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SEPTEMBER 2016
7
business
solutions
Technology makes it so easy to work. Just press a few buttons and you have all the tools
you need. You can work from home, correspond 24/7/365, and take your work with
you wherever you go. And that’s a good thing, right? Maybe. Flexibility in your work
schedule is clearly good. But the temptation—or even the compulsion—to work around
the clock can sabotage the quality of your work and even be detrimental to your health.
Studies have shown that those who work longer hours are at greater risk for such
conditions as high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, diabetes, general health
complaints, chronic infections, and even death. Clearly, your health is one big reason
to work fewer hours.
Another reason is that putting in more time isn’t necessarily better. In fact, working
fewer hours may actually make you more productive, since it forces you to prioritize,
delegate, and improve your workflow. You may not realize you’re regularly engaging
in time-wasters—such as interruptions, unnecessary meetings, and preoccupation with
personal tasks you don’t have time to address—until you make a conscious effort to
eliminate them. Turning off your “work brain” can actually provide just the refreshment
you need to find solutions to work problems that have been plaguing you.
What if you feel that you just can’t break away? Think about the reasons you are work-
ing long hours. Are you trying for a promotion? Ask yourself if your boss truly values
long hours, or if he or she actually values quality work. Do others in your company do
it? Ask yourself what they’re getting out of it and whether or not the trade-off is worth
it. Are you unable to get your work done during normal business hours? Make sure
you’re using your time well. (For tips, see the sidebar.)
Work Less,
Accomplish More
Reduce your hours to improve
health and increase productivity
TIMELY TIPS FOR
WORKING SMARTER
It never hurts to review these
time-management basics:
• Schedule time off the same way you
would schedule other important
activities.
• Know how much exercise, sleep, and
nutrition you need, and schedule
enough time to get them.
• Set daily, weekly, and monthly
priorities to maintain focus.
• Restructure your sense of “accom-
plishment” to be more tied to quality
rather than quantity.
• Eliminate tasks or projects that don’t
help you reach company goals.
• Tell people who want to give you extra
work how accepting it will affect the
progress of current projects.
• To keep email from becoming a
distraction, check it only at speci-
fied intervals.
• Post a “busy now—no chats” sign
when you are concentrating on
important tasks.
• Delegate as much as possible.
Now wasn’t that time well spent?