Could You Reduce Your Working Hours?

But have you ever noticed what you accomplish when it’s crunch time? …Usually the most important things, right?

If your work day drags with little to show for your efforts, and little time for proper rest and recovery, perhaps you need to reduce your working hours.

Here are 3 tips to get you started:

1. Define what ‘less’ is, and commit to it: Plan your time in advance. Whether you choose to shave an hour off of each day, or opt for a four-day work week, decide which hours you’ll work and make the commitment. By defining fewer hours up front, and what those hours are, you can better strategise your top activities.

2. Use Parkinson’s Law: Parkinson’s Law states that “work expands to fill the time available for its completion”. Are you giving yourself two hours to complete something you can do in 45 minutes? Sometimes we don’t allocate time proportionately to the task. Know how quickly you can perform any given activity by timing yourself. Then impose those time limits to keep your timeline lean and your working hours down.

3. Honour the stopping point: If you’re used to working around the clock, stopping short may feel counterintuitive. Resist the temptation to keep working past your defined stopping point. Remember, you’re building a habit that will help you achieve more, avoid burnout and bring more balance to the table. Instil trust with yourself so you don’t lapse into old habits.

There will always be more to do than time available. Reduce your working hours and you’ll experience noticeable changes.