.png){kind=small}
How To Stop Working Long Hours: 5 Proven Ways
If you’re reading this, I’m sure you’ve heard that long hours at work aren’t productive, and they can be very counter-productive. But, on the other hand, working long hours is often seen as a badge of honor because it suggests to your peers that you are committed to your job and taking it seriously.
You might also feel guilty for leaving the office before others and decide to stay and “help out” regardless of whether or not you have any more work to do. This kind of selfless attitude is admirable; however, at the same time, it will kill your career prospects in the long run!
Table of Contents
Tips To Stop Working Long Hours: Make Work More Productive and Enjoyable
Here are some great tips to help you stop working long hours! By implementing just a few of these suggestions, you will be amazed at how much more efficient your day becomes.
Make Use Of The “2-Minute Rule.”
Reduce Meetings By Half!
Work In Blocks of Time
Use A Task List
Learn to Say “No.”
1. Make Use Of The “2-Minute Rule.”
The 2-Minute Rule is where you focus on the task that needs doing only if it takes less than two minutes to accomplish.
You can apply this across your whole job role. However, I find it works best for administrative tasks such as processing emails.
If you think about it, email is probably the leading cause of long hours and high stress levels in most jobs.
2. Reduce Meetings By Half!
Meetings are an essential part of your job role; they can also eat up a lot of your time. By ensuring that every meeting is productive and has a purpose, you will dramatically reduce how long any meeting takes to complete.
It would be best to reduce meetings by half in general, or in some cases to a quarter. You will be amazed at how much more you get done in the day when your meetings are limited only to essential ones!
3. Work In Blocks of Time
Another technique for cutting down working long hours is working in blocks of time rather than open-ended sessions. It means that if you have an 8 hour day, set out your tasks accordingly so that you work on them one by one until their completion before moving on to the next one.
Don’t start a new task until you’re finished with the previous one; if this sounds obvious, it’s surprising how many people still manage to leave things half done or forget to do them altogether.
4. Use A Task List
Keeping a list of everything you need to do is helpful because it provides a reference point for all your work. It can be as simple as a few bullet points or more advanced, with tick boxes and priorities.
This way, you have something to remind you of what needs doing and how much of it there is left to complete. In addition, you don’t need to sit down and go through everything at the start of the day by using a task list, which saves time.
5. Learn to Say “No.”
Perhaps the most challenging technique to master is learning to say “no.” It can be tricky, but it’s an essential skill for being efficient at work. If you don’t have time for something, then say “no” politely.
You might have a suggestion as to how the other person should proceed so that it doesn’t inconvenience you, and if not, a simple “no thank you” will do! This skill takes practice but, once mastered, becomes liberating because you free up your time by refusing tasks.
Final Thoughts:
Hopefully, this article will help you stop working long hours and become more efficient in your role.
The best way to stop working long hours is by learning how to become more efficient at your job. It might take some work, but once mastered will save you hours every week!
What do you think? Did any of these tips resonate with you? Do you have some other ideas on how to stop working long hours at work?
Please let us know in the comments section below!
