You worked hard for that promotion or the success of your start-up. But an acquaintance who worked half as hard has the success that you always dreamed of! Well, that happens in real life. We quite often work hard, only to realize that working smarter and not harder is the key to success.
Working too hard can strip you of your social and personal life, ruin relationships, hamper your creativity and even affect your thought or cognition. So, if your workload is leaving you frantic and stressed, you probably need to think and strategize. After all, in this business world, the most successful approaches are those where people work less but accomplish more.
So, how can you be a ‘super-worker’ and get more things done without the overburdening stress of working too hard?
Well, you should perhaps learn from successful people and follow their tricks for accomplishing more.
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Know that Productivity Declines
Stanford University’s studies on work-hours and productivity reveals that people who work over 50 hours a week have lower productivity than those who work less. In fact, the productivity declines so sharply that a person could avoid working at all after 55 hours. So, even if you are working 60 or 70 hours a week, your productivity would be the same as someone who worked for 50 hours. Why take that stress of working too much when you can rather spend it doing something else?
Time to Disconnect
No! Working during the weekends isn’t going to get things done. Worse, it might leave you exhausted for the next time. So, it’s time that you disconnect yourself on the weekend. Remove yourself electronically from Friday evening to Monday morning. This will give you time to rest and charge you for the next week, ensuring that you strategize and implement better.
Of course, you can still keep yourself available and check those emails once a day. In fact, 39-year old Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow and co-founder of Hotwire.com does that! The 39 old father of three uses this time to connect with his children and spend time with the family. He says this helps in alleviating stress.
Take time to reflect
Minimizing Chores
Of course, you won’t have time to relax or reflect if you have too many chores for the weekend. So, instead of working on that bathroom sink on Saturday, call a plumber and spend that time reflecting or narrating a story to the kids. Chores will not invigorate you, and a restful weekend will.
Exercise
We know you are super busy. But honestly, you wouldn’t be successful if you are taken ill or look haggard and unfit. Successful people are known to be fit, and they exercise. Even if you aren’t a bright eyed, bushy tailed person in the morning, you can certainly take out time to exercise in the evening. Just 30 minutes a day will work wonders, releasing neurotransmitters like GABA that enhance cognition and thought process.
Also read: Why to Start Workouts to Make a Business Success
Embark on micro-adventures
You can be successful at work and still have it all! You just need to find and pursue passions or adventures beyond work. For instance, buy a ticket to your favorite concert or just go on a hike with your family or go on a date if you have been single for far too long. And of course, pursue a passion in the line of work as well.
Wake up at the same time
No, you don’t have to wake at 5:00 am. But that doesn’t mean you can sleep till 11:00 on the weekends. One thing that distinguishes successful people from an average person is the fact that they always wake up at the same time.
They don’t sleep for a few extra hours on the weekend because that could mess with their circadian rhythm on Monday. Similarly, they don’t sleep too less, because that makes them groggy.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
We know that you have to rush out of the door and barely have time for coffee or maybe a donut. But that’s neither healthy nor filling. So, you go to the work with unhealthy food and feeling of emptiness in your stomach. That never works well.
In fact, you might end up eating way too much at lunch (because of the hunger) and feel tired or even sleepy for rest of the day. Keep growling stomach at bay and eat a healthier breakfast in the morning. It hardly takes 10-15 minutes extra and keeps you charged throughout the day.
Also Read: Eating Spicy Food a Secret to a Longer Life
Set Priorities
Want to get everything done without burning the midnight oil? Then set your priorities. Before the coming week, you should know where your resources would be used, what your big priorities are and if you are ready to take on challenges. Map a plan, nothing fancy but an idea in your head about how you want to pursue the coming week.
So, what are you waiting for? Follow these tricks and you would be successful.
Go! Chase your dreams!