Busy Being Busy

If you're working long hours, there's probably a chance you're working on 'busy stuff' rather than the 'productive stuff' or perhaps just taking on too much at once. I always get concerned when people say they're working 60-65 hours (or more) a week, whether they're running their own business or not. Particularly if the rest of their life is suffering as a result and it's not what they really want to be doing.

If you love what you do and your partner, family and friends are happy for you to spend the majority of your waking hours working, that's one thing. Working long hours for a short burst of time or for a specific longer-term goal, is sometimes necessary but if you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel and every week consists of long hours, your health and social life is suffering as a result, then perhaps it's time to start looking at how you can work smarter not harder.

I once had a client who loved his job - went in early every day (about 6.30) and often worked late and over weekends, he was the only person who the quote "Nobody on his deathbed ever said, I wish I had spent more time at the office" might not have applied.

However, even he realised that his health was suffering - he was overweight, as he had a terrible diet, never made time to exercise, he had a limited social life and not surprisingly no girlfriend. A few months later, he'd reduced his working hours quite considerably - still enjoyed his job, taken his first holiday in years, lost weight, had a girlfriend (and is now married) and had got a more balanced life as a result.

If you feel you've got too much on your plate, take a look at the important priorities in your life. What do you really need to focus your time and energy on and what can you let go? How can you work smarter and not harder?

Give me a call to find out.