10 Tested, Proven Ways to Become Less Productive

Marci • August 16, 2016

Let’s face it : while there is an abundance of articles on how to become more productive, there aren’t a lot on becoming less productive.

With that in mind, I decided to put this article together. While it’s helpful to focus on how to get more done every day, it can also be helpful to consider what may be holding you back.

Here are 10 surefire ways to become less productive every day.

Spend more time planning than doing

Some planning is essential. It’s pretty difficult to become more productive when you don’t step back to consider what you need to become more productive at doing. But past a certain point, the return on planning what you’re going to do with your time diminishes, and your productivity begins to suffer. Every minute you spend planning what to work on is one minute you don’t actually do work.

Multitask

It’s difficult to overstate this point: Multitasking is one of the absolute worst things you can do for your productivity. The fewer things you give your attention to in the moment, the more productive you become. If you want to become less productive, multitasking is a no-brainer.

Work on autopilot

When you try to do too much at once, or you don’t plan your time well, you work on autopilot. This prevents you from working intentionally on what’s important. If you want to become less productive, don’t do any planning when you notice that you’re working on autopilot. Instead…

Work faster

Working slower is for suckers. It gives you more space to think about your work, and to work smarter. If you want to become less productive, work as fast as possible—while multitasking, if you have the flexibility!

Take fewer breaks

Breaks—whether throughout the day, or a longer vacation—let you recharge. They allow your mind to wander so you can come up with better ideas and approach your work with more creativity. When you don’t step back from your work, your mind will take breaks for you. Needless to say, if you want to accomplish less each day, take as few of them as possible.

Pack your schedule

To the gills, if you can. If you want to become less productive, it’s crucial that you leave as little breathing room as possible for emergencies that may come up throughout the day. You don’t want any time to dive into the bigger projects you’re working on either. Make sure you agree to as many meetings as possible, and start a few of your own to “touch base” on all of the projects you’re working on!

Forget working out

Physical activity helps us destress, which is especially important today, when we face more stressors in our daily lives than ever before. When we don’t get enough physical activity, we are more likely to feel fatigued and burnt out. To become less productive, get as little physical activity as possible. And the instant you feel fatigued, don’t forget to load up on caffeine!

Get fewer than 8 hours of sleep

Sleep affects our mental performance in pretty much every measurable way. When we get less than 7.5 hours of it, our energy, focus, and productivity suffer. Sleep is one of the best ways to exchange your time for energy, which is precisely why you should get less than 8 hours of it if you want to become less productive.

Forget about nutrition

Energy is the fuel that we burn over the course of the day to get stuff done. Not putting proper fuel into our body can shatter our energy and productivity. Processed foods that are ultra-high in sugar, salt, and fat can cause our energy and productivity to rollercoaster over the course of the day. But they’re also delicious, so don’t be afraid to crush a big bag of syrup-smothered waffles before work in the morning.

Cut yourself off from as many people as possible

Social interaction is also for suckers. Sure, it has been shown to make you happier, and more motivated and engaged than pretty much anything else. But you feel less productive while you’re doing it!

If you want to become less productive every day, make sure you give these things a try.

There’s a right and a wrong way to become less productive.

even if that means setting an intention to do absolutely nothing

This post was written by Chris Bailey, from A Life of Productivity. It was originally published here.

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Let’s Talk About Getting Top Dollar for Your Property

By Marci Deane • July 8, 2026

When it comes to selling your home, most people think the first call should be to a real estate agent. But the smartest first step often isn’t with your agent—it’s with an independent mortgage professional. Why? Because your mortgage plays a bigger role in your bottom line than most people realize. Planning to Buy After You Sell If selling means you’ll also be purchasing another property, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand financially before listing. Mortgage rules change regularly, and qualifying once doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify again. Getting a pre-approval in place ensures you know what you can afford and eliminates surprises later. On top of that, reviewing the terms of your existing mortgage could uncover options you may not have considered. For example, porting your mortgage instead of arranging a brand-new one could save you thousands. Selling Without Buying Even if you aren’t planning to buy right away, there’s still an important step: understanding the cost of breaking your mortgage. Unless your mortgage is open, penalties apply—and they can be significant. By reviewing the numbers with a mortgage professional, you might find that simply adjusting your timeline could reduce or even avoid costly fees. Navigating Life Changes In situations like a marital breakdown, it can feel like selling the family home is the only path forward. But that’s not always the case. With the right guidance and a legal separation agreement, one spouse may be able to buy out the other, keeping the home and providing stability for everyone involved. The Bottom Line Selling your property is more than just putting a sign on the lawn—it’s about creating a financial plan that protects your equity and positions you for the best possible outcome. Before you take the leap, let’s sit down and review your options. 📞 If you’re ready to talk strategy and make sure you get top dollar for your property, I’d be happy to connect anytime.

Don’t Let Collections Derail Your Mortgage Application

By Marci Deane • July 1, 2026

Can You Get a Mortgage If You Have Collections on Your Credit Report? Short answer? Not easily. Long answer? It depends—and it’s more common (and fixable) than you might think. When it comes to applying for a mortgage, your credit report tells lenders a story. Collections—debts that have been passed to a collection agency because they weren’t paid on time—are big red flags in that story. Regardless of how or why they got there, open collections are going to hurt your chances of getting approved. Let’s break this down. What Exactly Is a Collection? A collection appears on your credit report when a bill goes unpaid for long enough that the lender decides to stop chasing you—and hires a collection agency to do it instead. It doesn’t matter whether it was an unpaid phone bill, a forgotten credit card, or a disputed fine: to a lender, it signals risk. And lenders don’t like risk. Why It Matters to Mortgage Lenders? Lenders use your credit report to gauge how trustworthy you are with borrowed money. If they see you haven’t paid a past debt, especially recently, it suggests you might do the same with a new mortgage—and that’s enough to get your application denied. Even small collections can cause problems. A $32 unpaid utility bill might seem insignificant to you, but to a lender, it’s a red flag waving loudly. But What If I Didn’t Know About the Collection? It happens all the time. You move provinces and miss a final utility charge. Your cell provider sends a bill to an old address. Or maybe the collection is showing in error—credit reports aren’t perfect, and mistakes do happen. Regardless of the reason, the responsibility to resolve it still falls on you. Even if it’s an honest oversight or an error, lenders will expect you to clear it up or prove it’s been paid. And What If I Chose Not to Pay It? Some people intentionally leave certain collections unpaid—maybe they disagree with a charge, or feel a fine is unfair. Here are a few common “moral stand” collections: Disputed phone bills COVID-related fines Traffic tickets Unpaid spousal or child support While you might feel justified, lenders don’t take sides. They’re not interested in why a collection exists—only that it hasn’t been dealt with. And if it’s still active, that could be enough to derail your mortgage application. How Can You Find Out What’s On Your Report? Easy. You can check it yourself through services like Equifax or TransUnion, or you can work with a mortgage advisor to go through a full pre-approval. A pre-approval will quickly uncover any credit issues, including collections—giving you a chance to fix them before you apply for a mortgage. What To Do If You Have Collections Verify: Make sure the collection is accurate. Pay or Dispute: Settle the debt or begin a dispute process if it’s an error. Get Proof: Even if your credit report hasn’t updated yet, documentation showing the debt is paid can be enough for some lenders. Work With a Pro: A mortgage advisor can help you build a strategy and connect you with lenders who offer flexible solutions. Collections are common, but they can absolutely block your path to mortgage financing. Whether you knew about them or not, the best approach is to take action early. If you’d like to find out where you stand—or need help navigating your credit report—I’d be happy to help. Let’s make sure your next mortgage application has the best possible chance of approval.

Best Mortgage Options for Canadian Homebuyers

By Marci Deane • June 24, 2026

Thinking of Calling Your Bank for a Mortgage? Read This First. If you're buying a home or renewing your mortgage, your first instinct might be to call your bank. It's familiar. It's easy. But it might also cost you more than you realize—in money, flexibility, and long-term satisfaction. Before you sign anything, here are four things your bank won’t tell you—and four reasons why working with an independent mortgage professional is the smarter move. 1. Your Bank Offers Limited Mortgage Options Banks can only offer what they sell. So if your financial situation doesn’t fit neatly into their guidelines—or if you’re looking for competitive terms—you might be out of luck. Working with a mortgage broker? You get access to mortgage products from hundreds of lenders : major banks, credit unions, monoline lenders, alternative lenders, B lenders, and even private funds. That means more options, more flexibility, and a much better chance of finding a mortgage that fits you. 2. Bank Reps Are Salespeople—Not Mortgage Strategists Let’s be honest: most bank mortgage reps are trained to sell their employer’s products—not to analyze your financial goals or tailor a long-term mortgage plan. Their job is to generate revenue for the bank. Independent mortgage professionals are different. We’re not tied to one lender—we’re tied to you. Our job is to shop around, negotiate on your behalf, and recommend the mortgage that offers the best balance of rate, terms, and flexibility. And yes, we get paid by the lender—but only after we find you a mortgage that works for your situation. That creates a win-win-win: you get the best deal, we earn our fee, and the lender earns your business. 3. Banks Don’t Lead with Their Best Rate It’s true. Banks often reserve their best rates for those who ask for them—or threaten to walk. And guess what? Most people don’t. Over 50% of Canadians accept the first renewal offer they get by mail. No questions asked. That’s exactly what the banks count on. Mortgage professionals don’t play that game. We start by finding lenders offering competitive rates upfront, and we handle the negotiations for you. There’s no guesswork, no pressure, and no settling for less than you deserve. 4. Bank Mortgages Are Often More Restrictive Than You Think Not all mortgages are created equal. Some come with hidden traps—especially around penalties. Ever heard of a sky-high prepayment charge when someone breaks their mortgage early? That’s often due to something called an Interest Rate Differential (IRD) —and big banks are notorious for using the harshest IRD calculations. When we help you choose a mortgage, we don’t just focus on the interest rate. We look at the whole picture, including: Prepayment privileges Penalty calculations Portability Future flexibility That way, if your life changes, your mortgage won’t become a financial anchor. A Quick Recap What your bank typically offers: Only their own limited mortgage products Sales-focused representatives, not mortgage strategists Default rates that aren’t usually their best Restrictive contracts with high penalties What an independent mortgage professional delivers: Access to over 200 lenders and customized mortgage solutions Personalized advice and long-term financial strategy Competitive rates and terms upfront Transparent, flexible mortgage options designed around your needs Let’s Talk Before You Sign Your mortgage is likely the biggest financial commitment you’ll ever make. So why settle for a one-size-fits-all solution? If you're buying, refinancing, or renewing, I’d love to help you explore your options, explain the fine print, and find a mortgage that truly works for you. Let’s start with a conversation—no pressure, just good advice.