Like working long hours? It might not be that beneficial.
An opinion article was recently published online on the CNBC website by Elle Kaplan detailing her thoughts on why long hours might actually hinder business success, as well as 7 ways to stop working so many hours. If you find it easy to not work more than 40 hours, like this blogger - i’d keep reading anyway, you’ll find good reasons to shut down your boss when they suggest more hours.
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Research finds that working more hours doesn't lead to more output. In practice, mental and physical exhaustion leads to fuzzy thinking and mistakes that need to be corrected
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This idea was tested again by Harvard Business School, and results were supportive of the same pattern. Required time off for evenings and weekends resulted in more productive workers. Still, many professionals choose to work longer hours despite the diminishing returns.
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Those who work long hours to impress their bosses might also rethink that strategy. In one study, managers couldn't tell the difference between people who worked 80-hour weeks and those who didn't.
How to stop it? Well, apart from radically changing your working hours or quitting your job - here’s a few suggestions from Kaplan.
Say No. Steve Jobs famously said 'no' was a strategy for sharpen focus.
Clear out the time clutter. Get rid of projects in your schedule that you only do because of a habit if others can manage. Make time for the more important stuff.
Don't overthink your schedule. Try not to stress too much over how others perceive your work ethic.
Ask for help. Your schedule might be truly overwhelming. Not asking for help was even listed as a key workplace regret in a recent LinkedIn survey.
Rethink your 'why.' Why are you so hard-working and busy? If your reasons are weak or seem silly - like to impress others - maybe you don’t need act as you do.
Set clear boundaries. When you leave work, really leave work. Put your phone away and stop monitoring emails and projects after-hours. You can check them tomorrow – they'll still be there.
Know your priorities. Take stock of what's most important to you. Family, friends, fun, work, money, energy levels. Sort out what you value so you can tune your work dedication levels accordingly.
There are some good tips above, some might even prompt some of you who work less hours to work more! It’s all about keeping a work-life balance that you desire.