How to Work So Fast Everyone Asks, “How Do You Do It?”

You know that person in the office (or maybe in your friend group) who seems to move at warp speed? Deadlines don’t scare them. Tasks seem to melt away under their fingertips. And somehow, they make it look effortless.

Here’s the thing: You can become that person. It’s not about being a genius or working endless hours—it’s about mastering a handful of principles and habits. Let’s break down four proven ways to work faster (and smarter) with some fresh ideas you probably haven’t tried yet.

1. Rush to 80%: Good Enough Is Better Than Perfect

Here’s a little secret: most high achievers rarely aim for perfection on the first go. They sprint to get 80% of the work done fast, then refine only what matters. This idea is backed by the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule): 80% of results come from just 20% of your effort.

💡 Proof in Action: A 2019 study published in Psychological Review found that “satisficers” (those who settle for good enough) are not only faster but also less prone to burnout than “maximisers” who aim for perfection.

✅ How to Apply It:

• Set a timer and give yourself 30 minutes to outline or draft. Ignore details like fonts, grammar, or formatting.

• Once the foundation is solid, focus only on polishing the parts that will have the biggest impact.

Mantra: Done beats perfect. Every. Single. Time.

2. Train Your Brain for Speed: Play Strategy Games

This one might sound surprising, but there’s solid science behind it: playing games like chess, Rubik’s Cube, or real-time strategy video games can make you faster at mental processing and decision-making. These activities teach your brain to spot patterns, think ahead, and react quickly—all skills that translate to faster work.

💡 Proof in Action: A 2021 study in Nature Human Behaviour showed that regular players of real-time strategy games improved their cognitive flexibility, which is directly linked to quicker decision-making in real-world scenarios.

✅ How to Apply It:

• Dedicate 15-20 minutes a day to a brain-challenging activity. Play chess, solve puzzles, or try an app like Lumosity.

• For a quick boost, tackle a Rubik’s Cube while brainstorming—it’s surprisingly meditative!

Mantra: Train fast, think fast, work fast.

3. Simplify the Battlefield: Kill Task Switching

If you feel slow or scattered, there’s a good chance task switching is to blame. Every time you switch tasks, your brain spends energy reorienting. That transition time adds up—one study by the American Psychological Association found that task switching can reduce productivity by 40%.

💡 Proof in Action: In a famous Stanford study, heavy multitaskers performed worse on cognitive tests than those who focused on one task at a time.

✅ How to Apply It:

• Group similar tasks into blocks: Emails in one block, writing in another, and meetings in a third.

• Use the “two-tab rule” on your browser to limit distractions.

Mantra: One task. One focus. Repeat.

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4. Automate to Accelerate

Fast people don’t reinvent the wheel—they build systems and lean on automation. Templates, apps, and workflows do the heavy lifting, leaving their brainpower free for creative work.

💡 Proof in Action: A report by McKinsey estimates that 45% of tasks in most jobs could be automated with current technology. Imagine how much faster you’d be if you automated even 10% of yours.

✅ How to Apply It:

• Use tools like Zapier or IFTTT to connect apps and automate repetitive tasks.

• Create templates for emails, proposals, and reports—so you’re never starting from scratch.

Mantra: Let the machines do the boring stuff.

5. Build a Fast-Start Ritual: Speed Begins with Momentum

Starting is often the hardest (and slowest) part of any task. Fast workers hack this by creating rituals that launch them straight into action mode. It could be as simple as brewing coffee while outlining the day’s priorities or playing an energising song to kick off writing.

💡 Proof in Action: Behavioural science backs this up: studies on “implementation intentions” (specific pre-planned behaviours) show that having a ritual can double the likelihood of starting and completing tasks quickly.

✅ How to Apply It:

• Pick one ritual that signals “go time” for you—like writing out three priorities or tidying your desk for 2 minutes.

• Stick to it daily until it becomes automatic.

Mantra: Start strong, finish faster.

The Takeaway

If you want people to marvel at your speed, don’t focus on rushing through your work. Instead, build systems that reduce friction, train your brain to think faster, and prioritise momentum over perfection.

Here’s my challenge for you: try one of these strategies this week. Play a strategy game after work, batch your tasks, or experiment with a fast-start ritual. Then watch what happens.

I’d love to know—what helps you work faster? Hit reply and share your tips. Who knows—you might inspire the next big idea in our community.