Seven Savvy Ways To Sort Your Work-Life Balance Three facts we can't ignore: 1. The average working week is on the increase across Europe and the US. [1][2] 2. 30% of employees check work emails before 7.30am. [3] 3. One in six employees regularly works 60+ hours a week. [4] 1. Focus on what gets results Remember the Pareto Principle: [5] Most of us get 80% of results from 20 percent of the work we do. Focus your efforts on that 20 percent. Ask yourself: What pieces of work will create real progress towards your goals? What tasks will give you disproportionate results and get you noticed? 2. Don't be ruled by technology Control the digital overload rather than letting it control you. Use email filters and rules to streamline incoming emails. Go online with a purpose! Tweet something interesting or post oa meaningful update to LinkedIn, and curb your use of smartphone apps. Mute notifications and respond at a time that suits you. Turn off your work phone at night - and when you are on holiday too! 3. Limit activities that waste time At work there are three main things that drain your time: 1. Meetings We lose 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings. [6] Only attend meetings that are important. Use teleconferences or Skype calls for less important meetings. Use clear agendas and stick to them. 2. Overuse of social media and the internet 29 percent of employees waste one to two hours per week online. [7] Limit your social media time to before or after work, or during your lunch break. Or try 'mini breaks', where you browse the internet or use social media for no more than ten minutes before getting back to work. [8] 3. Your colleagues Some people you work with can sap your energy and productivity. Limit your interactions with them by: Simply saying 'Sorry, I'm busy' if you are cornered by the office chatterbox. Not getting sucked into endless office gossip. 4. Get a grip on your email The average employee spends 36 days per year answering emails. [9] Tackle email overload by: Checking and replying to emails at set times each day. Not always replying straight away - it is OK to respond within 24 to 48 hours. 5. Say 'no' Use the power of no wisely: Stick to the 'project in, project out' rule. If you take on more work, negotiate to drop other tasks to free up time. Don't be a 'yes person'. Don't agree to take on every bit of extra work - you'll end up being dumped upon. Be selective. Pick projects that expose you to key people, or where you can learn new skills. 6. Replace 'perfect' with 'good enough' Being too much of a perfectionist can lead to increased stress levels. [10] Try: Letting go. Ask for help if things get too much, and don't be afraid to delegate. Setting more achievable goals. Discuss what you want to achieve with your boss or a trusted colleague, and ask 'Am I being realistic?' Having a reality check. Ask yourself, 'What is the worst that can happen?' 7. Separate work and home life Last but by no means least, leave work at work: Write a task list before you leave each day and then 'park' it for tomorrow. Don't make a habit of answering emails 'out of hours' unless they are urgent. Keep weekends free: for family, for friends and for fun! References [1] Heather Stewart, 'Who works the longest hours in Europe?' The Guardian (8 December 2011). Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/dec/08/europe-working-hours (accessed 25 May 2015). [2] Jena McGregor, 'The average work week is now 47 hours', The Washington Post (2 September 2014). Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2014/09/02/the-average-work-week-is-now-47-hours/ (accessed 25 May 2015). [3] Hazel Davis, 'Top 10 tips to achieve a better work-life balance', The Telegraph (1 November 2013). Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/business/sme-home/10411870/top-tips-better-work-life-balance.html (accessed 25 May 2015). [4] Heather Stewart, 'Who works the longest hours in Europe?' The Guardian (8 December 2011). Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/dec/08/europe-working-hours (accessed 25 May 2015). [5] Margaret Rouse, 'Pareto Principle Definition', whatis.com. Available at: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/Pareto-principle (accessed 25 May 2015). [6] A network MCI Conferencing White Paper: Meetings in America: A Study of Trends, Costs and Attitudes Towards Business Travel, Teleconferencing and Their Impact on Productivity (Greenwich CT: INFOCOMM, 1998). [7] Cheryl Conner, 'Who wastes the most time at work?' Forbes Magazine (9 July 2013). Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2013/09/07/who-wastes-the-most-time-at-work/#14e02a6e7b3a (accessed 25 May 2015). [8] Rachel Silverman, 'Web surfing helps at work, study says', Wall Street Journal (22 August 2011). Available at: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904070604576518261775512294 (accessed 25 May 2015). [9] Peter Fleming, 'Viewpoint: Why do people waste so much time at the office?' BBC News Magazine (26 May 2015). Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32829232 (accessed 26 May 2015). [10] Luisa Dilner, 'Should I stop being a perfectionist?' The Guardian (20 April 2014). Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/20/should-i-stop-being-a-perfectionist (accessed 25 May 2015). © 2022 Mind Tools by Emerald Works Ltd.