Tips workaholics: learning to work quietly but effectively

Workaholics are not heroes. They do not keep time, they spend it. A true hero in this time at home, because he found a way to get the job done faster.

Jason Fried and David Hansson Haynimayer, Rework

How can a person bring yourself to emotional burnout at work? Maybe it makes a demanding boss or capricious customers do not understand what the "wait", and require the work to unrealistic deadlines?

Yes, it happens sometimes, but more often than not to blame the boss or clients, even colleagues who "can not do anything normal," and the man himself.

Work absorbs all the free time of a workaholic, and he is constantly in tension. From the stress of the disease appear, incredible work schedule creates problems on the personal front.

But even if the workaholic is aware of the depth of the problems and try to get rid of at least some cases, then immediately it is piled a bunch of new, and it will still be swamped with work around the clock.

That's because it's not the amount of work, and in the attitude towards it.

superhero complex and fear of Deadline

Now we're not talking about those happy people who feel creative uplift and inspiration remain after the work is not because "right", but because they are so trapped in the business. We're talking about those on whom hangs the burden of responsibility for the performance of work in time, those who takes over more and more cases, and does not get to fulfill them much pleasure. To take responsibility for everything in a row makes a superhero complex.

As a rule, this complex is found in people with an exaggerated sense of responsibility, though for things that are not worth that kind of attention.

They think that the answer to the dozen email so important and urgent that because of this, you can skip a family dinner or a meeting with friends, and the deadline of the project is more important than their own health and visit a doctor. In this sense some kind of sacrifice, and often "superhero" really kicks from it.

Look at your business. Do all your calls are so important that they can not be put off? Do all e-mails require an immediate response? Maybe more than half of your "urgent" answers all nobody reads, or with the same success could be read in a week.

This does not mean that it is necessary to throw everything and sink into the blissful idleness, just standing soberly look at their tasks. Surely you many things, gives much more importance than they deserve.

Another factor that can cause a person to hang around all night in the office - the fear of overdue deadlines and frustrated customers. How to deal with these fears?

Firstly, what are you afraid to disappoint the customer, it does not mean that you have to do everything yourself. employees certainly will cope with some tasks better than you think.

Secondly, it should immediately consider a realistic timetable, taking time to spare. Almost all customers agree to wait, after all, a good result implies the existence of time.

Haste as a way to escape from reflection

We tend to think that successful people necessarily employed. If our schedule is packed enough, we feel insignificant. People who go on vacation or even just a long lunch, seem lazy and unworthy of confidence in the business environment.

Everyone has heard about the inevitable burnout, catches up with people who work hard. But workaholics tend to forget about these "fairy tales." They tend to score your schedule as closely as possible, a time to scatter all things and habits and make the free time left at all.

Maybe they're just afraid of what will become life if they suddenly cease to hurry up and focus?

At heart, we're all afraid that our time is not on something that should be. Just to keep pace, carry a lot of cases and constantly rush much safer than diving into a self-examination with the possible unpleasant discoveries.

Our crazy days is really just a protection against cavities.

Tim Kreider, NYTimes.com

Slow does not mean inefficient

If you have a habit of constantly rush and do a lot of cases, it would seem that the slow pace of work does not work, that work slowly - it's the same thing as idle. This is a gross error.

If you use the time properly, procrastination can be one of the best sources of efficiency. There are companies that work quietly but effectively; there are people who are not in a hurry, but still have time.

Such companies do not save lives and not to wage war, they are quite aware that just provide services, and their owners and employees live a full life. They work from nine to six, and on Friday and even less, do not respond to phone calls at night and are not available on weekends. They have clear boundaries, they provide customers with workable and fair deadlines. Business is booming, and everyone is happy.

"Sounds cool - you thought - but what about the beliefs of my boss, company, customer?"

Maybe you're right. Sometimes work late just need to, for example, when you created the problem and need to fix it in his spare time.

Sometimes, before you begin the task, you need to become familiar with the new tools, and it is also possible to spend free time.

In addition, some businesses continue to engage in their own business after working hours because they love him and sincerely they capturedAnd not because they are afraid overdue deadline.

But this does not mean that it is impossible to achieve a pleasant harmony between work, rest and play. How to do it? Start looking, try and find their schemes. This process will certainly be fun for you, but not always easy.

Here are eight ways to slow down the tempo without affecting the operation. Try them on this week, start right now or tomorrow.

1. Slow down

Someone once said: "The problem of the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat." When we calm down and reduce the pace of work, priorities show through more clearly.

If you are engaged more than they wanted to be, reduce your pace and concentrate on the moment, "here and now". You are in the present, pay attention to where your energy goes. Gradually healthy priorities themselves penetrate into your life.

2. Do not try to be a hero

Stick to a schedule that you survive and perform a number of tasks that do not require victims on your part. Nobody is going to die if you stop for a while.

3. Go home

Leave at 18:00 or earlier from the office, if possible. Dine with friends or family, relax, sleep enough last. When you go back to work in the morning, you feel more alert and focused.

4. Reduce the number of meetings

Sometimes the meeting needed and pleasant, but more often they are simply a waste of time. Politely ask the staff or your boss if there is more than simply being able to make a decision. Take the initiative to propose a new solution that will avoid meetings.

5. Stay in silence

Switch to "Airplane" - it will relieve you of incoming calls and messages. It will not be easy, but you will be able to fully concentrate on the case and turn on your smartphone only when it is really needed.

And stay away from social networks and email - these are more useless time killer, which only added to the bustle and create the illusion of employment.

6. Get out of the office for lunch

Read a book, walk, go to a museum - do anything to change the environment and to disconnect from work for a while. And do not forget to turn on the "Airplane".

7. Avoid multitasking

It is ineffective, and if someone convinces you otherwise, he is lying. It is better to leave plenty of time to perform a specific task and do not allow employees to pull himself to perform others.

At first they may unpleasantly surprise your refusal to help and join in the work, but then they get used to that if you ask not to hinder some time, so it is necessary to do so.

8. Say "no"

When you decide to take responsibility for any business or entrust others to stay after work or not, ask yourself what it is dictated by your desire: fear or love? If fear, politely refuse and offer an alternative - this is another opportunity to demonstrate creative thinking.

Try to follow these rules during the week. I think you'll be surprised at how much more beautiful, free and smooth will be your time, and how much will be done.