We’ve all heard about the man who was found dead at his desk after a whooping 5 days. Now who said work can’t kill you?
Some bosses say ‘Go home!’
In one of the companies I heard of, work-life balance was a phrase constantly reiterated. Once the clock struck the hour of freedom, people headed to the bars, cinemas, wherever. Overtime was frowned upon. Shame befalls those on the black list of late-leavers. What joy!
Because of this ‘rule’ in the office, everyone increased productivity during office hours, heightened their concentration and reduced idle time since working overtime was rarely a choice.
You think working overtime is only normal
Unfortunately for many other companies, overtime is an expectation. Leaving the office on the dot is an atrocity and there is no limit to work hours – the later you leave, the more you are proving to your superiors.
You can only work for so long
However, long work hours don’t always translate into higher productivity. Our brain is at full concentration for only 15-30 minutes at a stretch. The productive curve slants downwards after these periodic peaks. This is why health columns often advise us to take a break periodically during work.
Once you reach exhaustion point, there is no point staying struggling to finish up your work in the moonlight. You will be using more than twice the usual time to finish a piece of work when your brain is already saturated.
Plan a boys’ night out or a trip to Hawaii
Time outside of work can help you kickstart that dying engine and keep your spirits up at work until your next play date. Fill your schedule with lots of fun stuff which can take off the stress cloud above you when you look at the deadlines scribbled in the same calendar.
Fun plans give you the motivation to charge through the throng of deadlines with newfound energy. You will naturally become more upbeat and efficient in your work when there is something else waiting for you.
Do whatever tickles your fancy NOW!
You perform poorly and drag the work out when you know you have another 300 hours of it ahead. So take your head out of the workpile now and think of something fun to do tonight, don’t end up dead at your desk.
