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1-2-3 Get It Done: How to Use Task Pairing to Finish Work in Half the Time
sent by Joaquín Kosegarten | May 26, 2026
Every second counts, so let’s get right to it. 1 idea, 2 ways it saves you time, and 3 steps to Get It Done:
1 Idea
Pair tasks that naturally support each other, so your brain stays in the same mode, allowing you to work faster and with less friction.
2 Ways it saves you time
1. Your brain works best when it stays in one cognitive state. Pairing similar tasks reduces the mental switching cost that slows you down, which means more output with less effort.
2. When tasks flow together, you build momentum. Momentum reduces hesitation, speeds up decisions, and helps you complete work in a smooth, uninterrupted run.
3 Steps to Get It Done:
1. Look at your to-do list and group tasks that use the same type of thinking, such as writing tasks, planning tasks, or admin tasks.
2. Break them into blocks that share the same task category.
3. Keep blocks to twenty to forty minutes, so your energy stays high and your momentum stays strong.
Conclusion
Task pairing removes friction and helps your brain stay in the right mode for longer. When similar tasks flow together, your work feels easier and you finish faster.
“But I need to respond to things as they come in!”
Most “urgent” messages can wait twenty to forty minutes without anything breaking. Task pairing is not about ignoring people, it’s about protecting short windows of focused work. When you reply after a block instead of instantly, you work faster and still stay reliable.
As promised — 1 minute that can save you hours
Yours in Getting It Done,
Joaquin Kosegarten
Author of Get It Done
Creator of the 1-2-3 Get It Done Newsletter
P.S. Fun fact, a study from the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that switching tasks increases error rates by up to 50 percent. Pairing similar tasks keeps your brain in one mode and saves you the time you would have spent fixing mistakes.
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How to Use Task Pairing to Finish Work in Half the Time
About the Newsletter
1-2-3 Get It Done is a weekly 1-minute read trusted by busy professionals who want to achieve more in less time without burning out.
Each issue gives you 1 idea, 2 ways it saves you time, and 3 steps to put it into action immediately.