feelings, according to Burkeman.

To be productive, prioritize tasks and adjust your to-do list, even if it means dropping some unimportant tasks. Avoid overloading yourself by trying to do too many things at once.

Tiffany Dufu, president of the Tory Burch Foundation and author of "Drop the Ball," shares the same advice as Burkeman, which emphasizes the importance of prioritizing self-care and reducing stress in order to achieve success.

"Dufu stated in 2022 that dropping the ball made him feel like he was not acting quickly enough and being irresponsible. This meant that he was letting himself down, his family, and his community."

Dufu realized that it was acceptable to not finish everything on her to-do list and to seek help when necessary. She also stopped linking her self-worth to her ability to do multiple tasks at once.

Dufu stated that in order to lead lives we're passionate about, we must release unrealistic expectations.

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