Whatever you do, do not cut out the “zero days” as suggested in Joel Snape’s article on productivity tips (Big, beautiful goals – but can’t be bothered? 11 great productivity tips for lazy people, 10 July). These are days where you have no obligations, where you do not worry about being productive. A “zero day” can quite easily be the Sunday, or any other day of the week that works for you. There is no point in trying to be productive all the time. It can’t be done, and even if it could, it would make for an unhappy life. Have “zero days” – days where you simply enjoy being alive. Christine Lehnen Exeter Two more productivity tips: (1) From your to-do list, take the worst job and do it first. Rather than having the worry of it at the back of your mind, clear it for better things. (2) If you promise to get back to someone the same day with information that they need and you can’t achieve this, it really gets them on your side if you let them know that there is a delay. Most people are surprisingly understanding – and even pleased, as it lets them put that task to one side and frees them to do something else. Nora Boswell Thornton, West Yorkshire