Do you work a lot, but do not have time for anything, take things home and go to the office on weekends? How to learn to cope with all the tasks in a few hours a day? You may find our tips helpful.
I’ll tell you a secret: the traditional schedule from 9:00 to 18:00 is completely unsuitable for productive work, especially if it is associated with intellectual activity. Moreover, the most productive countries are those with the shortest working hours.
Thus, the inhabitants of Luxembourg work an average of 30 hours a week, but the efficiency of their work is higher than in countries where they work from dawn to dusk. Many people work 3-6 hours a day, while others sit in the office for 12 hours and do nothing. Personally, I work 3 to 5 hours a day.
TO WORK WELL, YOU NEED TO REST
The working day of most people consists of rush jobs, which are periodically replaced by tea parties with colleagues and communication with friends on social networks. The problem is that when drawing up work schedules, periods of maximum activity are not taken into account.
Those who are result-oriented, and not imitation of activity, not only work with full dedication, but also know how to switch off from business. The secret of labor efficiency is simple: you need to work quickly and intensively at the optimal time for this, and then rest and recover for a long time and with high quality.
This principle was first formulated by fitness and bodybuilding coaches. They found that short, intense workouts are more beneficial than long-term exercise.
The growth of both muscles and intelligence occurs during rest, and it is possible only after you are really tired.
It is more efficient to work not for many hours in a row, but to do several approaches for 1-3 hours, plunging into work as deeply as possible. During rest, the brain will process the information, and for the next approach you will again be ready for intense activity.
Studies have shown that only 16% of people generate creative ideas in the workplace. The rest noted that original ideas most often visit them during the holidays.
During work, we focus on the problem, and during rest, thoughts “wander” in different directions. Most often, ideas come when we move: we walk, ride a bike. Changing landscapes stimulate the imagination.
THE FIRST 3 HOURS AFTER WAKEING ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
Psychologist Ron Friedman believes that the first hours of a new day are the most valuable in terms of productivity. It is at this time that we are able to focus as much as possible, plan optimally, think quickly and speak convincingly.
Recently, I wake up at 5 am and immediately go to the library. Working on an empty stomach is not easy, so while I walk from the car to the library, I have a protein shake. Tim Ferriss recommends consuming 30 grams of protein half an hour after waking up.
At 5:30 I am already in the reading room. I meditate for a few minutes and then freewrite for 5-10 minutes: write down the big goals and small tasks for today, then just write whatever comes to mind.
By 5:45 I’m ready to go. I am writing an article or chapter for a book, working on a doctoral dissertation or an online course
This mode is the best for me. I can work 2-5 hours without breaks and procrastination. Between 9:00 and 11:00 I take a break. This is the best time for exercise. I used to go in for sports right after waking up, but I quickly realized that early morning is better to use for intellectual activity.
After an intense workout, you are ready to work effectively again. My experience shows that 3-5 hours of work in the morning is much more effective than an 8-hour work day.
About the Author: Benjamin Hardy is a psychologist and specialist in personal effectiveness.