There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing. ~ Brian Tracy
I know what you’re thinking, “what do you mean reduced working hours?! …I don’t have enough time for my workload as it is!”
…or do you?
You may be familiar with Parkinson’s Law, which states that “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”
If we set no real limits or stopping points on our day, it doesn’t take much for ‘busyness’ to run rampant.
We may even allow more distractions or interruptions, because – in our mind’s eye – we believe the time is there.
However, when it’s crunch-time, and we have real deadlines and real stopping points, we’re forced to prioritise. Usually, only the important stuff makes the cut.
And really, that’s what we’re talking about here.
Not just getting more stuff done, but more of the important, game-changing, needle-moving stuff.
Think for a moment about your last holiday and what you wrapped up in the hours before you left…
- Did you finally get those really important emails sent off?
- Which phone calls finally got made that you’d been sitting on for a while?
- Or maybe you managed to complete a report or proposal that had been parked on your desk for weeks?
Don’t you love that?! I certainly do.
I always marvel at what I can pull out of a hat before leaving for a trip. It’s like productivity magic! …If only we treated every day as though we were about to leave on holiday!
In essence, we can.
Are you up for a challenge? I thought you might be 😉
Have a look today at where you can tighten the belt a bit on your working hours.
Could you wrap up your day 15 minutes earlier?
…an hour earlier?
Have you fancied having an extra day each week for other pursuits, such as getting a side hustle off the ground or enjoying more time for yourself and/or family?
These are examples, and the nature of your work and other commitments may dictate what’s feasible for you. But just brainstorm for a moment. Then decide.
Decide which hours you’ll work and make the commitment.
Real priority comes to the fore when your working timeline is lean. Plus you’ll keep burnout at bay by not working yourself into the ground!
Worried you’ll keep working anyway?
Plan for it. Schedule an activity that forces you to shut-down. For example, go for a run, attend a class, meet-up with a friend for a coffee or a walk, do something that acts as a built-in deadline.
Sometimes making a simple adjustment will help you see your time differently so you can execute your priorities with improved clarity.
As always, let me know how you get on and if this helps you get more done, I’d love to hear from you!
To your productivity and success,
Cory
P.S. If you feel you’re falling behind with your workload, struggling to get those important things done – and you’re not sure how to improve your situation – get in touch for a chat!
Email me at cory@corycook.com, call me on +44 (0) 7590 069 900 or easily schedule a complimentary call using my online scheduler here.
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