4 Ways to Get Back to 40 Hours

Technology has changed how work gets accomplished. With tablets, smartphones, and unlimited software apps, it is easier than ever to get briefed on projects and organize deadlines. These productivity tools were designed to help us be the best we can be in our respective professions. But, it turns out that today’s workers are still feeling overworked and burnt out.

According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), one in three workers suffer from chronic stress, with high workloads being a major factor. The APA also found that 39% of people work more than 40 hours a week. With incoming emails and calls, employees end up working outside of the office, which can actually lower productivity and quality of work. As a business leader, you can’t afford to be less productive – and you definitely can’t afford to have a burnt-out workforce.

So how do we get back to normal work hours and take back precious revitalization time with friends and family? Here are four ways to get a good start.

Go Off-Grid

The reason why technology is the biggest factor causing workers to put in up to 50 or even 60 hours a week is obvious: you’re never more than a phone call away. You could even say, you’re no more than a text, email, Facetime, Skype, or tweet away. Even though it may seem like things won’t get accomplished if you aren’t always available, your availability is actually hindering your quality of work. By constantly being notified of problems, it’s hard to distance yourself to find solutions. So, send an email to the office or add an out-of-office voicemail message explaining that you are away and will be available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  Then, turn off your work phone and go off-grid.

Communicate Clearly

One reason why people end up working overtime is that they don’t want to say no. A new project is presented by upper management, so you want to be the hero and get it done even though your workload is overflowing. But, this is not the best way to go about taking on projects or delegating them. The saying is true, it’s better to work smarter than harder. Be clear about your time and what you can reasonably accomplish before taking on new tasks. The more tasks you take on, the lower the quality of production. This goes for your employees too. Encourage them to say no when they can’t possibly take on new tasks.

Leave Work at Work

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is leave work at work. We all spend most of our time at the office, and it’s hard to turn off the switch when we leave. But if you bring projects home to work on during off hours, you aren’t giving yourself time needed to rejuvenate. Make a point to use your nights and weekends to take a break from your workload and allow yourself to check out mentally from the stress that may loom for the next day. It can wait until tomorrow.

Organize Your Spinning Plates

Though it is used often, the carnival attraction where a person spins several plates in the air is a great representation of most people’s lives. Some plates can be removed, but in several instances, every plate needs to keep spinning or they all crash to the floor. One reason why people put in extra hours to complete a deadline is because they didn’t plan out their time accordingly to accomplish the goal. Make sure your office is aware of everything that’s going on, so your employees respect one another’s time. Create a projects list including deadlines and responsible parties so everyone can plan how to keep those plates spinning – within normal work hours.

What ways have you successfully taken back your 40-hour week? Let us know in the comments section below.

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