Ever notice how meetings tend to expand to fill whatever time you give them? Block out 60 minutes, and somehow it always takes the whole hour. But what if trimming just a few minutes here and there could save you and your team time and boost productivity?
It can. And it’s easier than you think.
The Science Behind Shorter, Smarter Meetings
Before scheduling your next meeting, consider a few key factors:
- What’s the goal?
- Who’s attending, and what’s their working style?
- What worked (or didn’t) in past meetings?
Once you have a clear idea of what’s needed, try reducing the time you book - by 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or even more. Why? Because a little pressure can lead to better outcomes.
Yerkes-Dodson Law: The Power of (a Little) Stress
According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, a moderate amount of stress or time pressure can sharpen focus and improve performance. Trimming meeting time creates a healthy sense of urgency that encourages everyone to stay on point and get to decisions faster.
Instead of defaulting to 60 minutes, try 50, or even 48. You may be surprised at how much more efficient the conversation becomes.
Brain Breaks Matter: Microsoft Human Factors Lab
But it’s not just about speed. Studies from the Microsoft Human Factors Lab show that back-to-back meetings with no downtime lead to cumulative stress and fatigue. Brief breaks between meetings allow our brains to reset, improving focus and reducing mental exhaustion over the course of the day.
Shortening meetings by just a few minutes may seem small, but the benefits are significant—both immediately and over time.
1. Reduce Meeting Fatigue
Shorter meetings build in natural breaks between sessions. This gives everyone a moment to breathe, take notes, grab a coffee, or simply reset - helping reduce the “Zoom fatigue” many of us feel after back-to-back calls.
2. Promote Focused, Efficient Conversations
Less time means more discipline. Speedy meetings encourage attendees to stick to the agenda, cut down on tangents, and make decisions more quickly. It’s Parkinson’s Law in action: work expands to fill the time allotted - so allot less time!
3. Reclaim Valuable Time
Five minutes here and there adds up. Shortening just four 30-minute meetings by five minutes each gives you back 20 minutes a week - that’s nearly 17 hours a year. Time you can reinvest in deep work, creativity, or recharging.
4. Foster a Healthier Meeting Culture
Speedy meetings promote intentionality. Teams become more mindful about when and why they meet, and discussions tend to be more productive and respectful of everyone’s time. It’s a small tweak that helps create a smarter, more efficient work culture.
How to Enable Speedy Meetings in Google Calendar
It’s simple to get started:
- Open Google Calendar.
- Click the Settings menu (the cogwheel icon) in the top-right corner and select Settings.
- Scroll down to the Event Settings section.
- Find Speedy meetings and check the box.
✅ Your meetings will now automatically end 5 or 10 minutes early, giving you - and your team - the breathing room you need.
By enabling Speedy Meetings, you’re not just shaving minutes off your calendar.
You’re giving yourself and your team space to reset, refocus, and reclaim time for what matters most.