How effectively are you managing your work load? Maybe your work load has control of you. If you’re not in control, one thing to look at is the number of hours you’re working. For some, extra or longer hours are the rule, not the exception, which is not a good thing. It can increase your stress level, which can end up impacting your physical health.
Adding extra hours to your work day in order to get things done really doesn’t increase your productivity. Productivity decreases due to the physical and mental fatigue that result from the extra work hours. Studies have shown that performance actually decreases about 25% when work hours are increased for prolonged period of time. At this rate, there is no way to get it all done. If you’re going to add hours to your work week, make it the exception, not the rule.
In lieu of adding the extra hours, consciously and purposely manage your workload. When you’re consciously managing your tasks, you can complete what you have to do without feeling overwhelmed and you can do so without adding hours to your work week as a regular practice. The key is to work smarter, not harder.