( CNN ) -- These days , it 's seems like we are all expected to do more with less . Spending hours in the office to make sure all the assigned tasks get done bleeds into our family time , and even at home , it seems there 's a never-ending cycle of things that must be done . Yet studies have shown that 60-hour workweeks can result in a 25 % decrease in productivity . The productivity numbers get worse as the work hours increase , because exhaustion steadily erodes judgment and performance . So what to do when there 's too much to do ? The key is to do less , not more ( what , you 've never heard a time management expert tell you the key to success is to do less ? ) . See also : Do n't let e-mail run your work life . Just say no . First , say `` no '' to more work . Though this might sound obvious , it 's one of the hardest things to actually do . But being realistic about the amount of additional work you can take on is as important as getting the job done . A simple , `` Sorry -- I 'd love to help out , but I do n't have the bandwidth to take that on right now , '' is sufficient . Negotiate . When that fails , negotiate . If your boss presents you with a project you ca n't outright refuse , but your plate is undeniably full , do n't hesitate to point this out . Openly discuss your current deadlines and workload , and communicate both honestly and clearly . For example , you might say , `` I 'm currently working on X , Y , and Z. I want to return quality work in a timely way , and if I take on this new project , it will jeopardize my promised deadlines . Would you like me to hand it off to someone else , outsource it , or would you prefer to reprioritize my existing commitments ? '' See also : Is workplace boredom 'the new stress ? ' Prioritize . Focus on strategic enablers of business . Everyone has too much to do , and nobody really cares how many tasks you crossed off a to-do list if key projects keep falling through the cracks . Split your to-do lists into a Master list and a High Impact Task ( HIT ) list . While the Master lists tracks everything that needs to get done at some point , the HIT list includes only a reasonable number of items that can be accomplished each day , so you 're constantly focused on key priorities and work on them in the proper order : . P1 : You will get fired if this is n't done today . P2 : A valuable long-term activity that should be done soon . P3 : Someone will be unhappy if this is n't done eventually . P4 : Human `` pain-management '' activities such as socializing or Facebook . Focus . Master the skills of concentration . Stop multitasking and focus on one thing at a time . Multitasking just dilutes your attention and fools you into thinking you 're productive , when you 're really just busy . Do n't allow people to hold distracting conversations outside your cubicle or office door either . Limit your social media usage , and anything else that can keep you from accomplishing your most important tasks . When you find ways to do less while increasing your impact , you 'll gain more time to spend on things you actually enjoy . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Laura Stack .
These days we are all expected to do more work , says Laura Stack . The average American woman spends about four hours a day on housework and child care - the equivalent of two full-time jobs. Stack says to stop multitasking and focus on one thing at a time .