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 Getting the Edge Part 2
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Getting the Edge Part 2
In the first installment of this series, I discussed the need for innovative ways to conceptualize your time, and presented two myths that hold people back from making the most of their time each day. Continuing from where we left off, here is another pair of popular fallacies:
Myth#3 The longer you work, the more you get done
This is a dangerous assumption that leads to burnout, lost opportunities and, in some cases, staggering financial losses. I strongly suggest you dispose of this attitude immediately.
Hard working people don’t need to put in more hours on the job. They need to create a routine that works for them every day. It’s a bit like going to the gym, or going on a diet. Does this sound familiar to you? Someone you know wants to shed those extra pounds, so they join a gym and go nuts on the machines. They think the harder they work the better, but they have no plan. The result is their bodies are always sore and they are always tired. Soon the idea of going to the gym doesn’t interest them anymore, and finally, they quit, without ever having lost a pound. Then there are the “failed diet” people. They starve themselves, then they cheat, and then they starve themselves again, sometimes ending up in worse shape them when they started. Ask any personal trainer and they will tell you that physical fitness requires a plan. This is the same as your professional life. Get on a program and stick to it. It is the only way to best use your time.
Myth#4 Productive people work harder then the rest of us.
You may have heard it said that anyone can work hard, but truly effective people work smart. But what does “working smart” mean, exactly, in the corporate environment? For the most part, working smart today means being in balance, planning wisely, and avoiding stress.
Take a good look at the most productive professionals around you and you’ll note that they are more relaxed and focused than their colleagues. While others suffer under the misguided notion that our stress levels indicate that we are good workers, smart workers know that stress is evidence of wasted time and energy. Successful people are intensely focused, but they are not stressed. They plan each day carefully, and take brain breaks when necessary. A brain break is no like a coffee break. You have heard that a change is as good as a rest. Smart workers will move a job to a new environment to achieve change, or move on to another task for a little while that requires a lower level of concentration.
Of course, this sort of personal management takes practice. But, with some perseverance, you can learn the skills to follow through with less stress and more focus on the job. Remember: the people who make the most money in the world think differently then others. They spend time taking care of themselves. They work hard, they play hard, they take vacations, and they spend time with family and friends. To put it simply, they keep it in balance. That is their message to you. |
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